When two people who refuse to settle for the status quo sit down to talk about healthcare, benefits, and an industry overdue for disruption—you get a conversation like this.

Spencer Smith, host of Self-Funded with Spencer and captive expert at Pareto Health, joins Cole Rodgers to explore what it actually takes to build something meaningful—in business, in benefits, and in life. Spencer has become one of the most recognized voices in the employee benefits space not by chasing attention, but by consistently teaching, showing up, and investing more intention than most. His content and approach to the captive model have made him a trusted resource for brokers, consultants, and employers navigating a broken system.

But this conversation goes beyond stop loss and carrier networks. It’s about building a portable brand, creating value that outlives a logo, staying curious, avoiding burnout, and moving forward while the industry stays stuck. Spencer and Cole unpack the erosion of traditional networks, the role of captives in solving real problems, and why consultants often lose business for the same reasons they win it.

They discuss proximity, complacency, and why the next decade belongs to leaders who refuse to treat benefits like a transaction. It’s also about the human side of work—why Spencer built a studio during COVID to preserve his family’s story, why Cole believes resilience is life’s most important attribute, and what happens when you stop chasing volume and start screening for the right people and mindset.

If you’re a consultant, benefits leader, or someone trying to build something that lasts in a fast-changing world—this one’s for you.

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IN THIS EPISODE
• Why Spencer built a podcast studio—and how it became a time capsule
• The moment he realized benefits are the heartbeat of an organization
• How Cole’s career shifted after he started creating content
• Why proximity changes everything
• The four reasons consultants win business (and lose it)
• What a 35% renewal actually reveals—and how to solve it
• The erosion of traditional carrier networks
• How Pareto Health’s captive model creates flexibility
• Why better questions create better results
• The “dammit moment” when leaders realize there’s a better way
• Operational readiness vs financial readiness in self-funding
• How AI will reshape the benefits industry
• Why the soul still matters in an automated world
• The one-phone-call trust question

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ABOUT SPENCER SMITH
Spencer Smith is a captive expert at Pareto Health and host of Self-Funded with Spencer, one of the most recognized podcasts in the employee benefits industry. Known for explaining stop loss, self-funding, and captive insurance with clarity and authenticity, he helps brokers, consultants, and employers navigate a rapidly changing healthcare landscape.

Before Pareto, Spencer worked as a claims adjuster at Liberty Mutual, moved into benefits and finance at Benefit Mall, and later into stop loss sales at Sun Life. His career centers on education, transparency, and solving problems instead of deferring them. His content reflects a core belief: benefits aren’t boring—they’re critical.

Connect with Spencer:
Website: selffundedwithspencer.com
Podcast: Self-Funded with Spencer (Spotify, Apple, YouTube)
LinkedIn: Spencer Smith, CSFS

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ABOUT THE RESILIENCE PLAYBOOK
The Resilience Playbook is a long-form conversation series hosted by Cole Rodgers featuring leaders and high performers who’ve been tested and came out with something worth sharing. No highlight reels without the hard parts—just honest conversations about resilience, faith, leadership, marriage, fatherhood, mental health, and the moments that shape us.

New episodes drop regularly. Subscribe and turn on notifications so you don’t miss one.

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