2009 1st Place Winner, Best Places to Work 2009: Brokers International

From left, Bill McCarty, Brokers International president; Roger McCarty, founder and CEO; and Kelly McCarty, executive vice president. Photo by Duane Tinkey

2009 Winners Best Places to Work

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Large Companies (151+)
1st: U.S. Cellular
2nd: Holmes Murphy
3rd: RSM McGladrey

Medium Companies (51-150)
1st: Brokers International
2nd: McGowen, Hurst, Clark & Smith
3rd: Bank Iowa

Small Companies (less than 50)
1st: Palmer Group
2nd: Performance Marketing
3rd Carrier Access

2009 1st Place Winner, Best Places to Work 2009: Brokers International BY JOE GARDYASZ
Brokers International Ltd. is one of the industry leaders in educating and training financial professionals on new products and offers programs to help them expand their businesses. It specializes in training for fixed annuity, life insurance and other products through online workshops.

From the time Roger McCarty founded the company in 1955, the family-owned business in Panora has grown from a two-story house to a 10-acre campus with 19,000 square feet of office space. Its 89 employees work with more than 40,000 licensed insurance professionals nationwide.

Brokers International has not felt the effects of the recession because of its market niche, said Bill McCarty, the company's president. "We work with agents who offer fixed annuities, and the demand for these types of products has outgrown the supply," he said.

Because of that stability, the company has not experienced any of the salary or staff reductions that many other businesses have faced. "In fact, we were able to give our associates a profit-sharing bonus based off our earnings last year, and we hope to do so again next year," McCarty said. It has maintained a rich benefits package for such a small employer, including an employer-matched 401(k) plan and group life insurance. This year the company increased its contribution to its health and dental plans.

Brokers International enjoys a very low turnover rate among its associates, about a third of whom commute from Greater Des Moines.

The company provides a nurturing atmosphere for its employees and values their feedback, said McCarty, who regularly takes small groups of associates to lunch to hear their concerns. "We listen to associates at all levels and really believe their feedback is important to make our company successful."

The company is also trying out a new plan to take each department out to lunch at the Conference Center at Lake Panorama National Resort throughout the year.

Brokers International has made significant efforts in the past couple of years to help its associates improve their health and fitness. It has continued to add new equipment at its on-campus fitness center, where the company offers twice-weekly workout classes conducted by a personal trainer. It also pays half the cost for employees to enroll in the Weight Watchers program, and even provides complimentary fresh fruit in each break room.

"Brokers International Ltd. provides associates with more than just a job," McCarty said. "We care about them and their overall well-being."

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