Benchmark Benefits was founded in 2003 by Michael Hayes, who currently serves as President and CEO.  Benchmark Benefits is a privately held independent insurance agency that focuses on providing customized employee benefit solutions to our client companies. 

We are national in scope and local in focus, and provide a full array of client services including full administration and compliance support that focuses on navigating the entire health care landscape for our clients and their employees.

Always keep in mind we are an independent insurance agency. We do not represent the insurance company, we represent our clients.

The Principals

Michael Hayes:

Michael earned a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a concentration in finance from the University of Richmond before moving out west to start his group insurance career.  He began on the carrier side with Great West Life and United Health Care, where he completed an intensive self-funded underwriting and sales training program.  He moved into retail group sales in 1998 where he sold both self-funded and fully-insured benefit plans.

His combination of carrier-side and client-side experience prove invaluable when designing and implementing tailor-made benefit solutions for each of his clients.

James Motter:

Jim started his insurance career with the Levey Organization in April 1998 as a paid intern while he was a Sophomore at Crespi Carmelite High School in Encino, CA.  He continued through his senior year at UCLA, during which time he quickly became an invaluable asset to Michael Hayes, who had just started Benchmark Benefits.  Upon earning his Bachelor’s degree in Economics, he went on to earn his Juris Doctor at Southwestern Law School.

After practicing in civil litigation for nearly three years, he decided to return to his roots in the insurance business and formally joined Benchmark Benefits in January 2010. 

Robert Levey:

Bob started in the insurance business in 1950 after graduating high school.  While working he continued his studies at UCLA.  After several years experience with his father’s agency in Beverly Hills, he moved to the Valley and opened his own agency in Encino.  There he began to specialize in the area of personal and business life insurance, health insurance, and estate analysis.  Bob frequently works with other attorneys and accountants to properly develop financial programs for his clients and their businesses.  He spends a great deal of his time working in the areas of business continuation planning, key person insurance and estate planning.

In recognition of the growing complexity of employee benefits with pending legislation, more options for coverage, and more restrictive benefits, he joined forces with Benchmark Benefits in 2010 in order to maintain the level of creativity and attention to detail he has provided his clients for many years.