Team Showcase

Director of Underwriting
(516) 489-9800

With over two decades of industry experience, Christopher brings specialized insurance expertise and vast product and market knowledge to our team and yours. He brings his invaluable insights and risk management skills to his Underwriting position. Chris has been a valued member of our staff for eight years and is committed to providing best practices solutions that address your coverage needs while providing outstanding service to our partner agents. Christopher is a licensed agent and principal of Phillips General Insurance, which allows him to bring a unique perspective and balanced approach to underwriting. Chris is a graduate of Baruch College with a Business Degree.

In 1979 Peter founded Phillips Brokerage, Inc. in Astoria, NY and has over 35 years of experience as a successful retail agency owner with four offices throughout the New York metropolitan area. His professionalism, dynamic leadership style, success, and community involvement has earned him insurance carrier respect and recognition. Peter has served on several Agent-Carrier Advisory Councils and currently serves on the Board of Directors of TriCounty Independent Insurance Agents Association (Chapter of IIABNY) as President and is a member of the Advisory Board of Investors Bancorp, Inc. He brings his tremendous insurance expertise, sharp business focus and deep understanding of our industry to Advantage Partners. Having Co-Founding Advantage Partners in 2004, he has also served on Safeco’s Northeast Region Agent Advisory Council and Advantage Partners has earned the designation as a Safeco Premier Partner Agent and is a Chairman’s Award recipient. Peter has diverse business interests. He is also the Owner of A-Star Realty, a New York based real estate development and management company. Peter is very proud of his community service with Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church of Whitestone, NY, where he acts as Chairman of Construction, overseeing the development of the Church’s school and youth center and his leadership in the establishment of the TriCounty Independent Insurance Agents Association Scholarship program with St. John’s University School of Risk Management. Peter’s vast business experience and acumen add tremendous value, insight, guidance and dimension to the Advantage Partners team and its mission.

James has over 35 years of experience in commercial and personal insurance lines underwriting, supplemented by decades of work in claims, finance, marketing, reinsurance and senior executive positions. Before starting Advantage Partners, James was Regional Vice President of Michigan Mutual/Amerisure, President of North Sea Insurance Company, President & Chairman of the Board of Interboro Mutual Indemnity Insurance Company. Since Co-Founding Advantage Partners, he has served as President of Safeco’s Northeast Region Agent Advisory Council and has been selected to receive Safeco’s Underwriting “Award of Excellence.” Advantage Partners has earned the designation as a Safeco Premier Partner Agent and Chairman’s Award recipient. The elite Chairman’s Award from Safeco Insurance is given to 50 of the top-performing independent insurance agencies across the United States that sells Safeco Insurance personal lines products. James brings broad industry and leadership experience to the Advantage Partners team. He instills carrier-oriented, profitability based business practices throughout its operations. James also currently serves on the Board of Directors of the TriCounty Independent Insurance Agents Association (Chapter of IIABNY).