Meet this year's Broker of the Year finalists. From left to right: Tom DiLiegro, Mike Hill, Ed Ligonde, Rachel Miner and Megan Zimmerman.
As we emerge from the shadow of the pandemic, it's time to slowly shift our focus—to start to look ahead to something better. But navigating our changed world will require a fresh mindset and a willingness to think differently.
BenefitsPRO editor-in-chief Paul Wilson We all know that transitional times can be scary; however, they also create huge opportunities for improvement. Our five 2021 Broker of the Year finalists are each focused on embracing change and guiding their clients through the turbulent days ahead. Through their creativity, courage and compassion, they are working to ensure that our industry continues to move toward a better future.
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Related: 2020 Broker of the Year: Derek Winn
 | After more than 15 years as a "traditional broker," Mike Hill asked himself: "Do I want to do it this way for the next half of my career?" The answer was a resounding no. He turned his focus to self-funding and the flexibility it provides. He was so fired up, he wrote a book, joined a new company, and started looking for clients who shared his vision. |
 | Before Megan Zimmerman landed in the benefits world, her journey took her around its edges, offering valuable perspective and keen insights into the components of employee health care. "When you decide to do things differently, the results did not come immediately," she says."But it comes back to you when you do the right thing." |
 | Creating opportunities out of challenges is nothing new for Ed Ligonde. When injuries derailed a promising soccer career, he reset his sights to become a key player in the benefits space. "Everyone handles times of crisis differently," he says. "There are going to be people who view it as an opportunity, there are those who are just going to hunker down and ride out the storm." |
 | For Rachel Miner, health care is personal. She describes herself as "a mom who got pissed off enough about our health care system to think I should start doing something about it." A high-energy, hands-on approach is a hallmark of her style as she advocates for self-funding and transparency. |
 | Tom DiLiegro's life would have turned out quite differently if not for the investment his father's employer made in employee health care. It took a while to "make the connection between my family story and what was going on with insurance, why I was drawn to it," he says. Now, he works to help employers see health benefits not as a liability but an investment. |
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Paul Wilson
Paul Wilson is the editor-in-chief of BenefitsPRO Magazine and BenefitsPRO.com. He has covered the insurance industry for more than a decade, including stints at Retirement Advisor Magazine and ProducersWeb.
