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About Us

About Us
High-Touch Benefits Consulting for Businesses of All Sizes

Employee benefits are one of the most significant investments a business makes in its people. Getting them right takes more than a carrier comparison and an annual check-in. United Professional Benefits was founded on the conviction that businesses deserve a partner who stays engaged, thinks strategically, and treats every client relationship as something worth protecting.

We Work Differently

Most companies hear from their benefits broker at renewal and not much otherwise. That is not how we operate. We build close, ongoing relationships with every client, grounded in regular communication and a thorough understanding of each business we serve. One-on-one meetings are central to how we work because no spreadsheet captures what a conversation does. When we know a business well, we advise it better.

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Tailored to the Business, Not the Other Way Around

A benefits program should reflect the workforce it serves. The priorities of a 12-person manufacturing company are not the same as those of a 200-person professional services firm, and we do not treat them as if they are. Every engagement begins with listening. From there, we design a strategy that fits the organization as it exists today and has room to evolve as it grows.

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Ahead of What's Coming

Compliance requirements shift. Carrier offerings change. New regulations create new obligations for employers who may not even know they apply. Staying current is not something we do occasionally; it is a core part of the service. Our team monitors regulatory developments and industry trends continuously so that clients are informed, prepared, and never caught off guard.

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Rooted in Upstate New York

We have spent decades building relationships with businesses across Upstate New York, and that regional familiarity shapes how we work. We understand the employers here, the communities they operate in, and the workforce they are trying to support. That context is not incidental. It makes us better at what we do.

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Meet Your Team

Zach Allen, LUTCF

Managing Partner

Zachary Allen is the Managing Partner of United Professional Advisors (UPA) and co-founder of United Professional Benefits (UPB). He leads with a relationship first approach: Clear direction, fast follow-through, and real...
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Kim Allen, Certified Financial Fiduciary 

Founding Partner, UPA

Kim G. Allen, LUTCF, is the Founding Partner of United Professional Advisors, bringing nearly four decades of experience in comprehensive financial planning, business succession, and estate planning.Kim is dedicated to helping...
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Brett Shippee

Managing Partner

Brett Shippee brings more than a decade of experience in the insurance and retirement services industry, shaped early in his career by mentorship from leaders with over forty years of expertise at Foy Benefits Inc., where he served as...
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Emily Eiss-Sigel

Chief Operating Officer

Emily Eiss-Sigel is a dedicated professional with nearly a decade of experience in the health insurance and third-party administrator (TPA) industry. She brings a strong background in operations, client service, and business strategy,...
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Brennon Shippee

Executive Assistant

Benefits are something most employees interact with every year, yet genuinely understand far less often. That gap between enrollment and comprehension is what pulled Brennon Shippee into this industry, and it continues to shape how he...
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Katelyn VanBrocklin

Account Executive

Kate VanBrocklin is the person clients call when something needs to get done. As Account Executive at United Professional Benefits, she manages group renewals, coordinates across carriers, HR teams, and third-party administrators, and...
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MaryAllyn Baeslack

VP, Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, Payroll, Commission Tracking

Before joining United Professional Benefits, MaryAllyn Baeslack ran her own employee benefits agency. That chapter of her career gave her a perspective most people in her position simply do not have. She knows what it takes to build...
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Andrew Marks

Insurance Broker, Benefits Specialist, Account Manager

Almost two decades in the benefits industry will teach you a lot about what businesses actually need. For Andrew Marks, that experience has translated into a straightforward professional philosophy: find the most cost-effective plan...
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Rich Miles

Insurance Broker

With over 30 years of experience in sales across multiple industries, I’ve built my career around one principle: helping clients make informed, confident decisions. I’ve owned, operated, and successfully sold multiple businesses,...
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Samantha Robbins

Director of Risk Management

Samantha Robbins is the Managing Director of Risk Management at United Professional Advisors (UPA).She has years of experience in building and growing client relationships, always putting the clients needs first. She joined United...
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Hayden Freeman

Insurance Broker

Hayden Freeman was the flagship student to graduate from SNHU with a bachelors in financial planning working with the professors and staff to make the program what it is today. His goal is to have all clients feel positive towards...
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Coltan Goodwine

Managing Director of Financial Planning

Coltan was born and raised in Rochester, NY. He joined the United Professional Advisors team in 2020 and brings in-depth financial expertise that serves as a valuable asset to the firm. Coltan is dedicated to helping clients by...
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Neil Freeman

Insurance Broker

With over 40 years of experience my main focus is on business and individuals. My goal is to help clients reach their financial potential and become a respected member of their planning team. I am very active in the community and a...
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We Want to
Hear From You

Whether you have a specific question or just want to explore what working together looks like, a conversation is a good place to start. Schedule a call and let's talk.


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