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.