Business Details
Trusted Insurance Advisory Services in Seattle
Pillar International Insurance Advisors is an independent insurance and benefit plan advisory firm dedicated to serving enterprises, their owners, management, and stakeholders. Our team of senior professionals, with backgrounds in accounting, law, investments, and insurance, specializes in employee benefit program design, implementation, and management, as well as insurance financing for shareholder repurchase plans and capital transfer needs. We serve a diverse clientele, including privately held firms, publicly traded companies, health and human services institutions, and affluent individuals globally. Our approach combines thoughtful analysis, quality execution, and remarkable client service to deliver tailored solutions that address complex business and personal financial challenges. With offices in Seattle, Chicago, and Honolulu, we prioritize client service excellence, fostering long-term relationships built on trust and expertise.Our professionals hold advanced designations in business tax, pension, and estate planning, ensuring clients receive comprehensive, strategic guidance. We are committed to continuous innovation in benefit design, succession planning, and risk management, helping advisors and management teams achieve their goals. Our culture emphasizes discretion, creativity, and attention to detail, which has earned us recognition from family offices and industry leaders. We collaborate with clients to optimize retirement plans, executive compensation structures, and lifelong income protection strategies, leveraging decades of collective experience. Our mission remains singular: to serve clients exceptionally well through personalized, sustainable, and inclusive solutions.
Services
Employee Benefits Design
Business Succession Planning
Life Insurance Portfolios
Executive Compensation Structuring
Retirement Plan Optimization
Long-Term Care Planning
Disability Insurance Solutions
Wealth Transfer Strategies
Highlights and features
- We offer 30+ years of combined experience in life insurance and employee benefits.
- Our team includes Chartered Life Underwriters and Accredited Investment Fiduciaries.
- We specialize in customized business succession and executive compensation planning.
- Our fiduciary approach prioritizes client needs in retirement plan design.
- We provide multilingual support for international clients and institutions.
Associations and certifications
- Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU)
- Accredited Investment Fiduciary (AIF)
- Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor (CPFA)
Services
Employee Benefits Design
We create customized employee benefit programs that align with business objectives and workforce needs. Our solutions integrate health, retirement, and executive compensation plans to enhance talent retention and regulatory compliance. By analyzing market trends and organizational goals, we deliver cost-effective, sustainable benefit structures for mid-sized to large enterprises.
Business Succession Planning
Our succession planning services ensure seamless ownership transfers and leadership continuity. We develop strategies for shareholder repurchase plans, capital transfers, and executive succession that protect business value and stakeholder interests. Through comprehensive risk assessments and tax-efficient structures, we prepare organizations for generational transitions and long-term stability.
Life Insurance Portfolios
We design and manage substantial life insurance portfolios for affluent individuals and family offices. Our expertise includes private placement solutions, institutional lending integration, and performance reporting. These strategies provide financial security, estate liquidity, and tax-advantaged wealth transfer mechanisms tailored to complex financial situations.
Retirement Plan Optimization
Our fiduciary advisors specialize in designing retirement plans that balance employer costs with employee benefits. We implement customized 401(k) structures, nonqualified deferred compensation plans, and multi-layered benefit programs. Through ongoing compliance monitoring and participant education, we help organizations achieve retirement readiness goals while minimizing regulatory risks.
Executive Compensation Structuring
We develop comprehensive executive compensation packages that align with corporate governance standards and performance objectives. Our solutions combine short-term incentives, long-term equity arrangements, and deferred compensation plans to attract and retain top leadership talent while maintaining shareholder alignment and tax efficiency.
People
Connor Bench
Principal & General Manager
Former US Navy officer with advanced degrees in business and engineering. Specializes in continuity planning and talent management for business owners. Graduated from the United States Naval Academy and University of Washington.
Rodney Bench
Equity Principal
Seasoned financial services executive with expertise in succession planning and executive compensation. Served on boards of Seattle University and industry organizations. Chartered Life Underwriter with three decades of experience in wealth management.
Constance Carroll
Senior Advisor
30-year veteran in life insurance solutions for high-net-worth families and institutions. Specializes in tax-efficient income protection and retirement planning. Active Finseca member advocating financial security for all clients.
Shannon Hahn
Risk Analyst
25-year life insurance industry expert with Chartered Life Underwriter designation. Focuses on underwriting complex health cases and long-term care planning. Holds FINRA Series 6 & 63 licenses and operates in 23 states.
Gordon E. Chip Hammond
Senior Insurance Professional
Specializes in large insurance portfolios for enterprises and trusts. Merged his 1987-established practice with Pillar for client continuity. Active in Hawaii healthcare and charitable organizations, including Hawaii Pacific Health Medical Group.
Questions
What types of businesses does Pillar International Insurance Advisors serve?
We work with substantial privately held enterprises, publicly traded companies, health institutions, and professional services firms globally.
How does Pillar approach employee benefits planning?
Our three-step process includes customized design, integration with existing benefits, and comprehensive communication strategies to maximize ROI.
Do you work directly with individual clients?
Yes, we manage life insurance portfolios for affluent individuals and family offices through our Private Client Pillar division.
What makes Pillar's succession planning different?
Our comprehensive approach considers both human and financial capital rotation with tax-efficient, long-term strategies developed over decades.
Are your advisors credentialed professionals?
Our team holds prestigious designations including Chartered Life Underwriter and Accredited Investment Fiduciary certifications.
