Employee Benefit Specialists
Employee Benefit Specialists is a privately held insurance brokerage in Morristown, Tennessee, representing 45+ carriers to distribute health, dental, vision, life, disability, Medicare, and supplemental insurance products to individual consumers and employer groups via licensed agents.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1980
- HeadquartersMorristown, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Employee Benefit Specialists does
Employee Benefit Specialists (EBS) is a privately held insurance brokerage headquartered in Morristown, Tennessee, that distributes insurance products on behalf of more than 45 carriers to two primary customer segments: individual consumers and employer groups. The agency operates under a sales-led distribution model, with licensed agents delivering consultations via phone (423-581-7594, 1-800-264-7594) and website quote-request forms, emphasizing a "People, Not Products" service philosophy. The product portfolio spans 14 lines across health (PPO, HMO, POS), dental, vision, life (term, whole, graded), disability, long-term care, Medicare (Parts A-D, Advantage, Medigap) through a dedicated Senior Benefit Specialists (SBS) sub-brand, and supplemental products including cancer indemnity, lump-sum cancer and heart attack, and medical expense policies. EBS also offers Section 125 cafeteria plan administration and Affordable Care Act marketplace navigation for employers and individuals.
EBS earns revenue through commissions paid by insurance carriers on policies sold and renewed, a standard insurance brokerage model with recurring commission streams from renewals. The agency maintains strategic relationships with state insurance associations as referral channels and offers agents competitive commission structures with first-year application vesting, sales training, and access to retained tax and CPA professionals. The company is founder-led by John Smyth, with Stephanie Holmes serving as President, and claims a national geographic reach despite operating from a single Tennessee headquarters. There is no proprietary technology platform, no disclosed AI capabilities, and no capital markets activity — the business is a traditional relationship-based independent insurance agency.
Employee Benefit Specialists firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Employee Benefit Specialists
- Legal name
- Employee Benefits Specialists
- Website
- https://ebstn.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1980
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Employee Benefit Specialists is a privately held insurance brokerage in Morristown, Tennessee, representing 45+ carriers to distribute health, dental, vision, life, disability, Medicare, and supplemental insurance products to individual consumers and employer groups via licensed agents.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Employee Benefit Specialists industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Insurance Brokerage
- NAICS
- Insurance Agencies and Brokerages (524210), Insurance Agencies and Brokerages (52421), Agencies, Brokerages, and Other Insurance Related Activities (5242), Direct Health and Medical Insurance Carriers (524114), Direct Life, Health, and Medical Insurance Carriers (52411)
- SIC
- Insurance Agents, Brokers & Service (6411), Accident & Health Insurance (6321), Life Insurance (6311)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Employee Benefits Brokerage & Consulting (FSAEADAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Ancillary Employer Benefits (Life/Disability/Accident/Critical Illness) (HLAEAAAK), Flexible Benefits Administration (FSA/HSA/HRA) (HLAEALAK), Voluntary/Worksite Critical Illness & Hospital Indemnity (Employee-Paid) (FSAIAKAF), Benefits Administration (BPACAPAC)
Keywords
Where Employee Benefit Specialists is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Morristown
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Employee Benefit Specialists business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Insurance Brokerage Commissions: EBS operates as an insurance brokerage earning commissions from insurance carriers when policies are sold and renewed. The company represents over 45 insurance companies and offers competitive commission structures for agents, indicating a traditional insurance agency revenue model.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Monthly | Custom insurance quotes based on individual needs and carrier options |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
Employee Benefit Specialists product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Employee Benefit Specialists is an independent insurance brokerage that represents 45+ insurance carriers and places 14 distinct insurance products for two audiences: employers (group health, dental, vision, disability, life, voluntary/worksite benefits, and Section 125 administration) and individuals (Medicare supplements, individual health, life, dental, vision, cancer, accident, disability, long-term care, and annuities). The firm is compensated via carrier commissions and delivers its offering through licensed agents using phone-based inside sales and a website quote request flow.
Product overview
Employee Benefit Specialists (EBS) is an insurance brokerage offering a comprehensive portfolio of insurance products and services for both employers and individuals. The core offering centers on employee benefits brokerage—helping employers create and maximize benefit packages by representing over 45 insurance companies. For individuals, EBS provides Medicare planning, health, life, disability, dental, vision, and supplemental insurance (cancer, heart attack, medical expense). The portfolio includes Medicare-specific services through Senior Benefit Specialists (SBS), long-term care planning, and Section 125 cafeteria plans for tax-advantaged premium payments. The 14 distinct products range from foundational health, dental, and vision coverage to specialized supplemental policies like cancer indemnity and lump-sum heart attack/cancer insurance. EBS positions itself as a broker intermediary rather than a direct insurer, matching clients with appropriate carriers across its partner network.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Senior Benefit Specialists (SBS): A specialized service offered by EBS to assist individuals turning 65 with Medicare enrollment and coverage options.
Products and services
- Group Health Insurance Brokerage
- Group Dental and Vision Insurance
- Group Life and Disability Insurance
- Section 125 / Cafeteria Plan Administration
- Voluntary / Worksite Benefits
- Medicare Supplemental Insurance Brokerage Medicare supplemental insurance brokerage services for individuals and seniors, providing access to multiple carriers' Medicare supplement plans.
- Individual Health Insurance Individual health insurance brokerage services for consumers seeking personal medical coverage outside of employer-sponsored plans.
- Individual Life Insurance Individual life insurance brokerage services placing personal life policies with multiple carriers.
- Individual Dental and Vision Insurance Individual dental and vision insurance brokerage for consumers seeking personal dental and vision coverage.
- Cancer, Accident, and Supplemental Insurance Individual cancer, accident, and supplemental insurance brokerage for consumers seeking coverage for specific health events and expenses.
- Individual Disability Insurance Individual disability insurance brokerage for consumers seeking personal income protection coverage.
- Long-Term Care Insurance Long-term care insurance brokerage services for individuals planning for extended care needs.
- Annuities Annuity product brokerage for individuals seeking retirement income and tax-deferred savings solutions.
Quantifiable outcome
- Access to 45+ insurance carriers for optimal coverage matching
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Employee Benefit Specialists
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Employee Benefit Specialists technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Employee Benefit Specialists partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- 45+ Insurance CompaniescoreEBS represents over 45 insurance companies, offering customers access to a wide range of insurance products including health, dental, vision, life, disability, Medicare, cancer, and long-term care coverage.
- 30+ Health Insurance CarrierscorePartnership with more than 30 top-rated insurance carriers for health coverage, providing access to PPO, HMO, and POS plan types. Enables matching customers with optimal coverage, network size, and premium combinations.
- State Insurance AssociationscoreLong-standing relationships with state associations across the country. EBS agents benefit from these trusted referral relationships when connecting with new clients and organizations seeking insurance solutions.
- Leading Insurance ProviderscoreStrategic partnerships with leading insurance providers allow EBS to offer clients tailored solutions that fit every need and budget through exclusive product access.
- Tax Attorney and CPA ProfessionalsminorEBS keeps tax attorneys and CPAs on retainer to answer agent financial and tax-related questions, supporting agents in growing their business confidently.
- Medicare Carriers (All Major Carriers)coreAll Medicare specialists are brokers licensed and contracted with all major carriers throughout the areas EBS serves, enabling comprehensive Medicare plan options for customers.
- United Healthcare of TennesseecoreInsurance carrier partner providing health coverage options. EBS offers claims forms and processing support for this carrier.
- Settlers Life InsurancecoreLife insurance carrier partner. EBS provides claims form access and processing support.
- Life Insurance Company of AlabamacoreRegional life insurance carrier partner. EBS offers claims form access and processing support.
- Delta Dental of TennesseecoreDental insurance carrier partner serving Tennessee. EBS provides claims form access and support.
- Bluecross Blueshield of TennesseecoreMajor health insurance carrier in Tennessee. EBS offers claims forms and claims processing assistance.
- AvesiscoreInsurance carrier partner (vision and supplemental benefits). EBS provides claims form access and support services.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Employee Benefit Specialists competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Hub International: Hub International is a major North American insurance brokerage providing property, casualty, employee benefits, and personal insurance. Like EBS, it places group benefits through multiple carriers, but at much larger enterprise scale and broader geographic reach.
- USI Insurance Services: USI is a large insurance brokerage and consulting firm with a strong employee benefits practice. It competes with EBS in the employer-sponsored benefits space but serves mid-market and enterprise clients with integrated risk and benefits solutions.
- Brown & Brown Insurance: Brown & Brown is a large national insurance brokerage offering employee benefits, property & casualty, and personal lines. It competes with EBS in the benefits brokerage segment but operates at vastly greater scale with a heavy M&A roll-up strategy.
- AssureSource (NFP / Aon): NFP (now part of Aon) is a large insurance and benefits brokerage serving mid-market and individuals. It competes with EBS across health, life, Medicare, and supplemental lines, with far greater carrier leverage and geographic reach.
- CBIZ Benefits & Insurance Services: CBIZ provides benefits, insurance, and HR advisory services to mid-market employers. Comparable to EBS in benefits brokerage and Section 125/cafeteria delivery, but operates at much larger scale with public-company backing.
Direct peers
- SelectQuote: SelectQuote is a direct-to-consumer insurance brokerage specializing in life, Medicare, and supplemental products. Comparable to EBS in individual line insurance brokerage, though it operates a tech-enabled, high-volume agent model at national scale.
- OneDigital: OneDigital is a national employee benefits and insurance brokerage serving employers and individuals with health, wellness, and retirement products. Like EBS, it operates as a multi-carrier broker with a consultative sales model, though OneDigital is significantly larger and PE-backed.
- GoHealth: GoHealth is a Medicare-focused insurance brokerage that sells Medicare Advantage, Supplement, and Part D plans through technology-enabled agents. Directly comparable to EBS's Senior Benefit Specialists (SBS) sub-brand but operating at scale with proprietary technology.
- Assurance (MarshMcLennan Agency): Assurance is a national insurance brokerage (now part of Marsh McLennan Agency) focused on employee benefits, personal insurance, and HR solutions. Comparable to EBS in mid-market benefits brokerage but with significantly larger scale and carrier relationships.
Regional players
- Heffernan Insurance Brokers: Heffernan is a privately held insurance brokerage headquartered in the Western US with a strong employee benefits practice. Comparable to EBS in being founder-influenced and benefits-focused, but operating on the West Coast rather than the Southeast.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Employee Benefit Specialists social profiles
Digital presenceEmployee Benefit Specialists financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Employee Benefit Specialists leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Employee Benefit Specialists funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Employee Benefit Specialists M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Employee Benefit Specialists
What does Employee Benefit Specialists do?
Employee Benefit Specialists is an independent insurance brokerage that represents 45+ insurance carriers and places 14 distinct insurance products for two audiences: employers (group health, dental, vision, disability, life, voluntary/worksite benefits, and Section 125 administration) and individuals (Medicare supplements, individual health, life, dental, vision, cancer, accident, disability, long-term care, and annuities). The firm is compensated via carrier commissions and delivers its offering through licensed agents using phone-based inside sales and a website quote request flow.
Is Employee Benefit Specialists a public or private company?
Employee Benefit Specialists is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Employee Benefit Specialists founded?
Employee Benefit Specialists was founded in 1980. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Employee Benefit Specialists based?
Employee Benefit Specialists is headquartered in Morristown, United States, in the North America region.
How does Employee Benefit Specialists make money?
One revenue line is on record: insurance Brokerage Commissions.
Who are Employee Benefit Specialists's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Hub International, USI Insurance Services, Brown & Brown Insurance, AssureSource (NFP / Aon) and CBIZ Benefits & Insurance Services. Direct peers are SelectQuote, OneDigital, GoHealth and Assurance (MarshMcLennan Agency). Heffernan Insurance Brokers is listed as a regional player.
Does Employee Benefit Specialists have an API?
No public API is recorded for Employee Benefit Specialists.
What industry is Employee Benefit Specialists in?
Employee Benefit Specialists's product category is Insurance Brokerage. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAEADAC, Employee Benefits Brokerage & Consulting, with a secondary code of HLAEAAAK, Ancillary Employer Benefits (Life/Disability/Accident/Critical Illness). Its NAICS code is 524210 and its SIC code is 6411.