Burnham Benefits Welcomes Health Insurance Expert in Broker & Client Relations

IRVINE, CA--(Marketwired - Jun 15, 2015) - Burnham Benefits Insurance Services -- one of California's most successful employee benefits brokerage firms -- today announced the addition of its newest executive team member, Bryan Bate. As vice president, Bate will use his experience as a health insurance expert to focus on cultivating trusted relationships with Burnham's clients, growing and retaining business, and the continued development of the service and technical teams.

"With more than 15 years of experience in the healthcare benefits industry, Bryan is a welcome and important addition to our team," says Kristen Allison, president and CEO of Burnham Benefits. "Bryan's successful background on both the brokerage and the carrier side is a powerful combination that will provide excellent growth opportunities for Burnham. His reputation in the broker community is aligned with our best-in-class service."

Bate's strong leadership skills will support Burnham as it continues to build its business and maintain its 95 percent client retention rate. With an in-depth knowledge of the sales and account management side of the business, Bate will support Burnham as it develops programs to serve various industry niches.

"The leadership structure at Burnham is empowering," says Bate. "The corporate culture and service-driven model puts the client first, giving them the tools and education they need to manage benefits for their companies with confidence. I am looking forward to building professional relationships with client executives in various industries and backgrounds and developing products and services that exceed their needs and expectations."

Prior to joining Burnham Benefits, Bate was regional managing director at Anthem Blue Cross where he was responsible for all retention, ancillary product upselling and service for approximately 1,300 large group clients; managed a team of 31 account executives, representatives and client support staff, and fostered broker and consultant relationships at the executive level.

To learn more about Burnham Benefits, visit www.burnhambenefits.com.

ABOUT BURNHAM BENEFITS INSURANCE SERVICES: Burnham Benefits Insurance Services, Inc. is a privately held, full-service employee benefits consulting and brokerage firm headquartered in Irvine, Calif. The firm is among the largest in the state to specialize solely in strategic employee benefits consulting and brokerage services. With a comprehensive offering of client-first health and wellness programs, Burnham effectively manages more than $1.5 billion in premiums for more than 400 clients. The firm maintains a more than 95 percent client retention rate and has averaged 25 percent growth annually over the past 10 years. Because Burnham Benefits does not have outside shareholders, it can easily adapt and create customized solutions that fit clients' best interests -- investing in cutting-edge technology and the tools and resources needed to provide the specialized level of service that today's rapidly challenging climate demands. Its team of more than 75 highly skilled industry professionals includes in-house underwriters, compliance officers, healthcare reform consultants, communications specialists and wellness experts. Through a strategic partnership with Burnham Gibson Financial Group, Burnham also provides retirement planning and wealth management services. Burnham Benefits' footprint currently spans offices in Orange County, San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Sacramento and San Diego, Calif., as well as a satellite office in the Washington D.C. metro area. Burnham Benefits holds national recognition as Business Insurance's #1 Best Places to Work in Insurance 2013 and 2014 and has been ranked a Best Place to Work by the Orange County Business Journal for four years running. For more information, visit www.BurnhamBenefits.com.