Rising Stars in Advising

Benefits advisers need to look beyond healthcare and traditional benefits to account for financial stress, mental health and other factors, experts say.

This year’s group of standout advisers represent a new generation of leaders from around the country who are tackling issues of wellness, healthcare and new benefit offerings.

Rising Star Whitney Ehret’s background in human resources helps her see both sides of the benefits process.

“Finding a way to rebuild in that environment, while starting a family, was challenging. You just put one foot in front of the other and figure it out as you go,” says adviser Lisa Talcott, one of EBA’s Rising Stars of 2020.

Rising Star Alex Dampf left his job at a traditional benefits brokerage firm to start his own business and find new ways to manage benefits.

A new generation of Rising Stars tackles wellness, increasing healthcare costs and new benefits offerings.

From titles on leadership to working with clients, advisers and benefits professionals have their noses in a variety of books.

Adviser Zain Hasan helped a client save more than $1 million by moving the company into matching plans on a self-funded basis.

The annual Rising Stars in Advising list showcases young talent making a difference in the benefits industry.

Former elementary school teacher Joe McGinty still uses the communication skills honed in inclusion classrooms.

One of EBA's 2019 Rising Stars, Derek Winn, parlayed his job teaching to educating people about benefits.

“That’s my favorite part about this job, that I get to be creative and bring those solutions,” says Rising Star adviser Danielle Schweiger.

Ed Ligondé, one of our 20 Rising Stars of 2019, used his own medical condition as inspiration to learn about healthcare — and improve employee benefits education along the way.

American Fidelity’s Michael Hart, one of this year’s Rising Stars, looks to provide service to take care of customers “when they had the worst day of their life.”

These young standout advisers see a changing workforce sparking new benefits for gig workers, student loan debt relief and better engagement tactics from employers. Ranging in age from 26 to 35, they represent the next generation ready to make their mark on an evolving industry.

Ed Ligondé discusses the direction he sees advisers going as they move away from the broker role toward a more consultative role with clients.

“I’m always looking at cutting down pharmacy costs,” says Rising Star Jessica McCool. “It’s becoming a bigger piece of the pie for benefit plans.”

Meredith Colbert, one of EBA’s 2019 Rising Stars in Advising, uses her own experience to bolster young advisers at her firm.

A new class of advisers brings fresh perspectives on healthcare savings and benefits.

How Megan Runci, a senior consultant at Hodges-Mace, found a way to reinvigorate her work.