ebdinsurance.com

What ebdinsurance.com does

Employee Benefit Design, LLC (EBD Insurance) is an independent, carrier-agnostic insurance agency headquartered in Springfield, Missouri, co-founded in 1997 by Ken Stephens after he entered the insurance industry in 1985. The firm provides group health, dental, vision, life, disability, worksite/voluntary, self-funded/ASO, and retirement (401k, 403b, 457, SEP/SIMPLE IRA) benefits to small, mid-sized, and large employers in the southwest Missouri / Ozarks region, with adjacent individual health, Medicare, and personal lines practices. Revenue is generated primarily through carrier commissions on placed coverage, ASO administration fees, and fee-based HR/benefits consulting, with no publicly disclosed pricing — all quotes are produced on a consultative, no-obligation basis.

EBD's service model is a dedicated-team model: each client is assigned a Producer, Account Manager, and Customer Service Representative, and the firm acts as an outsourced benefits department handling plan design, carrier shopping, open enrollment, compliance (COBRA, ERISA, HIPAA, ACA, Section 125), and ongoing renewal negotiations. The technology backbone is third-party SaaS — Employee Navigator for 24/7 online enrollment and HR administration, the UBA health plan benchmarking tool for actuarial comparison, and Section 125 administration platforms (Beneflex, HRPro, TASC, PrimePay) for pre-tax benefit plan management. The carrier panel exceeds 20 national and regional providers (Anthem, United Healthcare, Aetna, Cigna, Humana, MetLife, UNUM, Delta Dental, Guardian, Aflac, and others), which the firm accesses as a licensed broker rather than as a captive agent.

EBD is a privately held, family-owned, bootstrapped business with no venture or private equity backing. It is a United Benefit Advisors (UBA) Partner Firm, a Self-Funded Certified agency, and a member of NABIP; principal Ken Stephens was recognized as a 2022 Springfield Business Journal Trusted Adviser. The named team includes Stephens' two children (Kimberlee Nevins, Drew Stephens) as the second generation of producers, plus specialized staff for Medicare and retirement — a multi-generational succession structure that anchors the firm's continuity and is unusual for an agency of its regional scale.

Name

ebdinsurance.com

Legal name

Employee Benefit Design, LLC

Website

https://ebdinsurance.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Short description

EBD Insurance (Employee Benefit Design, LLC) is an independent, carrier-agnostic insurance agency in Springfield, Missouri, providing group health, dental, life, disability, self-funded, and retirement benefits to small and mid-sized employers across southwest Missouri, with adjacent individual, Medicare, and HR consulting practices.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Insurance Brokerage and Employee Benefits Administration

NAICS

Insurance Agencies and Brokerages (524210), Agencies, Brokerages, and Other Insurance Related Activities (5242), Insurance Agencies and Brokerages (52421)

SIC

Insurance Agents, Brokers & Service (6411)

akta.pro primary industry

Ancillary Employer Benefits (Life/Disability/Accident/Critical Illness) (HLAEAAAK)

Keywords

• Employee benefits brokerage
• Group health insurance
• Independent insurance agency
• Medicare advisory services
• Retirement plan consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Springfield

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Insurance Brokerage Commissions: As an independent insurance agency and benefits broker, EBD earns commissions from insurance carriers for placing group and individual health, dental, life, disability, worksite, and retirement insurance policies. Group plans can be offered as fully insured or self-insured.
2. Self-Funded / ASO Administration Fees: Fees earned from administering self-insured health plans on behalf of employers (administrative services only / ASO model), including claims administration, COBRA/HIPAA compliance services, and plan management.
3. Business Consulting & HR Services: Fee-based consulting services including complete program analysis, carrier renewal negotiations, benefit cost projections, claims analysis, and HR/business consulting for employers.
4. Medicare Supplement Advisory Services: EBD is certified to offer Medicare Supplements to members, earning commissions on Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement plans placed for individual Medicare-eligible clients.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Employee Benefit Design, LLC (EBD Insurance) is an independent, carrier-agnostic insurance agency and benefits brokerage that designs, places, and administers group and individual insurance and employee benefits programs for employers and individuals. It distributes coverage across more than 20 national and regional insurance carriers and delivers ongoing account management, compliance support, enrollment administration, and retirement plan consulting.

Product overview

EBD Insurance (Employee Benefit Design) is an independent insurance agency offering a comprehensive portfolio of employee benefits products and services. The core offerings include Group Benefits & Insurance (health, dental, vision, life, disability), Individual Healthcare & Medicare coverage, Retirement & Financial Planning, Business Consulting Services, and Administrative Support. These products work together as a unified benefits management platform — the company serves as a benefits broker matching employers with insurance carriers and providing ongoing administration, compliance, and consulting services. Group plans can be offered as fully insured or self-insured, while individual coverage is offered on a fully insured basis. The product ecosystem includes various add-on modules such as Section 125 Cafeteria Plans, HSAs, HRAs, voluntary/worksite insurance, wellness programs, and online enrollment tools through Employee Navigator portal access.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Group Benefits & Insurance Health, dental, vision, life, AD&D, disability, voluntary/worksite, HSA, HRA, Section 125 cafeteria plans, retirement, and wellness benefits offered to employees and their families as part of an employer's total compensation package; can be structured as fully insured or self-insured plans.
• Medicare Plans Medicare Part A and Part B coverage, Medicare Advantage (Part C), Medicare Supplement, and Medicare Part D prescription drug plans for individuals age 65 or older and those with qualifying disabilities.
• Individual Healthcare Benefits Customized individual health insurance including Marketplace and off-Marketplace options, short-term and hospital indemnity plans, term and whole life insurance, disability income, personal umbrella, long-term care, IRA/Roth IRA/annuities/variable life, and international vacation health coverage for individuals and families outside of employer group plans.
• Retirement & Financial Planning Retirement plan design, administration, and consulting including 401(k) with employer match, 403(b), 457, employee stock ownership, profit sharing, SEP IRA, Simple IRA, defined benefit pensions, and financial planning for employees approaching retirement.
• Business Consulting Services Complete program analysis, carrier renewal negotiations, benefit cost projections, and claims analysis for employers; helps businesses build benefit plans that serve both business and employee interests.
• Business Administrative Support HR support, flex plan development and management, new hire onboarding meetings, 24/7 Employee Navigator online benefit portal access, open enrollment management, benefit compliance liaison services, and online enrollment administrative support.

Quantifiable outcome

• Benefits typically make up more than 30% of an employer's total compensation package.
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

32 partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• United Benefit Advisors (UBA)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerEBD is a UBA Partner Firm, one of the largest employee benefits advisory organizations in the country. Through this partnership, EBD gains access to national service, resources, and expertise. The UBA partnership provides EBD's clients with the industry's most extensive health plan benchmarking tool, enabling accurate comparisons of health plans against industry, state, and national averages. UBA also enables EBD to co-service multi-state employer accounts and gain referral business from other UBA member firms.
• Anthem BlueCross BlueShieldcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEBD distributes Anthem BlueCross BlueShield health insurance products (medical and ancillary) to employer groups and individuals in the southwest Missouri market.
• United HealthcarecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEBD distributes United Healthcare health insurance products (medical and ancillary) to employer groups and individuals in the southwest Missouri market.
• Cox HealthPlanscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAs a regional carrier, Cox HealthPlans is a key carrier partner for EBD, providing health insurance options tailored to the southwest Missouri market.
• AetnacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEBD distributes Aetna health insurance products (medical and ancillary) to employer groups and individuals.
• CignacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEBD distributes Cigna health insurance products (medical and ancillary) to employer groups and individuals.
• HumanacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEBD distributes Humana health insurance products (medical and ancillary) to employer groups and individuals.
• Meritain HealthcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEBD distributes Meritain Health self-funded and fully insured health plans to employer groups.
• AflaccoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEBD distributes Aflac voluntary insurance products including critical illness, cancer, and hospital indemnity coverage.
• MetLifecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEBD distributes MetLife group life, dental, and other voluntary insurance products.
• UNUMcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEBD distributes UNUM disability and life insurance products to employer groups and individuals.
• Delta DentalcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEBD distributes Delta Dental group dental insurance products to employer groups.
• The StandardcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEBD distributes The Standard disability, life, and voluntary insurance products.
• Mutual of OmahacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEBD distributes Mutual of Omaha life, health, and disability insurance products.
• GuardiancoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEBD distributes Guardian Life dental, vision, life, and disability insurance products.
• BeneflexcoreTechnology or IntegrationBeneflex provides Section 125 cafeteria plan administration software that EBD uses to help employers set up pre-tax benefit plans in compliance with IRS regulations.
• HRProcoreTechnology or IntegrationHRPro provides Section 125 cafeteria plan administration services used by EBD for client benefit plan management.
• TASC (Total Administrative Services Corporation)coreTechnology or IntegrationTASC provides Section 125 cafeteria plan and compliance administration services used by EBD for FSA, HRA, and other pre-tax benefit plan management.
• EyeMed Vision CarecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEBD distributes EyeMed vision insurance products to employer groups.
• Sun Life FinancialcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEBD distributes Sun Life Financial group life, disability, and voluntary insurance products.
• Principal Financial GroupcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEBD distributes Principal Financial Group retirement and insurance products including 401k, life, and disability.
• Reliance MatrixcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEBD distributes Reliance Matrix (Reliance Standard) life and disability insurance products to employer groups.
• OneAmericacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEBD distributes OneAmerica retirement, life, and disability insurance products.
• The HartfordcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEBD distributes The Hartford group life, disability, and voluntary insurance products.
• Colonial LifecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEBD distributes Colonial Life voluntary/specified disease insurance products.
• American FidelitycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEBD distributes American Fidelity cancer, critical illness, and voluntary insurance products.
• Allstate BenefitscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEBD distributes Allstate Benefits voluntary insurance products including critical illness and hospital indemnity.
• AmeritascoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEBD distributes Ameritas dental, vision, and life insurance products.
• Companion Life InsurancecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEBD distributes Companion Life Insurance products.
• Kansas City Life InsurancecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEBD distributes Kansas City Life Insurance products.
• Leaders Life InsurancecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEBD distributes Leaders Life Insurance products.
• Employee NavigatorcoreTechnology or IntegrationEmployee Navigator is the web-based enrollment and benefits administration portal used by EBD and offered to clients. It provides 24/7 online access for employees and HR administrators to track coverage, shop benefits, and manage enrollment. EBD uses this platform to facilitate open enrollment and ongoing benefits management for their employer clients.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• TrueNorth Companies: Mid-market employee benefits and risk management brokerage and UBA partner headquartered in the Midwest. Direct comparable in employer-benefits focus, independent broker model, and self-funded capabilities, but with broader scale and geographic reach.
• Holmes Murphy: Independent employee benefits brokerage and UBA partner firm headquartered in the Midwest, offering group health, benefits, and risk consulting to mid-market employers. Direct comparable in both business model (independent broker) and segment (employer benefits), with national reach EBD can access via UBA.
• The Partners Group: Independent employee benefits, insurance, and wealth management firm and UBA partner serving mid-market employers in the Pacific Northwest. Comparable model (independent broker, employer benefits focus, UBA membership) operating in a different region.
• OneDigital: Large independent employee benefits and HR consulting firm and UBA partner that serves mid-market and large employers with benefits brokerage, retirement, and compliance services. Closest direct peer given shared UBA affiliation, carrier-agnostic model, and overlapping client profile.

Broad incumbents

• Brown & Brown Insurance: Large publicly traded insurance broker with a growing employee benefits practice serving mid-market and enterprise employers. Represents scale-incumbent pressure on independent regional brokers like EBD.
• HUB International: Large North American insurance brokerage offering employee benefits, P&C, and personal lines to mid-market and enterprise clients. Overlaps with EBD on group benefits brokerage but operates at far greater scale and with broader product scope.
• Marsh McLennan Agency: Middle-market arm of Marsh McLennan offering employee benefits, risk management, and consulting. Large incumbent that competes with EBD for growing mid-market employers seeking independent advisory.
• USI Insurance Services: Top-10 U.S. insurance brokerage providing employee benefits, commercial, and personal insurance. Competes with EBD for mid-market employer benefits accounts, particularly those with multi-state footprints.
• AssuredPartners: National insurance brokerage built through roll-up of independent agencies across employee benefits, P&C, and personal lines. Competes for the same mid-market employer benefits accounts EBD serves.

Regional players

• Houchens Insurance Group: Multi-line independent insurance agency based in the Midwest (Kentucky) serving employer groups with health, life, disability, and P&C benefits. Comparable independent brokerage model with regional concentration, though broader in line-of-business scope than EBD.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about ebdinsurance.com