The Business of Benefits Podcast

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For decades, employers have been fed a lie: “There’s nothing you can do to control healthcare costs.” This couldn’t be further from the truth. The system is doing exactly what it was designed to do—profit off of HR, CFOs, and CEOs who believe that lie year after year.With 180 million Americans relying on employer-sponsored healthcare, it’s time to challenge the status quo. The Business of Benefits is your No BS, No Sales guide to the real solutions. No gimmicks—just the truth about how to take control, transform your benefits, and care for your most valuable asset: your people.Each episode dives deep into the data, exposing industry misalignments and inefficiencies that inflate costs while offering actionable strategies for designing financially sustainable, high-value benefits.Through eye-opening interviews with industry insiders, expert analysis, and real-world success stories, hosts Donovan and Chelsea pull back the curtain on the hidden flaws in the healthcare system. The result? An empowering roadmap for employers ready to break free from outdated models and unlock smarter, more sustainable benefits.If you’re tired of the same old sales pitch and ready to rethink benefits, reduce costs, and improve care—this podcast is for you. The truth is out there—are you ready to hear it?

  1. 12/18/2025

    68. The Great American Healthcare Heist with Guest Chris Deacon

    In this episode, Donovan and Chelsea sit down with Chris Deacon, a nationally known healthcare reform advocate, attorney, and former director of the State of New Jersey’s massive public sector health plan. Chris pulls back the curtain on how public and private employers are getting overcharged, how procurement and politics protect the status quo, and why nonprofit hospital systems often behave like for-profit empires. They break down real examples of claims, hospital contracts, and “negotiated” rates that actually drive prices higher, not lower. You will hear Chris unpack key themes from her new book The Great American Healthcare Heist: Why We’re Paying More and Getting Less, including nonprofit hospital expansion, fully insured versus self-funded plans, the hidden incentives of carriers and PBMs, compensation conflicts in the broker/consultant world, and why most claim review processes are built to fail employers. They also dig into gag clauses, CAA 2021, weak fiduciary enforcement, and how plan sponsors can start demanding data, transparency, and true accountability from everyone at the table. If you are a CFO, HR leader, benefits advisor, or plan sponsor who suspects you are getting crushed by a broken system but are not sure what to do next, this conversation will both infuriate you and give you a playbook to start pushing back. Get more on our Guest Chris at: Website: versanconsulting.com Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cdeaconc/ -------------------------------- Whether you're an HR professional, CFO, CEO, or just tired of rising healthcare costs, this is your call to rethink benefits strategy and finally take control. Connect with Chelsea and Donovan: Website: www.businessofbenefitspodcast.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ethoseffectpodcast/ Chelsea: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chelsea-ryckis-8508a192/ Donovan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donovanryckis/ Finished with the content? Claim your CE credit here: https://ideas.ethosbenefits.com/continuing-education SHRM: Ethos Benefits is recognized by SHRM to offer professional development credits (PDCs) for SHRM-CP® or SHRM-SCP® recertification activities. HRCI: Ethos Benefits is approved to offer HRCI® recertification credits for this program. This program has been approved for 0.5 - 1 HR (General) recertification credit(s) toward aPHR®, PHR®, SPHR®, and GPHR® certification.

    54 min

  2. 12/11/2025

    67. How One Employer Broke The Renewal Cycle: A Case Study

    In this episode of The Business of Benefits, Donovan Ryckis guest starred on a Be More Than a Fiduciary Podcast episode with Eric Dyson of 90 North Consulting and Brenda Kruse of Axiom Healthcare Services. Together, they break down how employers can finally escape the renewal treadmill, create a 3–5 year benefits strategy, and apply fiduciary principles to healthcare. Brenda shares Axiom’s transformation... from repeated renewal frustration to achieving a 13% premium decrease, lowering deductibles, expanding benefits, and reducing employee out-of-pocket costs by 27–38%. Eric and Donovan dig into why the healthcare system fails employers, how to identify misaligned incentives, and why transparency and governance are the keys to long-term success. They also explore PBM dysfunction, compensation conflicts, the four components of a health plan, and why employers must act as true stewards of their healthcare dollars. What You’ll Learn: What’s really behind recurring renewal increases How Axiom achieved a 13% premium decrease while improving benefits Why data transparency directly drives better outcomes Why PBM strategy is the fastest path to meaningful savings The four structural pillars of every health plan How to build and follow a multi-year health plan strategy Fiduciary responsibility explained for employer health plans How to identify and correct misaligned broker/consultant incentives Practical governance tools: fiduciary committees, 408(b)(2), comp review What responsible healthcare stewardship looks like for employers Eric Dyson — 90 North Consulting LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-dyson/ Website: https://90northconsulting.com/ Podcast: Be More Than a Fiduciary Brenda Kruse — Axiom Healthcare Services LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brenda-kruse-2078386/ Website: https://www.axiomhealthcareservices.org/ Donovan Ryckis — Ethos Benefits LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donovanryckis/ Website: https://www.ethosbenefits.com/ Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@thebusinessofbenefits Timestamps: 00:00 – Preview 00:38 – Title Intro: The Business of Benefits   01:00 – Episode Overview: Axiom’s journey & fiduciary crossover   02:08 – Guest Introductions   03:53 – Axiom Healthcare Services: Who they are 04:39 – How Axiom Met Ethos Benefits   05:10 – Early Challenges & The Broken Renewal Cycle   05:52 – Ethos’ Approach: Strategy over sidestepping   06:44 – Building a Multi-Year Plan 07:16 – The Renewal Turnaround (13% decrease)   08:26 – Lowering Costs for Employees 09:19 – Why Data Matters in Healthcare Strategy   10:50 – Making Data Simple for Decision Makers 12:27 – Pharmacy Benefits: The 60% Cost Problem   13:25 – PBM Conflicts & Misaligned Incentives   15:25 – Fixing PBM First: High-Return, Low-Friction Changes 16:27 – Member Experience: What Improves   17:37 – Understanding the Four Parts of a Health Plan   18:20 – Increasing Competition & Transparency 19:46 – Compensation Transparency & Fiduciary Responsibility   20:35 – Forming a Fiduciary Committee   22:53 – Industry Conflicts & Broker Incentives 25:07 – 408(b)(2) Disclosures & Reasonable Arrangements   26:22 – Why Compensation Alignment Matters   27:15 – Advice to New Advisors & Consultants   27:50 – Advice to New Benefits Managers   29:18 – Raising the Standard of Care in Healthcare   31:11 – Internal Alignment: How Employers Improve Outcomes   32:27 – A Better Approach: Curiosity Over Judgment   33:10 – What “Good Healthcare Stewardship” Means   34:28 – Ethos Healthcare Documentaries   35:20 – Closing Remarks & Episode Wrap -------------------------------- Finished with the content? Claim your CE credit here: https://ideas.ethosbenefits.com/continuing-education SHRM: Ethos Benefits is recognized by SHRM to offer professional development credits (PDCs) for SHRM-CP® or SHRM-SCP® recertification activities. HRCI: Ethos Benefits is approved to offer HRCI® recertification credits for this program. This program has been approved for 0.5 - 1 HR (General) recertification credit(s) toward aPHR®, PHR®, SPHR®, and GPHR® certification.

    36 min

  3. 12/04/2025

    66. Self-Funding Explained in 60 MINUTES with Spencer Smith

    In this episode, Donovan Ryckis, CEO of Ethos Benefits, sits down with Spencer Smith (SVP of Sales at Pareto Health and host of Self-Funded with Spencer) to unpack captives, stop-loss, PBMs, and the steps plan sponsors can take to finally regain control of healthcare spend. Spencer shares how short, educational content helped bring self-funding concepts downstream, why captives act like “bumpers” against catastrophic renewals, and where employers should start: data access, pharmacy, and a long-term strategy. They cover real-world examples—NICU and oncology claims, lasers, biosimilars, international sourcing—and discuss why employee contributions keep rising when nothing seems to change. You’ll walk away with a framework to move from guaranteed cost to variable cost with discipline, reduce claims costs without cutting benefits, and ask your broker the questions that matter. What You’ll Learn: Self-funded fundamentals and the role of stop-lossHow group captives improve predictability across renewalsThe first lever to pull: pharmacy strategy and data accessWhy “reduce claims” means smarter pricing and site-of-care, not less careThree questions every plan sponsor should ask at renewal:  Why these solutions, specifically?  How are you paid, where, and how often?  What’s the long-term strategy beyond this 12-month cycle?POSIWID: the outcomes your system delivers define its true purpose Time Stamps: 00:00 – Welcome & Guest Introduction 02:10 – Spencer’s Journey into Self-Funding 06:20 – Breaking Down Stop-Loss & Captives 10:45 – Fully Insured vs Self-Funded Explained 15:12 – The 401(k) Analogy for Health Plans 19:20 – Why Short-Form Education Works in Benefits 24:05 – Pharmacy Costs & Where to Start Saving 28:48 – Broker Incentives and Transparency 34:32 – Data Access, Claims, and Real-World Fixes 41:20 – POSIWID Framework & Final Takeaways Get more on our Guest at: Website: https://spencerharlansmith.com/ YouTube: @SelfFunded -------------------------------- Whether you're an HR professional, CFO, CEO, or just tired of rising healthcare costs, this is your call to rethink benefits strategy and finally take control. Connect with Chelsea and Donovan: Website: https://businessofbenefitspodcast.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ethoseffectpodcast/ Chelsea: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chelsea-ryckis-8508a192/ Donovan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donovanryckis/ Finished with the content? Claim your CE credit here: https://ideas.ethosbenefits.com/continuing-education SHRM: Ethos Benefits is recognized by SHRM to offer professional development credits (PDCs) for SHRM-CP® or SHRM-SCP® recertification activities. HRCI: Ethos Benefits is approved to offer HRCI® recertification credits for this program. This program has been approved for 0.5 - 1 HR (General) recertification credit(s) toward aPHR®, PHR®, SPHR®, and GPHR® certification.

    45 min

  4. 11/20/2025

    65. The New Fiduciary Frontier: Transparency, Litigation & the Future of Employer Health Plans

    In this episode of The Business of Benefits, Donovan Ryckis sits down with attorney and national thought leader Alden J. Bianchi to expose one of the most costly and overlooked failures in employer-sponsored healthcare: the illusion of broker transparency. The Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA) was supposed to fix hidden compensation. It didn’t. Instead, it created a fiduciary requirement to ask, without ever creating a requirement for brokers to actually tell. Employers are expected to manage fiduciary risk without pricing transparency, claims clarity, or conflict-free advice. Alden brings decades of experience advising Fortune 500 employers, consulting firms, and government agencies on ERISA, fiduciary duty, ACA compliance, transparency regulation, machine-readable files, and emerging litigation. In this conversation, he explains why: CAA compensation disclosures are “an absolute joke”Brokers and ASOs avoid disclosure by redefining themselves Employers are left negotiating blindfoldedCurrent PBM and ASO lawsuits are stalled by standing issuesFiduciary governance needs to mirror 401(k) standardsMachine-readable files and AI will change everythingHidden compensation lives in places most employers never lookTransparency is worthless without someone who knows how to use the dataIf you're a CFO, CHRO, HR Director, consultant, or fiduciary of a health plan, this conversation will change how you see the entire benefits ecosystem. What You’ll Learn: Why CAA broker transparency rules failedHow hidden compensation still influences broker recommendations Why employers must build fiduciary governance like their 401(k) plans The difference between named vs. functional fiduciaries How data, machine-readable files, and AI tools will reshape oversight Why market concentration and hospital power keep prices high How reference-based pricing and captives fit into employer strategy What upcoming congressional reforms might change Time Stamps: 00:00 – Preview 00:53 – Show Opener 01:18 – Donovan’s Introduction 02:04 – Meet Alden Bianchi 02:49 – Alden’s Background (ACA, ERISA, Romney Reform) 03:39 – Why Employer Healthcare Costs Exploded 05:10 – Fiduciary Exposure and 401(k) Lessons 07:17 – Donovan on Lack of Data in Healthcare 08:49 – ACA vs. CAA: What Transparency Actually Changed 10:12 – Machine-Readable Files: Why They Matter 10:59 – Broker Compensation Rules Are “A Joke” 12:14 – Why Disclosures Don’t Work (Undisclosed Incentives) 14:02 – Donovan on Conflicts in Broker Comp 15:30 – The True Fiduciary Standard for Employers 16:14 – Alden’s B.O.L.O.s: Override Commissions, Referral Fees 17:48 – Fiduciaries Must Become Quant Analysts 18:54 – Who Is a Fiduciary? Alden’s Simple Definition 20:36 – Why Fiduciary Exposure Is Personal 21:13 – SHRM, CAA Compliance, and Employer Pushback 21:56 – Challenges With Gag Clauses, RxDC, and Disclosures 23:33 – Why Naming a Fiduciary Protects the Board 25:40 – PBM Lawsuits: Standing Problems Explained 27:35 – Why ERISA Remedies Are So Hard to Win 29:20 – How PBM Practices Impact Premiums & Wages 30:31 – Employers Subsidizing Medicare Rates 31:13 – The $35,000 Family Plan Problem 31:44 – Extreme Cases of 16x–21x Medicare Pricing 32:29 – Alden on Reference-Based Pricing’s Role 33:29 – Why Obamacare Didn’t Lower Costs 34:27 – Hospital Profits, Medicare Rates & Misconceptions 35:08 – Are Hospitals Really Underpaid? 36:18 – Where Employers Should Actually Start 37:43 – Incentive Problems in Broker/Consultant Models 38:29 – Group Captives, AHPs, and Small Employer Solutions 39:47 – Why Transparent Products Matter 40:20 – Claims Reporting Problems (Body-Part Categories) 41:18 – The Real Issue: Market Concentration, Not Just Benefits 41:43 – PBM Regulation vs. Antitrust Problems 42:26 – Broker Compensation Should Be on Page 1 of Renewals 44:05 – Hidden Comp in MECs, Indemnity & Non-ERISA Lines 45:48 – Excess Compensation, Double-Dipping & Fiduciary Risk 46:03 – Alden’s Final Advice to Employers 46:55 – Follow Alden on LinkedIn (B.O.L.O. Posts) 47:28 – Closing Thoughts & Episode Wrap-Up Connect With Alden Bianchi LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ajbianchi/ Firm Bio: https://www.mintz.com/people/alden-j-bianchi Connect with Chelsea and Donovan: Website: https://businessofbenefitspodcast.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ethoseffectpodcast/ Chelsea: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chelsea-ryckis-8508a192/ Donovan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donovanryckis/ Subscribe for Weekly Employer Insights! Finished with the content? Claim your CE credit here: https://ideas.ethosbenefits.com/continuing-education SHRM: Ethos Benefits is recognized by SHRM to offer professional development credits (PDCs) for SHRM-CP® or SHRM-SCP® recertification activities. HRCI: Ethos Benefits is approved to offer HRCI® recertification credits for this program. This program has been approved for 0.5 - 1 HR (General) recertification credit(s) toward aPHR®, PHR®, SPHR®, and GPHR® certification.

    48 min

  5. 11/13/2025

    64. Breaking Free from the Broker Trap with Lori Kleiman

    In this HR Special, host Chelsea Ryckis sits down with friend and industry leader Lori Kleiman to talk about what it takes to level up from HR department-of-one to strategic business partner, without losing sight of day-to-day realities. We cover how small to mid-size employers can decide when to hire fractional or in-house HR, why headcount matters more than revenue, and the rising complexity of multi-state compliance. We also unpack the hidden opportunity for HR to lead on healthcare and benefits strategy. Chelsea explains renewal “stall” tactics, fiduciary responsibility on health plans, and practical steps HR can take to earn a seat at the table with data and action. What you’ll learn: When a company truly needs fractional HR vs its first in-house generalistWhy certifications like PHR and SHRM-CP help smaller employers hire confidentlyHow tech can increase HR workload and employee questions, not reduce themA simple path to move from tactical HR to strategic HR that drives ROIThe fiduciary duty HR has on health plans, what to ask from brokers, and how to escape the 60-day renewal crunchPractical ideas HR can implement now: communications, data access, compliance checklists, and off-cycle planningTime Stamps 00:00 – Welcome to The Business of Benefits 01:08 – Meet Lori Kleiman 04:45 – Building an HR Business from the Basement 07:15 – When Small Businesses Really Need HR 10:02 – Technology’s Impact on HR Workloads 12:18 – Tactical vs. Strategic HR 15:26 – What to Look For When Hiring HR 18:41 – How Much HR Certifications Cost 21:10 – Using ExamEdge and Affordable Prep Options 23:20 – Moving from Tactical to Strategic HR 27:00 – Understanding Fiduciary Duty in Health Plans 30:36 – How HR Can Drive Benefits Strategy 33:22 – Why Benefit Renewals Feel Impossible 36:10 – Taking Back Control of Your Renewal 38:28 – Shaking Up Your Broker Relationship 40:12 – Giving Back to the HR Community 41:25 – Final Thoughts and Where to Find Lori   Get more on our Guest at: Website: https://www.hrtopics.com YouTube: @lorikleimanhrtopics7385 Whether you're an HR professional, CFO, CEO, or just tired of rising healthcare costs, this is your call to rethink benefits strategy and finally take control. Connect with Chelsea and Donovan: Website: https://businessofbenefitspodcast.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ethoseffectpodcast/ Chelsea: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chelsea-ryckis-8508a192/ Donovan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donovanryckis/ -------------------------------- Finished with the content? Claim your CE credit here: https://ideas.ethosbenefits.com/continuing-education SHRM: Ethos Benefits is recognized by SHRM to offer professional development credits (PDCs) for SHRM-CP® or SHRM-SCP® recertification activities. HRCI: Ethos Benefits is approved to offer HRCI® recertification credits for this program. This program has been approved for 0.5 - 1 HR (General) recertification credit(s) toward aPHR®, PHR®, SPHR®, and GPHR® certification.

    42 min

  6. 10/30/2025

    63. The New Health System: Inside Employer Health with Dr. Zeev Neuwirth

    In this episode of The Business of Benefits Podcast, Chelsea Ryckis sits down with Dr. Zeev Neuwirth — physician, author of Reframing Healthcare and Beyond the Walls, and host of the Creating a New Healthcare podcast — for an unfiltered conversation about what’s really broken in America’s healthcare system and what employers can actually do to fix it. From the hidden “healthcare tax” driving wage stagnation to how misaligned incentives have created a medical industrial complex, this episode dives deep into the uncomfortable truth: only 20 cents of every healthcare dollar reaches doctors, nurses, and clinicians. The rest? Lost in layers of middlemen, bureaucracy, and profit-driven waste. Chelsea and Zeev explore how employer-sponsored healthcare became the backbone of American coverage, why primary care has been stripped of its purpose, and how direct primary care (DPC) and CEO engagement can completely change the game for employees and organizations alike. If you’re an executive, benefits advisor, or HR leader who knows there has to be a better way, this conversation will challenge everything you think you know about healthcare financing, delivery, and reform. Listen to this episode if you want to: Understand how healthcare financing and delivery actually intersectLearn how direct primary care can lower costs and improve outcomesHear real examples of CEOs transforming employee health and cultureBe inspired to rethink your benefits strategy without the sales fluffTime Stamps: 00:00 — Welcome to The Business of Benefits 02:15 — Dr. Zeev Neuwirth’s journey from clinician to system reformer 06:40 — The truth about the “medical industrial complex” 12:10 — Where your healthcare dollars really go 18:45 — The failure of traditional primary care 24:10 — Why CEOs are the missing link in healthcare transformation 30:40 — Lessons from the Rosen Hotels model 37:20 — Following the money: the employer’s power to change healthcare 43:30 — The caregiving crisis and what leaders often overlook 47:00 — Final thoughts and resources Get more on our Guest at: Dr. Zeev Neuwirth Author of Reframing Healthcare and Beyond the Walls Podcast: Host of Creating a New Healthcare Podcast Learn more: zevnewworthhealth.com Whether you're an HR professional, CFO, CEO, or just tired of rising healthcare costs, this is your call to rethink benefits strategy and finally take control. Connect with Chelsea and Donovan: Website: https://businessofbenefitspodcast.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ethoseffectpodcast/ Chelsea: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chelsea-ryckis-8508a192/ Donovan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donovanryckis/ Finished with the content? Claim your CE credit here: https://ideas.ethosbenefits.com/continuing-education SHRM: Ethos Benefits is recognized by SHRM to offer professional development credits (PDCs) for SHRM-CP® or SHRM-SCP® recertification activities. HRCI: Ethos Benefits is approved to offer HRCI® recertification credits for this program. This program has been approved for 0.5 - 1 HR (General) recertification credit(s) toward aPHR®, PHR®, SPHR®, and GPHR® certification.

    59 min

  7. 10/16/2025

    62. You Don’t Need More Vendors — You Need Accountability

    Tired of shiny pitches and vague promises? In this solo episode, we break down a practical, repeatable system for holding your benefits vendors accountable so your plan actually performs.  From rock-solid RFPs to airtight contracts and respectful escalation, you’ll learn how to set clear expectations, track outcomes, and course-correct fast. In this episode, you’ll learn: How to design an RFP that prevents surprises laterWhat to demand in contracts: performance guarantees, termination language, fees, BAAs, data sharing, and fiduciary statusThe must-ask questions about integrations, cybersecurity, conflicts of interest, and compensationA simple cadence for accountability meetings that gets results, not excusesReal examples of catching hidden fees and fixing slow vendor response timesHow to build team culture so your staff holds vendors accountable the right wayWho this is for:  Employers, HR leaders, CFOs, and anyone ready to transform a “set it and forget it” benefits program into a high-performing plan.If the truth is out there, are you ready to hear it? Like, share, and subscribe for more no-BS guidance on benefits that serve your people and your P&L. TimeStamps: 00:00 Intro and why accountability matters02:10 Build a better RFP07:35 Contract must-haves and red flags13:25 Demo everything and verify claims17:40 Meeting cadence and escalation that works23:10 Real-world examples and fixes28:30 Culture of accountability inside your team32:10 Final takeaways and next stepsIf this helped, like, subscribe, and share with a leader who needs to hear it.  Tell us in the comments: What is the first change you will make to your benefits strategy? Whether you're an HR professional, CFO, CEO, or just tired of rising healthcare costs, this is your call to rethink benefits strategy and finally take control. Connect with Chelsea and Donovan: Website: https://businessofbenefitspodcast.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ethoseffectpodcast/ Chelsea: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chelsea-ryckis-8508a192/ Donovan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donovanryckis/ Finished with the content? Claim your CE credit here: https://ideas.ethosbenefits.com/continuing-education SHRM: Ethos Benefits is recognized by SHRM to offer professional development credits (PDCs) for SHRM-CP® or SHRM-SCP® recertification activities. HRCI: Ethos Benefits is approved to offer HRCI® recertification credits for this program. This program has been approved for 0.5 - 1 HR (General) recertification credit(s) toward aPHR®, PHR®, SPHR®, and GPHR® certification.

    36 min

  8. 10/02/2025

    61. Inside IFEBP: Fiduciary Duty, CEBS & Future Benefits Trends with Justin Held

    Welcome back to the No BS. No sales pitch. Just real solutions podcast.  This week our host Chelsea Ryckis sits down with Justin Held, CEBS of the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans (IFEBP) to unpack what HR, CFOs, and CEOs need now: neutral education, fiduciary guardrails, and a practical path to future-proof employee benefits. In this episode: What IFEBP is and how it helps plan sponsors with objective, non-lobbying educationCEBS breakdown: curriculum, timelines, and why employers fund itFiduciary duty basics after ERISA and why CAA 2021 put health plans under the spotlightThe 2025–2026 benefits agenda: PBM contracts, data analysis, chronic conditions, GLP-1 coverage, mental and behavioral health, peer support models, and AI in plan administrationHow to run a strategic review of your plan: surveys, focus groups, utilization data, KPIsSimple, high-impact changes most members won’t even notice, but your budget will. Timestamps: 0:00 Intro1:08 What IFEBP does and why it’s neutral6:35 Conferences, toolkits, and daily benefits headlines10:12 CEBS overview and chapter network14:45 ERISA fiduciary duty in health and retirement19:18 Trends: PBM contracts, GLP-1, mental health, AI, fraud prevention28:40 Peer support models for mental health33:10 How to future-proof benefits with data and KPIsIf you are an employer, CFO, or CEO who is tired of trend increases and status quo advice, this conversation will give you a path to real savings and better outcomes.  If this helped, like, subscribe, and share with a leader who needs to hear it.  Tell us in the comments: What is the first change you will make to your benefits strategy? Whether you're an HR professional, CFO, CEO, or just tired of rising healthcare costs, this is your call to rethink benefits strategy and finally take control. Connect with our guest today at:  Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-held-cebs/ Website: https://www.ifebp.org/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/IFEBP Listen to their podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/talking-benefits/id1183535454 Connect with Chelsea and Donovan: Website: https://businessofbenefitspodcast.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ethoseffectpodcast/ Chelsea: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chelsea-ryckis-8508a192/ Donovan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donovanryckis/ Finished with the content? Claim your CE credit here: https://ideas.ethosbenefits.com/continuing-education SHRM: Ethos Benefits is recognized by SHRM to offer professional development credits (PDCs) for SHRM-CP® or SHRM-SCP® recertification activities. HRCI: Ethos Benefits is approved to offer HRCI® recertification credits for this program. This program has been approved for 0.5 - 1 HR (General) recertification credit(s) toward aPHR®, PHR®, SPHR®, and GPHR® certification.

    35 min
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5
out of 5
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About

For decades, employers have been fed a lie: “There’s nothing you can do to control healthcare costs.” This couldn’t be further from the truth. The system is doing exactly what it was designed to do—profit off of HR, CFOs, and CEOs who believe that lie year after year.With 180 million Americans relying on employer-sponsored healthcare, it’s time to challenge the status quo. The Business of Benefits is your No BS, No Sales guide to the real solutions. No gimmicks—just the truth about how to take control, transform your benefits, and care for your most valuable asset: your people.Each episode dives deep into the data, exposing industry misalignments and inefficiencies that inflate costs while offering actionable strategies for designing financially sustainable, high-value benefits.Through eye-opening interviews with industry insiders, expert analysis, and real-world success stories, hosts Donovan and Chelsea pull back the curtain on the hidden flaws in the healthcare system. The result? An empowering roadmap for employers ready to break free from outdated models and unlock smarter, more sustainable benefits.If you’re tired of the same old sales pitch and ready to rethink benefits, reduce costs, and improve care—this podcast is for you. The truth is out there—are you ready to hear it?

Information

  • Creator
    Hi Hello Labs Network
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2025
  • Episodes
    69
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright Hi Hello Labs Network
  • Show Website
    The Business of Benefits Podcast

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