10 Jun 2019

Ep #270: The New “Masters In Health Plan Design” Degree – with Tom Scott (Part 2)

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With the massive amount of creative disruption happening in our industry, the need for advisor education is greater than ever. The University of Lynchburg’s Tom Scott has relied on industry experts and others to create a new Masters degree which focuses on the practical aspects of the new world of health benefits.

What You’ll Learn From this Episode:

  • How a Ph.D. in quantitative analysis found his way to the healthcare space.
  • Why health care education is a true blue ocean – and why that can’t continue.
  • Looking at health care costs from square 1 was the starting point.
  • Structure as 5, 10-week courses with top industry figures as lecturers and teachers – all online.
  • Solutions are available for our challenges – if we work and study together.

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03 Jun 2019

Ep #269: The New “Masters In Health Plan Design” Degree – with Tom Scott (Part 1)

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With the massive amount of creative disruption happening in our industry, the need for advisor education is greater than ever. The University of Lynchburg’s Tom Scott has relied on industry experts and others to create a new Masters degree which focuses on the practical aspects of the new world of health benefits.

What You’ll Learn From this Episode:

  • How a Ph.D. in quantitative analysis found his way to the healthcare space.
  • Why health care education is a true blue ocean – and why that can’t continue.
  • Looking at health care costs from square 1 was the starting point.
  • Structure as 5, 10-week courses with top industry figures as lecturers and teachers – all online.
  • Solutions are available for our challenges – if we work and study together.

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27 May 2019

Ep #268: Don’t Forget The Most Important Part – with Tom DiLiegro

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With all of the focus on deconstructing health plans, the technical aspects of self-funding, advising clients on compliance, and more – it is often hard to remember the amount of good we do as an industry. Advisor Tom DiLiegro’s experience as a young man drove that point home in a very personal and long-lasting way.

What You’ll Learn From this Episode:

  • How his personal experience drove his professional choices.
  • How to make an impact on a personal level.
  • How the Charleston, SC market impacts plans, decisions, advising and more.
  • Why small businesses are too often forgotten.
  • Discussing and overcoming the challenges of fully insured plans.

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20 May 2019

Ep #267: Better Communication and Plan Branding Yields Happy Clients – with Ellen Anreder

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It doesn’t do a lot of good if a firm has the best benefit plans in the world, but the employees don’t really know about them or understand how they work. What are some of the key tools and techniques you should use to make sure your client’s message is getting through? Ellen Anreder, Owner of Bleiweiss Communications, has spent her career helping Taft/Hartley Plans and others do just that.

What You’ll Learn From this Episode:

  • How a picket line became a transformative event.
  • The 5 key components of an effective communication plan.
  • How to set measurable goals to assess your communication success.
  • Why it is important to brand your benefits plan.
  • Email and text messages alone fall short of getting the job done.

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13 May 2019

Ep #266: Opportunities Offering HR Services To Employers – with Barry Cohn

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Many firms are diversifying their client offerings and beefing up their value propositions to achieve success in the current environment. Some firms are finding that path by offering HR services. Barry Cohn and his wife’s firm have been moving in that direction and are about to make a big-time change to their practice.

What You’ll Learn From this Episode:

  • The story starts with Barry’s wife, Renee.
  • The synergy between plans and employee benefits.
  • How including HR changes the conversation.
  • The benefits of a mastergroup.
  • Can sole practitioners survive in the future?

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06 May 2019

Ep #265: Overcoming Small Market Challenges With Today’s Plans – with Josh Butler

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Deconstructing health plans is a challenge – especially so in small markets. What are those conversations like, and is it possible to achieve success with new health plan strategies outside of large markets? Josh Baker, President of Butler Benefits in Amarillo, Texas, shares his experience and success secrets with us.

What You’ll Learn From this Episode:

  • How did he end up opening an agency with his wife?
  • What are some of the small marketplace challenges?
  • Special hurdles to overcome in a state with an average 18% renewal last year.
  • What a DPC model looks like when applied to pharmacy.
  • Why much of the change is fundamental.

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29 Apr 2019

Ep #264: Deconstructing a Plan is Better Than Constructing A Plan – with Robson Baker

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There is a great deal of discussion in our industry about “deconstructing” health plans and the benefits available when an employer embraces a deconstructed plan while working with the correct advisor. Robson Baker, advisor at Clarus Benefits, has studied this strategy and has great advice for those already working on deconstructed plans, and for those who aspire to help employers embrace this technique. 

What You’ll Learn From this Episode:

  • How Robson’s personal experience with the health care system shaped his thoughts and actions.
  • Is it just about “hidden cash flow”? 
  • How can you push the limits on transparency?
  • What one university is doing to help educate.
  • Getting beyond prehistoric solutions.

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22 Apr 2019

Ep #263: Using Yoga and Meditation to Reduce Health Care Costs – with Naama Pozniak

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Western medicine is not the only way to achieve health and wellbeing. How can Yoga and meditation affect your clients’ health care spend and create a better environment for their employees? Naama Pozniak, CEO of A+ Insurance Services, has dedicated herself to bringing those disciplines to advisors and their clients.

What You’ll Learn From this Episode:

  • How to overcome “monkey mind.”
  • Why we should go back to what we have forgotten.
  • Becoming a better listener as an advisor is another benefit.
  • How to measure success with these methodologies.
  • Creating more compassion, joy, and gratitude.

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15 Apr 2019

Ep #262: Don’t Make The Wrong Tech Decisions – Get Help First! – with Jeff Severson

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Within our own firm – and for clients – technology has become an often-confusing maze of choices. How do you know what to look for and how to make the right long-term choice? Jeff Severson, President of Trinity Advisors, has made a career of learning how to keep advisors and their clients from falling into tech traps.

What You’ll Learn From this Episode:

  • One size fits none.
  • User experience is key in today’s employment market.
  • Corporate culture as an important decision point.
  • Red flags to watch out for.
  • The benefit of a long-term focus.

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08 Apr 2019

Ep #261: Avoiding Landmines and Litigation in DI Claims – with Eric Buchanan

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From application to claims, DI is a bit of a different animal. Underwriting is both medical and financial, and policy provisions are (understandably) more complex than a life sale. Death is not subjective, but disabilities are, and oftentimes this leads to claim challenges. Eric Buchanan, JD, and his firm help claimants when the rubber meets the road.

What You’ll Learn From this Episode:

  • How did he get into this area of the business?
  • What causes most claims disputes.
  • How to keep your client out of Federal Court, where the rules favor the insurer.
  • What can you do on the app to avoid problems down the road?
  • Avoid “ERISA-fying” your client’s policies.

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