"You probably don't need my help."
About a month ago I was invited in to have a conversation with a firm's decision makers.
They understood not only what they were paying for their benefits package, but the total cost of providing that package to their almost two hundred employees. More importantly, they understood why they were paying the amount that they were paying.
They weren't ecstatic about the ROI, but they were comfortable with the return they were getting on their benefits spend. They were in regular, worthwhile contact with their Advisor. They had also just recently implemented several changes that would have been somewhat similar to the approach I would have recommended, given their situation.
My response: "You probably don't need my help."
I closed my notes, gave them my honest feedback and recommended a few things to insist upon with their current advisor. Their benefits program was performing at a high level. They were able to make proactive choices about their plan, and were objectively forecasting the impact of the decisions they had in mind. They expressed gratitude for my assessment and were reassured that they were on the right path for their specific goals.
If that situation sounds more aspirational than attainable, you're not alone. The vast majority of business owners and C-suites with whom I meet aren't in this situation either. They're not necessarily satisfied or dissatisfied, but more conditioned to the way things are currently going for them.
When it's time to renew their insurance plans, they're reacting to volatile increases and hoping for "single digits." They're just trying to get through open enrollment without headaches or complaints. They're raising deductibles, shifting costs, electing "narrow" networks or hoping a different insurer will save them a few dollars.
If that's the boat you're in, again you are not alone. But if you want to find out what better looks like, let's have a conversation. We're not always the right fit for everyone, and when that's the case, I'll be the first to tell you so.
- Matt
Matthew Estes is an insurance agent with active licenses in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Delaware, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Missouri, Nevada, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. He's been advising businesses and individuals on insurance since 2007 and works out of Vinton, VA.
