Established 1973
Company History
In 1970, the company's founder, James E. Bushnell, started the business as a sole proprietorship in Vermont and was engaged in the business of insurance brokerage.
In 1974, with the passage of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), the company expanded its services and established the first Vermont based, fee only, employee benefits consulting firm that initially specialized in the design, administration, communication and funding of retirement plans.
In 1976, Bushnell & Company became incorporated and had grown to a staff of five employees.
In 1980, recognizing the potential for conflicts of interest with clients and prospects, Jim terminated all of his VT, NH, ME, MA and NY insurance brokers licenses. Shortly thereafter, he became the first Vermont resident to become a licensed life & health insurance consultant. The second and third licensed life & health insurance consultants were employed by the firm of Bushnell, Ducham & Company, of which Mr. Bushnell was the president. This firm grew during the 1980's to a total staff of 11 employees with annual revenues of $800,000.
In 1993, Bushnell & Company merged its employee benefits consulting practice with Gallagher, Flynn & Company, Vermont's largest independently owned CPA firm with annual revenues in excess of $5,000,000 and a staff of 50 employees.
In 1996, when his wife was transferred to Atlanta, Georgia, Jim established the first Georgia based, fee only, full service employee benefits consulting firm of Bushnell & Company.
In 2006, when his wife received a promotion and was transferred to Austin, Texas, Jim simply transferred his fee only, full service employee benefits consulting firm of Bushnell & Company to Austin.