Jump in!
Benefits advisors are constantly being forced to innovate and adapt, and the best way to learn is by taking action.
As I’ve written before, one of my favorite things about my job is the opportunities I get every day to meet and chat with so many interesting people across the country. Whether networking at conferences, messaging on LinkedIn, or conducting interviews over the phone or computer, it’s always fascinating to interact with the wide range of people who make up our industry.
Unfortunately, I’ve had fewer in-person conversations the past few years, as many of us have reduced or eliminated travel during the pandemic, but this has made those rare face-to-face interactions even more valuable. I was recently in Nashville for the annual ASCEND conference, which is always a great opportunity to hear from leading advisors who are pushing the industry forward. During a discussion about strategies to elevate the benefits conversation from HR to the C-Suite, Kimberly Eckelbarger of Tropical Benefits said something that resonated with me: “Execution is where the mastery happens. So jump in.”
Related: Investors, broker-advisors driving innovation in self-funded plans
I kind of feel like that should be the tagline for our industry. The benefits and health care landscape is in a constant state of flux, which means that even the best advisors and industry professionals are constantly being forced to innovate, adapt and admit that they simply don’t know everything. So what’s the solution? Jump in!
Eckelbarger’s quote is one of many great pieces of advice that are included in this month’s issue. Our cover story, “The perfect opportunity” details some of the key lessons learned by benefits advisors as we enter the third (!) year of the pandemic and explains how these insights are shaping their plans for the future.
And, as always, our annual 100 Sales and Marketing Tips offers a wealth of advice and inspiration from a variety of industry thought leaders on everything from personal and professional development to innovative plan design and creating a more diverse industry. I’d recommend not only reading it but underlining and highlighting favorite quotes, sharing the best idea with co-workers and peers, and maybe even tearing out a page and pinning it to your office wall for future inspiration.
I hope you enjoy this month’s issue. It’s chock full of great content from some of the most forward-thinking people in our industry. As our upcoming BenefitsPRO Broker Expo keynote speaker, LeVar Burton would put it, “But you don’t have to take my word for it.” Happy reading!
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