CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Wachovia Insurance Services, a Wells Fargo Company, announced today that Steve Farish, senior vice president from the company's Columbia, S.C. office, received Risk & Insurance's 2009 employee benefits "Power Broker" award in the voluntary benefits category.

"Steve is a thought leader when it comes to voluntary benefits," said Todd Renner, regional managing director, employee benefits - East Area. "He has been delivering innovative products and solutions to our clients for many years. His extensive industry experience is a tremendous asset for our organization. It's great to see him recognized in this way."

Farish has been with Wachovia since 2005, assuming various roles prior to joining Wachovia Insurance Services. He works with brokers and customers in delivering core and voluntary communication and education, technology and best in class products as well as other value added platforms to attract and retain employees.

"It is great to see that an industry leader like Risk & Insurance is recognizing people in the voluntary benefits world," said Farish. "It takes a great team of professionals to make a difference and to coordinate all of the moving parts in the benefit planning and compensation strategy for a customer. Our team is positioned to provide great tools and services, as well as products that can bring a lagging benefit plan to the cusp of leading edge plan design with integral planning of Core and Voluntary benefits in the Total Rewards strategy."


More than 100 nominees serving four industry groups were considered for this award by the staff of Risk & Insurance magazine. In confidential interviews, key employee benefit managers were asked to cite specific examples of what a broker accomplished during 2008 to deserve recognition. Employee benefit managers gave specific descriptions of how particular brokers solved different claims, coverage, or pricing issues for their customers.

About Wells Fargo & Company

Wells Fargo Insurance Services, Inc., along with Wachovia Insurance Services, is the fifth-largest insurance brokerage and the largest bank-owned insurance brokerage in the United States, with more than 200 offices in 37 states. Its 9,600 insurance professionals place more than $15.5 billion of risk premiums with expertise in property, casualty, benefits, international, personal lines and life products. For more information about Wells Fargo Insurance Services, visit www.wellsfargo.com/wfis.

Wells Fargo & Company is a diversified financial services company with $1.3 trillion in assets, providing banking, insurance, investments, mortgage and consumer finance through more than 11,000 stores, over 12,000 ATMs and the internet (wellsfargo.com) across North America and internationally.







Wells Fargo

Susan Stanley, 415-947-3994 (Media)

Source: Wells Fargo