The ShiftShapers Podcast

Today's episode of The ShiftShapers Podcast explores innovative ways of sourcing the best talents for agencies. Host David Saltzman features Susan Rider, Vice President of Employee Benefits and Human Capital Strategies at Gregory & Appel Insurance, and they discuss disabilities, diversity, and inclusion in the workplace. Susan begins by sharing her own learning difficulties and how this s...

Today's episode of The ShiftShapers Podcast by David Saltzman is called "Healthcare’s New Front Door" and focuses on the expanding space of telemedicine. David features Kelly Bliss, Chief Client Officer at Teladoc Health, and explores what telemedicine is all about and how it breaks barriers to serve millions upon millions of people in need. Kelly begins by telling the story of her...

Starting a podcast to help deliver clients sounds easy enough, right? Ben Krueger of Cashflow Podcasting says there is more to it than meets the eye – including a healthy dose of commitment. But if you do it right it can be rewarding on a number of fronts. Ben helped us launch ShiftShapers, so we think of him as the guru of podcasting! What You’ll Learn From this Episode: The explosion of podcasts...

Josh Luke is a man with many vantage points on our health care system: author, public speaker, healthcare futurist, and hospital administrator. He believes that the current healthcare system is irreparable. So, what are his thoughts about how we move forward and craft something that actually works?  What You’ll Learn From this Episode: Why affordability + greed + millennial culture = today’s dysfu...

How can plan participants use transparency tools to stay in network, but still find less expensive, higher quality care? Bill Hennessey is CEO at Pratter, Inc. and says the data proves – without argument – that providing transparency tools that are easy to use will help employers and their employees bust through the price/quality walls. What You’ll Learn From this Episode: What are the real compon...

How does a nationally-recognized agency owner keep the joy in what she does – and what are her secrets for accomplishing that goal? Tanya Boyd, of the eponymous Tanya Boyd Agency, suggests we “quit it with the noise” and how to handle it when obstacles, limitations and beliefs collide. What You’ll Learn From this Episode: Is disruption good, bad, or both? Don’t be the starving horse. Get out of yo...

With all the noise and change in our industry, some find chaos and others find opportunity. Some of us need a Sherpa to help climb that opportunity market. But how do you get started, what do you look for in a guide or coach and how can you get to the summit? Ryan Miller is a fellow podcaster, coach and public speaker who talks to us about the help we all need to reach our peak of production. What...

With all the noise and change in our industry, some find chaos and others find opportunity. Some of us need a Sherpa to help climb that opportunity market. But how do you get started, what do you look for in a guide or coach and how can you get to the summit? Ryan Miller is a fellow podcaster, coach and public speaker who talks to us about the help we all need to reach our peak of production. What...

Shannon Skaggs, President at Quantum Health, knows that the average significant health event lasts 11 months, involves 5-7 providers and requires the patient to make 41 decisions. On this episode, Shannon explores how a patient can deal with all of that and discusses the tools and techniques that are available to help them. What You’ll Learn From this Episode: Do patients need tech guidance or emp...

Steve Watson is a CFO/CHRO of a 500-life group who has learned that there is a critical lack of understanding about benefits among his peers. In this interview, Steve offers his candid impressions about his efforts to educate other C-suite leaders and how benefits advisors can be more effective when talking with them. What You’ll Learn From this Episode: How Steve started his benefits education jo...

We have had guests talk about benefits and P&C mergers, but how do you create a successful joint venture between benefits and accounting firms while managing the complexities of a highly regulated market? On this episode, we chat with Adam Rosenfeld, President of BT Benefits about the challenges and successes of just such a joint venture. What You’ll Learn From this Episode: How the joint vent...

How do you deal with a bifurcated market, and what can we learn from our Taft/Hartley cousins? Jim Garrison, President at Pacific Federal, a private TPA in Southern California, discusses that and more in this episode. What You’ll Learn From this Episode: How to deal with different market segments in the same state. How the cannabis industry is changing benefits delivery. Why agency rollups are bot...

A personal encounter with the medical system led to a decision that making a difference required a different approach. So Adam Berkowitz launched an agency that takes a new-day perspective in its operations and interactions with clients. What You’ll Learn From this Episode: The personal experience that began the process. Leveraging technology to control expense and enable scaling. Focusing on bein...

Creating a pharmacy model that provides help for underserved populations using reclaimed prescriptions required a pharmacist with a mission, a change in legislation and a vision. Phil Baker is a pharmacist on a mission who has created a whole that is more than just the sum of its parts. What You’ll Learn From this Episode: The voyage from a national company to a Memphis neighborhood pharmacist. Th...

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...

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...

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 profess...

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 Y...

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....

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 hi...

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 tec...

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 sh...

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...

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 h...

Product, marketing and technical knowledge alone are not enough to be effective with today’s prospects and clients. Dana Dombrowski, a coach with Hit The Ground Running, shares some of her tips and techniques for advisors who need to listen more carefully, speak more clearly, and act more deliberately. What You’ll Learn From this Episode: Why is coaching necessary for today’s advisors? What are th...