Andy Albright: CEO has instinct for trends, and plans to quickly take his firm to the top.

Andy Albright: CEO has instinct for trends, and plans to quickly take his firm to the top

The Business Journal of the Greater Triad Area -
December 8, 2006by Matt Evans
The Business Journal Serving the Greater Triad Area

You may never have heard of Andy Albright, but if you've ever bought a home, taken out an equity line of credit or refinanced a mortgage, chances are you've heard from him.

Some might consider his message -- delivered most often via direct mail -- to be a bit of a downer for a joyous new homeowner hanging drapes and arranging furniture: What will happen to your family if you die?


Albright, his staff of 140 people and the thousands of independent insurance agents across the country who are members of the rapidly growing National Agents Alliance he heads, ask that question thousands of times a day in their pitch for a product called "mortgage protection insurance."

Not to be confused with the "private mortgage insurance" that protects a lender from default by the borrower, mortgage protection insurance is a traditional life insurance policy that pays off to satisfy a mortgage debt in the event the borrower dies. That way, the surviving family doesn't have to worry about continuing the mortgage payments. Some policies also pay out in the event of disability or other calamity.

Albright's National Agents Alliance markets the policies on behalf of insurance carriers and independent agents through its nationwide network. The primary vehicle is the more than 1 million pieces of direct mail stuffed and sent out every week from the company's Burlington headquarters. Mail heads to 49 states to potential customers culled from public record searches and other sources.