The Vision Behind IDIQ’s Success
Scott Hermann’s vision was straightforward: equip people with the tools to safeguard and enhance their financial well-being at every life stage. From establishing credit in young adulthood to protecting retirement savings, Hermann identified a significant gap in how Americans shield their most valuable asset: their financial identity. In 2016, he embarked on a mission to bridge this gap with a handful of employees operating from a house’s backyard in Canyon Lake, California. This humble beginning laid the foundation for IDIQ, a company dedicated to guiding actions that protect and strengthen individuals’ long-term financial health.
Hermann, an Iowa native with over 25 years of experience in cybersecurity, technology, financial services, credit, and identity theft protection, launched what would become one of the nation’s fastest-growing companies in identity protection and financial protection. From its inception, IDIQ focused on helping people understand, improve, and protect their financial standing, whether they were just starting out or preparing for retirement. The company aimed to create solutions for the present and the future.
By 2017, as data breaches and identity theft frequently made headlines, IDIQ’s identity and financial protection platform resonated with consumers, leading to rapid scaling. Americans sought peace of mind and control over their identities and finances, and IDIQ delivered with its flagship brand, IdentityIQ, along with an expert suite of financial and identity protection features. Hermann understood the importance of differentiating his company from competitors in the identity theft space.
IdentityIQ members receive 24/7 credit and data monitoring with real-time alerts from all three major credit bureaus, a feature that sets the service apart from competitors who only offer real-time alerts from one major credit bureau. This comprehensive approach leaves consumers less vulnerable to identity thieves. “It’s all about speed,” Hermann emphasized. “We provide our members with credit alerts from all three bureaus. The sooner someone realizes their identity has been compromised, the quicker they can report it and minimize the damage.”
IdentityIQ alerts members when their personal information is found on the dark web, used in a credit application, or when they experience a significant score change, among other scenarios. The service has been recognized as the best comprehensive identity theft protection choice. Alongside IdentityIQ, IDIQ has expanded its family of brands to include MyScoreIQ for financial health and protection, Credit & Debt for credit and debt education, and IDIQ Pre-Paid Legal Services, a leading provider of voluntary employee benefits. Additional brands include CreditBuilderIQ and CreditScoreIQ for DIY credit-building tools, and Disco, an all-in-one customer relationship management tool.
“Every one of our brands is designed with the idea of putting control back in the hands of our members,” Hermann stated. “By sticking to our mission of empowering members, we’ve stood out from our competition.” Today, IDIQ serves over 5 million members and partners with thousands of organizations nationwide. With more than 300 employees and offices in California, Illinois, Florida, and India, as well as regional hubs in New York, New Jersey, Texas, and Arizona, IDIQ continues to scale its reach while remaining rooted in its original vision.
IDIQ’s growth has earned the company numerous accolades, including five consecutive years on the prestigious Inc. 5000 List, a Stevie Award for Customer Service, a Stevie Award for Great Employers, and a Great Place to Work certification. The company’s success stems not from chasing industry trends but from consistently asking: How can we help protect consumers at every step of their financial journey? This question continues to shape new product development, partner relationships, and member experience.
“Helping safeguard customers’ personal and financial information has always been our top priority,” Hermann said. “Our team has created a product roadmap to educate and protect consumers throughout their lives. With our innovative credit report and identity theft monitoring tools, we’ve become an industry leader that consumers and businesses can trust.”
From its modest beginnings to its growing global footprint, IDIQ remains committed to delivering innovative tools and essential education to its members. Whether it’s assisting a recent graduate in building credit or a retiree in monitoring their identity and assets, the company stays true to its mission of helping people protect their financial health every step of the way.
