But there are challenges to
becoming informed:
Best practices are siloed
CFOs, CHROs, and business owners generally don’t talk to one another. Innovative plans (and plans to avoid) aren’t shared
It’s an annual problem
Renewals happen once per year, so it doesn’t get a lot of attention–even though the wrong plan can torpedo a company budget.
Few brokers, CFOs, or CHROs know any better
The deck is stacked against businesses, but there are workable solutions almost anybody can use. But most business leaders—and even brokers—aren’t aware of them
My name is Steve Watson
…and I’m a CFO, a licensed CHRO, and a licensed benefits broker. I’ve helped my company enjoy over $500,000 per
year of benefits savings, out-of-pocket costs that are 20% lower for my employees than they were 9-yrs ago—with the
same or better benefits.
How did I crack the benefits nut and get to this point?
The Budget-Breaking
Million Dollar Claim
A few years ago my employer had a claim that was over a million dollars.
When our broker called saying our premiums would increase 30%, amounting to hundreds-of-thousands of dollars we didn’t have, I began looking at our benefits more closely.
I also discovered that our broker would receive a 30% higher commission once our rates increased.
Uncovering the Real
State-of-the-Market
I needed to understand what I was dealing with regarding benefits, so I took action:
- I became a licensed broker
- I spoke with brokers all over the country to find out how they operate
- I identified best-practices and built a network of brokers who are working against the broken system
- I spoke with other CFOs and CHROs to see how their companies were doing
- I worked with our broker to create a plan that was set up in our favor that’s allowed us to slash our benefits costs
After all this, I realized that the system is rigged against employers, and I knew I needed to do something about it.
That’s When I Started
Trendbreakers…
Trendbreakers allows me to pull back the curtain and arm CFOs, CHROs, and business owners with the knowledge and proven strategies that can make employee benefits work for them–as it has for my company.
Lara Proffit, MM, HRM Director
You humanized the subject. As an HR person I’m not a Finance specialist and most CFOs are not necessarily high on EQ. The fact that you had to study up to understand the benefits world made me feel better. So important for head of finance and head of HR to work together.
Kendrick Johnson Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine
Steve Watson is perhaps the one person who best understands the intersection between business finance, human resources and health benefits. I highly recommend him for speaking engagements on the subject of revolutionizing health benefits for the good of everyone.
Teresa Jorgensen, PHR, SHRM-CP HR Professional
The biggest thing I got out of your presentation is that a good program is a team effort. There are options out there that can be beneficial to both employer and employee but involve HR, Finance and a broker willing to look at options. The chart indicating the cost increase over the years was a great visual of how things have gotten off track but is considered part of business. Thanks for giving us info indicating it doesn’t have to be that way.
Roja A Sharifzadeh, SHRM-CP Human Resources
...When I heard you speaking, I thought to myself ”finally, somebody is speaking to the power, somebody is talking the truth about this rather ugly business”... You are in a very unique position to advocate for the employer as a whole and its different departments.
How I Can Help You
If you don’t want to head into your next renewal alone, there are three ways I can help you.
Coaching. One-on-one guidance through the renewal process. I can help you vet brokers, come up with creative solutions to your benefits challenges, and help you make the best decisions for you and your company’s benefits strategy.
Cohort Coaching. If you’d like to tackle your benefits with other like-minded business leaders, this option could be a great fit. Safe and discrete, cohort coaching gives you the value of multiple perspectives, experiences, and approaches to benefits that can reduce your costs and enhance your benefits.
Membership. If you’d rather go at your own pace, you’ll enjoy monthly training, group calls, and unlimited text coaching to help you over the inevitable stumbling blocks as you change how you approach your company’s benefits.
Of course, I can’t guarantee that your results will equal my 20% reduction from 2010 rates, or our $500k in annual savings, but I can guarantee innovative ideas and best practices that can level the playing field and set you on the path for future reduced renewals.
Click the option that best suits you below to learn more about how I can help you lower your benefits costs.
I got a renewal hike
and need help now.
I need top benefits partners for my next renewal.
I want access to others who are walking the same path.
