New Voluntary Benefits Awareness Program From Avant Benefits Provides Prospect Meetings to Benefits Marketers Nationally

MASSAPEQUA, NY--(Marketwire - February 11, 2009) - Avant Benefits, a New York-based benefits broker, has launched the Voluntary Benefits Awareness Program to provide carriers, enrollment firms and independent agents meetings with qualified prospective clients nationwide.

There's no up-front cost to participate. The program starts in February and will continue throughout 2009.

Avant Benefits will conduct 50,000 hours of outbound telemarketing via a dedicated, US-based voluntary benefits call center. The calls will target every organization in the country with 50 to 100,000 or more employees, excluding non-performing business classes such as real estate agencies and restaurants.

"This is the largest, most inclusive program ever undertaken to promote our industry, and we're proud to sponsor it," said Avant Benefits CEO Adam Post.

Agents and brokers can sign up at www.avbap.com. Carriers and enrollment firms should contact Avant Benefits in Massapequa, N.Y., by emailing adam.post@avantbenefits.com or calling (800) 514-9039.

Avant Benefits first schedules a meeting with a prospective customer. It then notifies pre-approved participating carriers, enrollment firms and independent agents. All participants are offered the same opportunity, and the first to respond will receive the pre-scheduled meeting exclusively. The meeting is reconfirmed by Avant Benefits, at which time the prospect is given the name and title of the participating representative.

Enrollment firms receive a share of commissions. Most independent agents pay a flat rate for each confirmed guaranteed meeting and retain all of the voluntary benefits commission generated.

Post said the approach has proved successful for years with one major carrier. "But today, the market needs choices, and we're giving it choices," he said.

The program is not currently open to AFLAC-only agents. However, AFLAC agents who carry or are interested in carrying another line of voluntary benefits can participate. "We have several carrier relationships we can refer them to," Post said.

Program Benefits Employers and Insurance Industry

Thanks to the Voluntary Benefits Awareness Program, companies and their employees will receive more voluntary benefits options, better products and better pricing, Post said.

The Voluntary Benefits Awareness Program also opens new doors for independent agents and carriers by providing direct access to hundreds of new high-level prospects each week. Prospects range in interest from curious to very motivated, seeking to find in-depth information regarding all types of voluntary benefits programs.

"There is a tremendous, unfulfilled demand for appropriate products and plans and confusion about what is available," Post said. "Some of our prospects have no voluntary benefits, some have very limited programs, some are unhappy with the programs they have and others just want to hear what else is available. Many others are misinformed about what voluntary benefits can do for people. Our industry needs to offer more choices to employees and that means a greater number of carriers need more direct access to prospects."

He added, "With increased awareness comes increased competition, which results in better benefits, better rates and more choices."

Having successfully generated millions of dollars in voluntary benefits premiums, CEO Post has a long track record of bringing diverse prospects and carriers together.

Contact Information: CONTACT: Adam Post CEO Avant Benefits, Inc. (800) 514-9039 adam.post@avantbenefits.com Henry Stimpson Stimpson Communications (508) 647-0705 Henry@StimpsonCommunications.com