IRVINE, CA--(Marketwire - Feb 8, 2012) - Burnham Gibson Financial Group, Inc., a full-service financial services firm based in Orange County, Calif., wrapped up 2011 with solid revenue and personnel growth and additional expansion planned for 2012. The company works synergistically with Burnham Benefits Insurance Services, each offering the other's product and service lines to complement its own. The strategic alignment allows both firms to offer the wide breadth of services found in larger institutions while maintaining a high level of expertise and personalized service.
"We aligned our businesses to offer clients a full suite of services addressing multiple financial needs, and the strategy is working incredibly well," says Darin Gibson, president of Burnham Gibson Financial Group. "An increased percentage of Burnham Benefits' clients are utilizing our pension consulting services, and we're gaining traction on executive benefit engagements. The partnership operates as a natural, seamless extension of both businesses. The momentum continues to build."
That momentum requires more office space and personnel for Burnham Gibson -- needs that will be addressed with an additional Los Angeles office and recruitment of both young talent and established consultants in L.A., San Francisco and San Diego. These moves follow a successful 2011, which produced 34% growth and included the addition of a dedicated professional in San Diego. The Orange County Business Journal (OCBJ) named Burnham Gibson the #18 Largest Financial Adviser in Orange County in 2011, and members of the company were featured in Investment Advisor, The Wall Street Transcript, "Unlock Your Wealth" radio, Wealth Briefing, Financial Advisor, Life Insurance Selling and Practical Tax Strategies Magazine.
Burnham Benefits is experiencing an equal measure of success. Burnham Benefits continues to acquire books of business and looks to hire as many as 10 additional consultants in 2012 to accommodate the 18% personnel growth, 22% revenue growth, and 100% staff retention it saw in 2011. The expansion went beyond the company's Irvine headquarters and now includes Los Angeles and East Coast corporate offices. This upward trajectory contributed to Burnham Benefits' being named in the small business category of the Best Places to Work in Orange County, a nomination for the OCBJ Women in Business issue and a ranking as the #19 Largest Insurance Broker in Orange County by OCBJ. The company has also appeared in IndustryWeek, OCBJ, Workforce Management, Los Angeles Times, California Broker, San Diego Business Journal, Bloomberg Law Reports and Employee Benefits Advisor.
Both firms are immersed in evolving regulatory environments, and consultants are committed to taking an active role in helping clients navigate the related issues and tackle each new challenge with real knowledge and experience. That means adjusting strategies ahead of change, not waiting for deadlines that can back clients into a corner. Burnham Benefits' seasoned professionals, for example, are well acquainted with healthcare reform and can handle fully and self-funded HRAs to HSAs as well as the associated charges. "As part of our strategic growth plan for 2012, we are actively acquiring books of business and talented professionals who complement and strengthen the organization," says Kristen Allison, president of Burnham Benefits. "Independent brokers are aligning with us because we have the resources of a large firm that allow brokers to maintain their sense of entrepreneurship. They trust us with their clients because we can handle things without bureaucracy. Our decision to align with Burnham Gibson is an excellent example of our ability to create opportunities without sacrificing client service."
Together, Burnham Gibson and Burnham Benefits have created a one-stop shop that handles all their clients' benefits, insurance and financial needs with industry-leading expert talent, a strong infrastructure and boutique-style customer service. The strategic alliance allows both firms to help fill a void in the local market for clients interested in taking an integrative approach to financial and insurance products and services.
About Burnham Gibson Financial Group, Inc.: Burnham Gibson helps corporate and individual clients accumulate wealth, manage risk and plan for the future. Based in Irvine, Calif., the robust, full-service financial services firm offers an unparalleled complement of best-in-class services to help provide for the full spectrum of clients' financial needs, and the needs of their workforces. Burnham Gibson currently offers financial and insurance services to more than 250 businesses and 2,000 individuals and advises on approximately $450 million in assets for corporate and individual clients. In 2010, the company partnered with Burnham Benefits Insurance Services to provide a comprehensive offering of integrated employee benefits solutions. The relationship allows both firms to leverage a larger organizational scale and depth of management, improving the quality and service they can provide for clients. For more information, visit www.burnhamgibson.com.
About Burnham Benefits Insurance Services: Based in Irvine, Calif., Burnham Benefits Insurance Services, Inc., is one of the largest employee benefits brokerages in Southern California and one of the few to specialize solely in employee benefits. Kristen Allison, President of Burnham Benefits and a 30-year industry veteran, acquired the firm in 1995 from John Burnham Insurance Services, an Orange County mainstay for more than 50 years. Boasting the in-depth industry knowledge and Fortune 500 resources of a large firm, Burnham Benefits prides itself on retaining the flexibility, creativity and consultative service of a boutique. After steady growth of 20% annually for the past 10 years, the company serves more than 280 corporate clients throughout the United States and manages more than $300 million in premiums. Working with its colleagues at Burnham Gibson Financial Group, and having the added expertise of an in-house underwriter, compliance officer, and communications specialists, Burnham Benefits provides an integrated approach to managing a client's full spectrum of employee benefits. The company has three offices in California: Irvine, Los Angeles and Santa Barbara; as well as offices in Oregon and the Washington, D.C. metro area. For more information, visit www.BurnhamBenefits.com.
Securities and investment advisory services offered through AXA Advisors, LLC (NY, NY 212-314-4600), member FINRA, SIPC. Annuity and insurance products offered through AXA Network Insurance Agency of California, LLC and its affiliates. Burnham Gibson Financial Group, Inc. is not a registered investment advisor and is not owned or operated by AXA Advisors or AXA Network. CFP® and CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ are certification marks owned by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. These marks are awarded to individuals who successfully complete the CFP Board's initial and ongoing certification requirements. Burnham Benefits Insurance Services is not affiliated with AXA Advisors or AXA Network.
Financial Professionals are contracted with AXA Advisors, LLC. AXA Advisors is an equal opportunity employer M/F/D/V
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