About us

EBS Advantage

Organization & Background

EBS is a marketing, consulting and service firm that specializes in the placement of Bank Owned Life Insurance (BOLI) and Corporate Owned Life Insurance (COLI) programs. These programs utilize life insurance to finance existing employee benefits, as well as to informally fund new or existing non-qualified executive benefit plans. The members of EBS, who are financial representatives, provide clients with access to the leading insurance carriers in the BOLI and COLI markets. EBS also delivers comprehensive implementation services and related consultation required to support a BOLI program. These services include assistance with regulatory due diligence, analysis of census data, product selection, periodic credit reviews of the insurance carriers, updates on BOLI legislative issues, and more.

Since its founding in 1998, EBS has implemented well over 300 BOLI and COLI transactions in thirty-nine states. These transactions have resulted in purchases of billions of dollars of face value placed with highly- rated insurance carriers offering institutional pricing. Our informal funding recommendations are built on sound economic foundations and are conservatively structured from a tax perspective. We welcome interested parties to contact our references regarding our services and regulatory compliance.

Founded

More than

1998

Access to the

$10B

in Birmingham, Alabama

Highest

in BOLI & COLI assets

rated life insurance carriers

Over

500

Nonqualified benefit plans implemented

Clients in

40

states across America

Innovative Solutions
Outstanding Service

EBS is the Endorsed BOLI Vendor of several banking associations including the Alabama Bankers Association (ABA), California Community Banking Network (CCBN), Community Bankers Association of Ohio (CBAO), Community Bankers of Michigan (CBM), and Georgia Bankers Association (GBA).

EBS has worked with numerous clients to optimize the BOLI/COLI programs placed by other vendors. We would be pleased to provide specific references from the clients that switched to EBS.

The financial representatives of EBS have selling agreements with the top mutual carriers including the following: Northwestern Mutual, New York Life, Mass Mutual and Guardian. We also have extensive knowledge and access to other scalable life insurance products from many other insurance carriers.

  • Our company has worked with them for over a decade. Their team is top notch – knowledgeable, professional, and great to work with. We have been extremely pleased with the advice and support they consistently provide. We would recommend them to anyone who asks.

    Elizabeth, Controller

Leadership

  • Russell H. Vandevelde, IV

    Birmingham, Alabama

    Russell is a nationally known expert in the product design and implementation of Bank Owned Life Insurance (BOLI) programs as well as Corporate Owned Life Insurance (COLI) programs. Russell has worked as a specialist since 1986 covering all 50 states. In addition to BOLI consulting, Russell also assists banks with Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plans.

    205-271-7021

    russellv@ebscomp.com

  • Jim Foyt, CPA (License Inactive)

    Birmingham, Alabama

    Jim is a founding partner and the President and Managing Partner of EBS. Jim is a highly specialized BOLI consultant working closely with businesses across the country on their executive benefit plans, executive compensation planning, BOLI consulting, regulatory compliance, and ongoing service needs. Jim has implemented hundreds of BOLI and executive benefit plans and is a frequent speaker at industry meetings on BOLI and COLI related topics.

    205-271-7024

    jfoyt@ebscomp.com

  • Jeffrey Peterson, CLU®, ChFC®

    San Francisco, California

    Jeff has spent over 30 years in executive benefit consulting for private and public sector corporations as well as consulting with their top executives. He has worked with several industries but has focused on the banking, technology and service industries, and his practice emphasizes all areas of executive benefit planning and informal funding.

    415-733-6540

    jpeterson@ebscomp.com

  • Phillip A. Pickett

    Phillip Pickett, CPA (License Inactive)

    Birmingham, Alabama

    Phil has over 20 years of experience working with companies across the country to develop and optimize their Bank Owned Life Insurance (BOLI) and Corporate Owned Life Insurance (COLI) programs. Phil also assists companies with the design and implementation of Nonqualified Executive Benefit Plans and Deferred Compensation Plans to help companies attract, retain, and reward their talent.

    205-803-7341

    ppickett@ebscomp.com

  • Michael Pounds

    Michael Pounds

    Birmingham, Alabama

    Michael works closely with corporations and financial institutions across the country on the design, implementation and administration of Bank Owned Life Insurance (BOLI) and Corporate Owned Life Insurance (COLI) programs. He also works with high-net-worth individuals providing consultation and analysis in estate planning services.

    205-949-4067

    mpounds@ebscomp.com

Associates

  • Hap Arnold

    Birmingham, Alabama

    Hap is an associate with EBS and works closely with banks, privately and publicly held companies, and individuals with their personal financial planning needs. Hap also assists with the preparation of BOLI sales proposals as well as identifying target prospects throughout the country.

  • Jennifer Underwood

    Jennifer Underwood

    Director of Underwriting and Technology

    Birmingham, Alabama

    Jennifer joined EBS in 2001 and is the Director of Underwriting for EBS. In this role, she works with clients to ensure that all requirements are met for underwriting. Jennifer also manages the employee consent process and case application. As a Plan Implementation Manager, Jennifer works closely with insurance carriers to implement BOLI and COLI programs. Jennifer also assists with premium allocation and case sizing.

  • Mark Williams , CFP®, CLU®, ChFC®

    Director of Marketing

    Birmingham, Alabama

    Mark Williams is the Director of Marketing for EBS. He has worked in the financial services industry for sixteen years. He is responsible for the preparation of BOLI, COLI and nonqualified benefit plan sales proposals, bank peer group compensation studies and overall company marketing efforts.

  • Andrew Achary

    Baton Rouge, Louisiana

    Andrew is an associate partner with EBS. He is a specialized BOLI/COLI consultant working closely with businesses across the gulf south on their executive benefit plans, executive compensation planning, BOLI consulting, regulatory compliance, and ongoing service needs.

  • Kirk Anderson

    Kirk Anderson

    Troy, MI

    Kirk has spent his entire career in the financial services industry. He began his career working in the life insurance industry culminating in senior executive positions. Kirk has since spent more than twenty years working with Michigan banks designing and implementing nonqualified benefit plans to help them keep and attract the best executive talent. Additionally, Kirk is considered an expert in implementing optimal Bank Owned Life Insurance (BOLI) plans for Michigan banks. Kirk prides himself as an industry spokesperson and participant in all Michigan banking circles.

  • Howard Edelstein, CLU®, AEP®

    Cleveland, Ohio

    Howard has been involved in the insurance and financial services business for over 40 years. A well-known commentator on benefits and estate planning topics, Howard has made multiple appearances on CNBC television, Bloomberg Radio, and WCLV-FM.

  • Brian Edelstein, CFP®, CLU®, ChFC®

    Cleveland, Ohio

    Brian advises businesses and their key managers on matters of executive benefits and personal financial planning. He is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, a Chartered Life Underwriter® and a Chartered Financial Consultant®. He entered the financial services business in 2008, following a six-year career in the public relations field.