May 2014

Ep #8: Helping Brokers Find a New Strategy with Jeff Hogan

By   Shift Shapers Podcast   2 Comments

ShiftShapersCoverArt

In addition to creating a presence for his company, Rogers Benefit Group, in a new, carrier rich environment, Jeff Hogan has created unique partnerships with his brokers that help them to deliver an engaging, modern and consultative approach to employee benefits.

They encourage employers to view their benefits offerings just as they would any other (non-benefits) asset. Once that mindset is in place, Jeff works closely with his brokers to bring data and analytics to decisions about everything from core benefits to wellness and other benefit initiatives.

Listen to this week’s episode to learn more about their innovative and successful approach. See how you can adapt their model to your practice to bring greater value and differentiate your agency.

What You’ll Learn From This Episode:

  • How Jeff and his team established themselves as a top competitor in a challenging environment
  • What led to their “benefits as corporate asset” strategy
  • How they create partnerships with their brokers
  • What steps they take to create long-term relationships with employers
  • Innovative steps they have taken to bring other relevant stakeholders into the equation.

Featured On The Show:

Listen To The Full Interview:

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Enjoy The Show?

Ep #7: Eliminating Waste and Improving Quality in Today’s Healthcare with Frank Roby

By   Shift Shapers Podcast   1 Comment

ShiftShapersCoverArt

Can waste in healthcare be eliminated without being disruptive, while also engaging physicians and creating transparency? We’re pleased to welcome Frank Roby to the program today, to answer this question. He is the CEO of RevelationMD and has a background in employ benefits, mainly in healthcare industry.

Working in larger-case, self-funded arenas, RevelationMD aims to eliminate waste and improve quality in today’s healthcare system through the power of their physician-centered data bridge.  In this episode Frank Roby explains how his platform not only brings all the stakeholders together, but also factors in an important, mostly forgotten part in the cost equation – the physician.

In order to successfully achieve that, RevelationMD provides a flow of information that better enables the physicians to offer proper care for the company’s employees. This system also benefits physicians through the employer or the insurance company’s willingness to share the savings that physicians can achieve by better outcomes and by helping to find better pricing options through their transparency.

What You’ll Learn From This Episode:

  • The history of the shift in employee benefits of healthcare industry.
  • The reasons why RevelationMD works in larger, self-funded arenas, and how this information can help mid and smaller market folks.
  • How physicians benefit from RevelationMD’s approach.
  • How RevelationMD’s efforts affect transparency of pricing to the ensured individuals.
  • Possible trajectory of where the industry is headed and how RevelationMD fits into this.

Featured On The Show:

Listen To The Full Interview:

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Enjoy The Show?

Ep #6: Enrollment Software that Engages, Educates, and Helps You To Sell – With Joe Fernandez

By   Shift Shapers Podcast   Add new comment

ShiftShapersCoverArt

This week, we welcome Joe Fernandez, from The Benefits Expert (TBX), to the show. Joe explains how TBX created an animated and engaging front end to the traditional online enrollment system. TBX uses media content, decision support, and interactive experience for employees to learn about benefits. It also points out the opportunities to fill the gaps in employees’ core plan with voluntary benefits that sell themselves.

Listen in to learn how TBX recreated enrollment software that engages, educates, and enhances the selling process and which can be provided and customized at no up-front cost. Joe will explain the reasons why his system is a great differentiator for brokers and how his new approach helps to market employee benefits more effectively. Don’t miss this episode!

What You’ll Learn From This Episode:

  • How The Benefits Expert not only enrolls – it helps brokers sell.
  • TBX’s innovative methods of employee engagement, education, and enrollment.
  • TBX’s new simplified way of bundling benefits that increases the take-up rates dramatically.
  • Why these benefit bundles work better than allowing the employees to pick their options.
  • How and why TBX is able to offer their technology at no up-front cost to brokers.

Featured On The Show:

Listen To The Full Interview:

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Enjoy The Show?

Ep #5: Education Reflects the Times – What’s New at The American College – With Tony Boquet

By   Shift Shapers Podcast   Add new comment

ShiftShapersCoverArt

Today, we welcome  Tony Boquet, vice president of the American College. We begin our wide-ranging interview with a discussion of the Penn Mutual Center for Veteran Affairs. The Center is a scholarship-based program which helps veterans returning from different conflicts around the world to get the education they need to build careers in the financial services industry.

We also discuss new programs and designations on both the life and the benefits side of the business, including some specially targeted to new areas of concentration. We also learn how the college is also keeping up with the times with new state-of-the-art audio and video production facilities, new ways to access content, and more.

In an ever-more complex marketplace, education may be more important than ever. For more than 87 years, The American College has provided a variety of educational tracks geared to benefits and financial services professionals. As a former producer himself, Tony’s perspective and enthusiasm for the forward direction of the college makes for a great and engaging interview. Don’t miss this one!

What You’ll Learn From This Episode:

  • The success stories of two Veterans Program graduates who recently received their master’s degrees.
  • The reasons why the American College and financial services education is more relevant today than ever.
  • All about the new Income Retirement Course and what it entails.
  • The background and details about the new Special Needs designation.
  • How RHU and REBC have morphed into a new designation that reflects the post-PPACA world.
  • The new technology and innovations the College embraced to provide a top-notch education to their clients.

Featured On The Show:

Listen To The Full Interview:

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Enjoy The Show?

Ep #4: Using LinkedIn to Generate Warm Referred Leads with Mel Schlesinger

By   Shift Shapers Podcast   Add new comment

ShiftShapersCoverArt On today’s episode, we are speaking with Mel Schlesinger, the creator of the LinkedIn Lead System. For many years he has been known as a leader in the health insurance industry and served as the president of the National Association of Health Underwriters. After years of researching and using different types of marketing, Mel has discovered a way of creating an unlimited source of fresh leads. Listen in to find out how you can skip making those dreaded cold calls and tap into this amazing resource by using Mel’s LinkedIn marketing. Don’t miss this insightful episode!

What You’ll Learn From This Episode:

  • Why LinkedIn is a better tool for marketing than cold calling.
  • How you can use LinkedIn as the ultimate lead generation tool.
  • The reasons why LinkedIn is a great referral machine.
  • How Mel’s program differs from other workshops and what skills you can walk away with after completing it.
  • The types of services available from LinkedIn Lead System.

Featured On The Show:

Listen To The Full Interview:

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Enjoy The Show?

Back to top