Answer Financial hiring sales staff after Allstate acquisition

10/11/2011

Answer Financial, which operates an insurance sales customer service center in Oak Ridge, has announced its acquisition by Allstate Corp.

Allstate disclosed that it completed the purchase of Answer Financial and Esurance from White Mountains Insurance Group Ltd. for $1 billion.

Answer Financial has operated an Oak Ridge sales center since 2006, when it purchased InsLogic, a national insurance company. Answer employs approximately 160 workers at its Anderson County service center.

Answer spokesman Danny Miller said the company is hiring for its Oak Ridge sales center now that the company is a part of Allstate.

Miller said Answer, one of the largest independent personal lines insurance agencies in the country, and Allstate brands will remain separate, with Answer continuing to focus on selling direct to customers online and over the phone

He said the company is looking to fill about 60 sales positions, citing the busy auto insurance enrollment period in January as a reason for the hiring.

According to Miller, the average starting salary for the sales positions is $40,000 to $50,000 per year. He said the sales positions involve quality leads, no cold calling, full benefits with a 401(k), flexible scheduling, and potential to work from home. Interested candidates can send resumes to careers@answerfinancial.com.

In announcing the acquisition, Allstate said the transaction is expected to be non-dilutive to Allstate’s earnings in the second full year of ownership.

“Allstate is uniquely positioned to serve different customer segments with unique products and services,” Allstate President, Chairman and CEO Thomas J. Wilson said in a statement.

“This transaction provides immediate incremental growth in customer relationships and makes Allstate the only company serving all four major consumer segments based on their preferences for advice and choice. Allstate agencies serve personal touch loyalists who prefer local personal advice and are brand-sensitive. Esurance provides the business platform to serve the self-directed, brand-sensitive market segment. Answer Financial strengthens our offering to self-directed consumers who want a choice between insurance carriers. Customers who utilize independent agents and are brand-neutral are served by our Encompass operation,” Wilson added.

Allstate bills itself as the nation’s largest publicly held personal lines insurer. Esurance provides personal auto insurance direct to consumers online and through select agents, including sister company Answer Financial.

Esurance said in the coming months, the company’s management team will incorporate Allstate’s operational and marketing experience and its brand, pricing expertise and claims system into its operations. Allstate intends to maintain current headquarters of Esurance in San Francisco and Answer Financial in Los Angeles. These operations will be reported in the Allstate Protection reporting segment.

Source: Knox News Sentinel