The Hartford Enhances Sales Support for Benefits Brokers In the Small Business Marketplace

HartfordA new team at The Hartford is offering specialized services for benefits brokers, in order to meet the changing needs of small business owners and their employees.

Published on June 28, 2012

The Hartford recently launched an innovative small business center specifically designed to provide brokers with enhanced sales support and a quicker turnaround on responses to requests for proposals. The center is staffed with a group of experienced and knowledgeable small business sales associates who specialize in consulting on group life and accident insurance, long-term disability insurance, and short-term disability insurance for companies with 4 to 49 employees. The center offers extended hours of operation to deliver consistent ease of doing business with brokers across the United States.

"Small business is a big focus for The Hartford," said Donato Monaco, vice president of small business for The Hartford's Group Benefits. "We are committed to equipping brokers with the products, services and tools that they need to help small business owners and their employees."

The Hartford has been providing employee benefits to small businesses for more than three decades. Its small business offering and approach were enhanced after extensive research, including broker focus groups and surveys of small business owners and employees.

The Hartford Small Business Success Study, a national survey of 2,000 small business owners, found 28 percent of companies with 5 to 49 employees were likely to offer, have offered or intend to soon offer employee benefits, such as group life, disability or long-term care coverage, in order to grow or maintain their business.

There's also a need for insurance benefits among employees at smaller companies, according to The Hartford Benefits For Tomorrow Study, a national survey of 1,000 full-time U.S. workers. One in four employees at businesses with less than 100 people said they would need to "completely change" their lifestyle to meet expenses if they or their partner lost income for three to six months.

"No matter what size company they work for, Americans want and need benefits that protect their family finances," Monaco said. "The Hartford offers employee benefits to help employers achieve their goals of growing and maintaining their company and resources to help their employees make informed benefit choices to protect what matters most."

Benefits brokers can request a quote or seek more information from the new small business center by calling (888) 899-9174 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern time, Monday through Friday, or by sending an e-mail to gbsmallbusiness@thehartford.com.

Additional resources, including the MyTomorrow web site and electronic submission templates, can be found on the new web site at www.thehartford.com/gbsmallbusiness.

Survey Methodology

The Small Business Success Study was developed by The Hartford with Fahlgren Mortine and fielded via telephone and Web by Abt SRBI from July 23 to Sept. 21, 2011. The nationally representative sample consisted of 2,000 small business owners of companies with fewer than 100 employees and annual revenue of $100,000 or more that have been in business for at least one year. The margin of error is +/-3.03 percent for the national sample.
The Benefits For Tomorrow Study was developed by The Hartford and fielded via web by BuzzBack in March 2012. The nationally representative sample consisted of 1,000 full-time U.S. workers, aged 18-65. The margin of error is +/- 3.1 percent for the national sample.