Benefits By Design is an Arizona based agency of 25 years’ experience specializing in providing and servicing group employee benefits

A letter from the President:

"It seems like just yesterday when I was sitting at my home office and wondering where to find my next client. Those were the good old days of working in comfy clothes, making myself have meetings just to get out of the house, and hanging out with my 90 pound akita, Kiko. Sacrifices had to be made and the convertible BMW had to be sold to help start the business. It seemed so difficult at that time, but it was just one of the steps that needed to be taken to get where we are today. And of course let's not forget calling all my friends and contacts to see if anyone needed insurance.

Eleven years later we have come a long way. We have a beautiful office in Tempe with a large conference room, four employees, 200 group clients and 300+ individual/family clients. I never dreamed of owning my own business, especially starting at 28 years old! It is amazing how it all has happened and all the networking, relationships, and friendships along the way came together to build the business. Our business became successful because of our clients giving us the opportunity to help them each and every day as their 'benefits department'. Oh, and let's not forget, that in addition to building a business I actually had time to meet my husband! Thank you so much for believing in Benefits by Design and continuing to help me reach our goals."

Member Organizations

• Arizona Small Business Association
• National Association of Women Business Owners
• National Association of Health Underwriters
• Tempe Chamber of Commerce
• WPO (Women's Presidents Organization)
• ASU Alumni Association
• Indiana University Alumni Association
• Boys & Girls Club of the East Valley
• Tempe Leadership Class XXIV
• AAAME (APS Academy for the Advancement of Small, Minority & Women Owned Enterprises

Recent Achievements

• Kristine was presented The Business Journal's " Top 40 Under 40" award for 2007
• Jennifer was awarded her Consumer Driven Health Care Designation
• Kristine and Jennifer both were Leading Producer Round Table Qualifiers for the last several years
• Kristine received her RHU designation
• Jennifer accepted into Tempe Leadership Class XXIV
• Kristine finalist for 2008 Tempe Chamber’s
  Business woman of the Year

Kristine Kassel, President 

Kristine is the proud President and Owner of Benefits by Design, which has been in business over 11 years!  She is currently on the Executive Board for ASBA, is active in the Women’s President Organization (WPO), and serves on the NAWBO Board.  She  has also served as the President of the Arizona and Phoenix Association of Health Underwriters Association and was awarded their National Distinguished Service Award.  Kristine has worked on several Department of Insurance committees and is also serving on the advisory board for LifeWise Health Plan of Arizona.  The Business Journal recognized her as one of the “40 Business Persons under 40” and she was nominated for the Tempe Chamber “Business Woman of the Year” award.  Notably, Kristine and Benefits by Design graduated in 2006 from the AAAMES two year mentoring program with APS, which supports women and minority owned businesses.

Kristine is a native Arizonan and received her BS degree from Arizona State University and has been in the insurance industry for 19 years.  She recently completed her Registered Health Underwriter (RHU) Designation.

Jennifer Skinner, Benefits Consultant

Jennifer has been with Benefits by Design since 2005, but has been in the Employee Benefits Industry since 1999.  She is responsible for marketing, as well as business development.  Jennifer graduated with a BS in Marketing from Indiana University and is very active in the insurance community.  Jennifer recently received her Consumer Driven Healthcare Designation and is the past State President of the Arizona Association of Health Underwriters.  She is currently active as the Ambassador Chair for the Tempe Chamber of Commerce, VP of the IU Alumni Club of Phoenix,  a member of the Tempe Leadership Class XXIV, and serves on the  board of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the East Valley. Phoenix.