Benefits Broker Boost

Why Ethos Benefits Discloses Everything In this interview, Adam Smith, Plansight CMO, sits down with Donovan Ryckis, Founder and CEO of Ethos Benefits, to discuss why fiduciary responsibility and fee-only compensation are becoming the standard employers should expect from their brokers. Donovan shares his unconventional path from selling Medicare supplements to building an agency around full compe...

How to Vet AI Vendors and New Strategies Without Getting Left Behind   In this episode of the Benefits Broker Boost Podcast, Plansight CMO Adam Smith sits down with Chris Vanderwolk, Director of Compliance and Innovation at OneDigital, for one of the most practically useful conversations the podcast has produced. Chris brings deep legal and compliance expertise, along with a genuine passion for in...

The Human Advantage: Bridging the Gap Between Modern Tech and Real Connection In this interview, Adam Smith, Plansight CMO, and Dennis Walker, Producer at USI, discuss the evolving landscape of the benefits industry. Drawing on his experience as a sales trainer and agency builder, Dennis explains why the most successful brokers are those who combine digital marketing proficiency with old-school, i...

Building a High-Trust AI Engine for Insurance In this episode of the Benefits Broker Boost Podcast, Adam Smith, Plansight CMO, is joined by Brent Combs, the lead engineer behind the Plansight AI engine. With a background in underwriting and a deep passion for mathematical problem-solving, Brent shares the philosophy that drives the platform’s development. The conversation explores the shift from d...

Rebuilding Health Plan Integrity Through Structure and Specialization   In this episode of the Benefits Broker Boost Podcast, Adam Smith, Plansight CMO, is joined by Ryan Wiggins, Strategist, Employer Health Plan & Benefits at McGriff. Ryan brings over a decade of experience from the carrier side to explain why the modern broker must evolve into a “Broker 3.0,” a specialist who relies on indep...

Redefining the Strategic Brokerage Through AI and Behavioral Data In this episode of the Benefits Broker Boost Podcast, Adam Smith, Plansight CMO, sits down with Becca Johnson, founder of Calliope, to discuss the evolving landscape of benefits marketing. As the industry moves toward a future where strategic brokers win, the conversation focuses on how to use AI and data to move beyond surface-leve...

Enhancing Employee Engagement Through Digital Innovation and Structured Data In this episode of the Benefits Broker Boost Podcast, Adam Smith, Plansight CMO, sits down with Landon Fielding, Founder and CEO of Brite. With nearly a decade of experience as a broker, Landon shares the pivotal “aha moment” that led him to abandon the traditional paper benefit guide in favor of a digital-first approach....

In this episode of the Benefits Broker Boost Podcast, Adam Smith is joined by Allison Adams of Gallagher to discuss why the traditional broker model is breaking down and what must replace it. With two decades of experience and a background in education, Allison brings a consultant’s mindset to benefits strategy. The conversation explores why education, intentional communication, and disciplined ex...

In this episode, Adam Smith, Plansight CMO, is joined by Michelle Jukoski, EVP of Technology Strategy at Hub International. With a career spanning the move from fax machines to AI, Michelle provides a masterclass in evaluating, implementing, and scaling insurance technology. The conversation focuses on how to move past the “flashy demo” to find tools that solve real operational bottlenecks, the im...

Enhancing Broker Workflows Through AI and Collaboration In this interview, Adam Smith, Plansight CMO, and Steve Overton, Plansight CPO and Founder, discuss the evolution of the platform and its impact on the insurance industry. With over 25 years of experience as a broker, Steve shares how his background informs the development of tools that transition agencies from manual data entry to strategic...

In this episode of Benefits Broker Boost, Adam Smith is joined by Whitney Williamson, a producer at TruCordia. Whitney shares her unique career trajectory from a personal trainer to managing a massive account load on the service side, and finally transitioning into a producer role. The conversation explores how her background in the "weeds" of account management has shaped her approach to sales, h...

In this episode of Benefits Broker Boost, Adam Smith is joined by Talia Hansen, a Benefits Consultant at Ethos Benefits and a recent "Rookie of the Year" award winner. Adam Smith and Talia Hansen explore Talia's journey of rapid professional growth, the power of seeking intentional mentorship, and her commitment to a fiduciary-first approach to healthcare consulting. The conversation offers a blue...

In this episode of Benefits Broker Boost, Adam Smith is joined by Dr. Jonathon Harrison, a pharmacist and the CEO and founder of Wellyfe. Dr. Harrison discusses how his "win-win-win" PBM model is disrupting traditional pharmacy benefits by turning local healthcare providers into community-centric powerhouses. The conversation highlights how brokers can move beyond simple cost-savings spreadsheets...

In this episode of Benefits Broker Boost, Adam Smith is joined by CJ Jordan, a benefits broker at Ross & Yerger who has rapidly climbed the industry ranks over the past five years. Adam and CJ explore CJ's unique perspective on transitioning from a "ground zero" employee in a new department to a creative producer who uses unconventional methods to break through market noise. The conversation h...

In this episode of Benefits Broker Boost, Adam Smith is joined by Abner Aponte, a seasoned veteran with three decades of experience in the insurance industry. Abner shares his journey from starting a small agency at a Kinko’s to his ultimate acquisition by Acrisure. The conversation highlights the essential role of discipline, the importance of prioritizing others, and how brokers can navigate a r...

In this episode of Benefits Broker Boost, Adam Smith sits down with Cole Rodgers, a world record holder and leader at Marsh McLennan Agency (MMA). Cole shares his remarkable journey of completing 20 rounds of the Murph workout in 24 hours while balancing a high level career in employee benefits. The conversation explores the intersection of physical resilience and professional excellence, offering...

In this episode of Benefits Broker Boost, Adam Smith sits down with Scott Millson, author of Frequency of Excellence and a veteran leader in the employee benefits space. With a career spanning decades at firms like Hewitt Associates and Hub Florida, Scott shares his insights on how agency leaders can build high performing cultures, develop lasting client relationships, and bridge the growing mento...

In this episode of Benefits Broker Boost, Adam Smith sits down with Sean Turner, the founder and owner of Buffer Insurance. Sean shares his unique journey from serving eight years in the Army infantry to building a thriving insurance agency from the ground up. He discusses how the discipline of military life and a leap of faith led him to start his own business during a period of significant perso...

In this episode of Benefits Broker Boost, Adam Smith sits down with Matt Richard, First Vice President at Alliant Insurance Services. With over 22 years of experience spanning both the carrier and consultant sides of the industry, Matt has built a reputation as the whiteboard guy on LinkedIn. He uses signature visual storytelling to simplify the complex world of health insurance for his audience....

In this episode of Benefits Broker Boost, Adam Smith sits down with Andy Neary, former professional baseball player turned CEO of Complete Game Consulting and host of the Accelerate Your Insurance Sales podcast. Andy shares his journey from pitching for the Milwaukee Brewers organization to becoming one of the industry's most prominent coaches for insurance producers. The conversation begins with...

In this episode of Benefits Broker Boost, Adam Smith sits down with Justin Burgess, founder of Arete and a longtime benefits advisor who recently launched his own agency after more than a decade in the industry. Justin shares his journey from working at a local agency and navigating an acquisition to striking out on his own with a clear mission centered on excellence, strategy, and authenticity. T...

In this episode of Benefits Broker Boost, Adam Smith is joined by Sims Tillirson, one of the most recognizable voices in benefits sales coaching and social selling. Sims brings over a decade of experience across the carrier, broker, enrollment, and benefits tech sides of the industry and shares a practical, no-fluff approach to building pipeline in today’s crowded market. The conversation goes far...

In this episode of Benefits Broker Boost, Adam Smith sits down with Chris Pierron, a 15-year benefits veteran with over two decades in the health and fitness industry, to explore a radically different approach to winning and retaining employer relationships. Chris shares the origin story behind The Conscious Bite, a new venture that blends nutrition education, employee wellness, and benefits strat...

Inceptions of Plansight: How One Broker’s Frustration Sparked an Industry TransformationIn this episode of Benefits Broker Boost, host Adam Smith sits down with Steve Overton, founder of  Plansight  and a former employee benefits broker with over 25 years of experience. Steve shares the story behind Plansight’s creation that was born from his own frustration with the chaotic, manual RFP process th...

The benefits industry is changing fast, and the brokers who win will think differently, work smarter, and leverage modern tools to deliver more value. In this first episode of Benefits Broker Boost, host Adam Smith and Plansight CEO Weston Lunsford break down: Why brokers are under more pressure than ever Where the industry is headed with AI + automation The habits and systems top agencies use to...