Tired of shiny pitches and vague promises? In this solo episode, we break down a practical, repeatable system for holding your benefits vendors accountable so your plan actually performs.  From rock-solid RFPs to airtight contracts and respectful escalation, you’ll learn how to set clear expectations, track outcomes, and course-correct fast.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How to design an RFP that prevents surprises later
• What to demand in contracts: performance guarantees, termination language, fees, BAAs, data sharing, and fiduciary status
• The must-ask questions about integrations, cybersecurity, conflicts of interest, and compensation
• A simple cadence for accountability meetings that gets results, not excuses
• Real examples of catching hidden fees and fixing slow vendor response times
• How to build team culture so your staff holds vendors accountable the right way

Who this is for: 
Employers, HR leaders, CFOs, and anyone ready to transform a “set it and forget it” benefits program into a high-performing plan.If the truth is out there, are you ready to hear it?

Like, share, and subscribe for more no-BS guidance on benefits that serve your people and your P&L.

TimeStamps:

• 00:00 Intro and why accountability matters
• 02:10 Build a better RFP
• 07:35 Contract must-haves and red flags
• 13:25 Demo everything and verify claims
• 17:40 Meeting cadence and escalation that works
• 23:10 Real-world examples and fixes
• 28:30 Culture of accountability inside your team
• 32:10 Final takeaways and next steps

If this helped, like, subscribe, and share with a leader who needs to hear it.  Tell us in the comments: What is the first change you will make to your benefits strategy?

Whether you're an HR professional, CFO, CEO, or just tired of rising healthcare costs, this is your call to rethink benefits strategy and finally take control.

Connect with Chelsea and Donovan:
Website: www.businessofbenefitspodcast.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ethoseffectpodcast/
Chelsea: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chelsea-ryckis-8508a192/
Donovan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donovanryckis/

Welcome back to the No BS. No sales pitch. Just real solutions podcast.  This week our host Chelsea Ryckis sits down with Justin Held, CEBS of the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans (IFEBP) to unpack what HR, CFOs, and CEOs need now: neutral education, fiduciary guardrails, and a practical path to future-proof employee benefits.


In this episode:

• What IFEBP is and how it helps plan sponsors with objective, non-lobbying education
• CEBS breakdown: curriculum, timelines, and why employers fund it
• Fiduciary duty basics after ERISA and why CAA 2021 put health plans under the spotlight
• The 2025–2026 benefits agenda: PBM contracts, data analysis, chronic conditions, GLP-1 coverage, mental and behavioral health, peer support models, and AI in plan administration
• How to run a strategic review of your plan: surveys, focus groups, utilization data, KPIs

Simple, high-impact changes most members won’t even notice, but your budget will.

Timestamps:

• 0:00 Intro
• 1:08 What IFEBP does and why it’s neutral
• 6:35 Conferences, toolkits, and daily benefits headlines
• 10:12 CEBS overview and chapter network
• 14:45 ERISA fiduciary duty in health and retirement
• 19:18 Trends: PBM contracts, GLP-1, mental health, AI, fraud prevention
• 28:40 Peer support models for mental health
• 33:10 How to future-proof benefits with data and KPIs

If you are an employer, CFO, or CEO who is tired of trend increases and status quo advice, this conversation will give you a path to real savings and better outcomes. 

If this helped, like, subscribe, and share with a leader who needs to hear it.  Tell us in the comments: What is the first change you will make to your benefits strategy?

Whether you're an HR professional, CFO, CEO, or just tired of rising healthcare costs, this is your call to rethink benefits strategy and finally take control.

Connect with our guest today at: 
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-held-cebs/
Website: https://www.ifebp.org/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/IFEBP
Listen to their podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/talking-benefits/id1183535454

Connect with Chelsea and Donovan:
Website: www.businessofbenefitspodcast.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ethoseffectpodcast/
Chelsea: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chelsea-ryckis-8508a192/
Donovan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donovanryckis/

If you have ever been told “you can’t access your own portal” or “don’t worry, we’ve got great PPO discounts,” this episode is for you. Today host Chelsea unpacks real stories employers have shared with me and the costly myths behind them. Names and details are changed, the situations are real. Use this as a checklist to protect your plan, your data, and your people.


In this episode

• The red flag no one should ignore: being blocked from your own carrier portal
• No access to your ben-admin system and why that traps you from shopping the market
• Asking for compensation disclosures under CAA 2021 and getting a flat “no”
• Fear tactics about big carriers and how to verify before you trust
• Sticker shock: $125 PEPM broker fees and how to benchmark what is reasonable
• Perks over performance: NHL boxes, steak dinners, and fiduciary duty
• “Broker severance” and the myth of 250 years of benefits experience
• “Local” vs. “large” broker labels and what actually matters
• Being told you are a “small client” and why that is never an excuse
• Shiny value-adds vs. real cost and quality outcomes

Key takeaways

• It is your plan and your data. Own the logins, the reports, the invoices.
• Verify before you trust. Ask for proof, not talking points.
• Benchmark compensation and services against outcomes, not perks.
• Hold every vendor accountable to frequency and severity of claims, not swag.

If you are an employer, CFO, or CEO who is tired of trend increases and status quo advice, this conversation will give you a path to real savings and better outcomes. 

If this helped, like, subscribe, and share with a leader who needs to hear it.  Tell us in the comments: What is the first change you will make to your benefits strategy?

Whether you're an HR professional, CFO, CEO, or just tired of rising healthcare costs, this is your call to rethink benefits strategy and finally take control.

Connect with our guest today at: 

Connect with Chelsea and Donovan:
Website: www.businessofbenefitspodcast.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ethoseffectpodcast/
Chelsea: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chelsea-ryckis-8508a192/
Donovan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donovanryckis/

Welcome back to The Business of Benefits Podcast, your no BS, no sales guide to real solutions in employee benefits.

Today, host Chelsea Ryckis sits down with Nelson Griswold of Next Gen Benefits to unpack the so-called “big lie” in healthcare and show employers how to take control of cost and quality. Nelson Griswold is a leading voice in employer-sponsored healthcare reform and author of Healthcare’s C-Suite Solution, Fixing American Healthcare, and Life and Death Decisions in the C-Suite. He helps CEOs and CFOs manage healthcare like a supply chain and turn overspend into free cash flow.  Nelson explains why claims are not all the same, how incentives in the current system work against employers, and what it looks like to build a plan that puts your people first.

In this episode you will learn:

• Why the 80/20 ACA rule can push premiums up, and what that means for your plan
• How to move from reactive renewals to a strategic, employer-controlled model
• The difference between fully insured and self funded, and why risk is often misunderstood
• How nurse navigation and quality data reduce complications and total spend
• Practical first steps to align incentives with an advisor who works for you
• When to use bundled, direct contracting, international pharmacy, and reference based pricing
• Why better quality often equals lower cost, and how to steer members to it

If you are an employer, CFO, or CEO who is tired of trend increases and status quo advice, this conversation will give you a path to real savings and better outcomes. 

If this helped, like, subscribe, and share with a leader who needs to hear it.  Tell us in the comments: What is the first change you will make to your benefits strategy?

Whether you're an HR professional, CFO, CEO, or just tired of rising healthcare costs, this is your call to rethink benefits strategy and finally take control.

Connect with our guest today at: https://www.nextgenbenefits.com/

Connect with Chelsea and Donovan:
Website: www.businessofbenefitspodcast.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ethoseffectpodcast/
Chelsea: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chelsea-ryckis-8508a192/
Donovan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donovanryckis/

Welcome back to The Business of Benefits Podcast – your no-BS, no-sales guide to real solutions in employee benefits.

In this solo episode, host Chelsea breaks down what it really means to have a multi-year healthcare strategy for your company. Instead of reacting to renewals at the last minute and hearing the same excuses year after year, Chelsea shows you how to treat your benefits program like a true business plan—with long-term goals, measurable KPIs, and strategies that actually deliver results.

You’ll hear a real client case study that has achieved five straight years of decreases by following a step-by-step benefits roadmap.

Chelsea also shares:
✅ What isn’t a multi-year healthcare strategy (the reactive renewal game)
✅ How to build a business plan for your benefits, just like any other department
✅ Why data access and employee trust are the foundation for long-term success
✅ The difference between a slow, steady approach and a “shock-and-awe” strategy
✅ Real savings examples—millions of dollars saved while improving employee experience

If you’re an employer tired of rising costs, empty promises, and lack of control, this episode will show you a better way to run your healthcare plan.

Whether you're an HR professional, CFO, CEO, or just tired of rising healthcare costs, this is your call to rethink benefits strategy and finally take control.

Connect with Chelsea and Donovan:

Website: www.businessofbenefitspodcast.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ethoseffectpodcast/
Chelsea: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chelsea-ryckis-8508a192/
Donovan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donovanryckis/

In this powerful episode, Donovan Ryckis sits down with Jay Gepfert, President of The Culpepper Group, to unpack what employers don't know—and what it’s costing them. With decades of experience on both the retirement and healthcare side of the fiduciary table, Jay brings the receipts on how hidden broker compensation, lack of transparency, and outdated fee structures are draining company resources and exposing employers to serious risk. 

You’ll hear:

• Why healthcare benefits need the same due diligence as retirement plans
• How compensation models drive broker behavior—and what to demand instead
• A real case study showing 46% savings in broker fees
• Why the current healthcare system is broken—and how litigation and legislation are forcing change
• What you need to start doing now to protect your plan, your budget, and your people

If you're an HR leader, CFO, or CEO who’s ready to ask the tough questions and rethink your benefits strategy—this episode is your playbook.

Subscribe now and hit the bell so you never miss an episode. Because if the truth is out there... are you ready to hear it? Let us know your thoughts in the comments & don’t forget to subscribe for more no-BS insights.

Whether you're an HR professional, CFO, CEO, or just tired of rising healthcare costs, this is your call to rethink benefits strategy and finally take control.

Learn more about Jay's work: https://www.culpepperrfp.com/

Connect with Jay Gepfert on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jay-gepfert-rfps-for-retirement-health-and-welfare-plans-a418027/

Connect with Chelsea and Donovan: Website: www.businessofbenefitspodcast.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ethoseffectpodcast/

Chelsea: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chelsea-ryckis-8508a192/
Donovan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donovanryckis/

Welcome back to The Business of Benefits Podcast! In Part 2 of our deep dive with Danielle Young of ClaimDoc, we shift focus from theory to reality — what actually happens when employees engage with a reference-based pricing (RBP) plan?

We break down:

• The truth about provider access
• How ClaimDoc achieves a 96%+ acceptance rate
• Fear-based tactics vs real-world outcomes
• How to handle balance bills — and prevent them
• Why communication before open enrollment is key
• The co-fiduciary model that protects employees and employers
• What brokers should be doing (and what to look out for)
• Building a proactive communication strategy that WORKS

This episode is a must-listen for HR leaders, CFOs, and employers ready to take control of their healthcare strategy and rethink everything they thought they knew about RBP.

If you're tired of being sold to and want to make smart, transparent decisions for your people — you're in the right place.

Learn more about ClaimDoc: https://claim-doc.com
Connect with Danielle Young on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielle-young-rbp/

Subscribe now and hit the bell so you never miss an episode. Because if the truth is out there... are you ready to hear it?  Let us know your thoughts in the comments & don’t forget to subscribe for more no-BS insights.

Whether you're an HR professional, CFO, CEO, or just tired of rising healthcare costs, this is your call to rethink benefits strategy and finally take control.

Connect with Chelsea and Donovan:
Website: www.businessofnbenefitspodcast.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ethoseffectpodcast/
Chelsea: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chelsea-ryckis 
Donovan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donovanryckis/

Welcome to The Business of Benefits Podcast — the no BS, no sales guide to transforming your health benefits. In this explosive Part 1 of our two-part series, Chelsea Ryckis sits down with Danielle Young of ClaimDoc and host of Claim Talk to unpack one of the most misunderstood and feared concepts in healthcare: reference-based pricing (RBP). What is RBP? How does it really work?

And is it as scary as traditional brokers and carriers make it seem? Danielle breaks it down with real-world examples, industry insights, and straight talk on what’s broken in the system and how employers can take back control. From inflated hospital bills to unfair renewal hikes, this conversation is a must-listen for HR leaders, CFOs, and any employer ready to challenge the status quo.

Tune in now to learn:

• What reference-based pricing actually is (in plain English)
• How RBP can save employers 25–30% in year one
• Why fully insured employers are getting screwed too
• How to prepare your team and employees for a successful RBP rollout
• Why the right advisor makes all the difference

Don’t miss Part 2, where we dive into the employee experience and debunk the fear tactics around RBP.

Subscribe now and hit the bell so you never miss an episode. Because if the truth is out there... are you ready to hear it?

Whether you're an HR professional, CFO, CEO, or just tired of rising healthcare costs, this is your call to rethink benefits strategy and finally take control.

Connect with Chelsea and Donovan:
Website: www.businessofnbenefitspodcast.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ethoseffectpodcast/
Chelsea: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chelsea-ryckis 
Donovan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donovanryckis/

Connect with today's guest Danielle Young at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rbpdanielleyoung

Today’s episode of The Business of Benefits is a masterclass in bold HR leadership. Meet Stephanie Koch, Director of HR at Hendry Marine, who shares how she went from sitting silently in renewal meetings to transforming her company’s healthcare strategy — saving nearly $24 million in the process.

Host Chelsea Ryckis and Stephanie dive deep into:

• Why most companies are stuck in “spreadsheet” healthcare
• What reference-based pricing really means (and how it changed everything)
• How Stephanie turned HR into a profit center
• The truth behind working with legacy brokers
• Why data access, transparency, and courage are key to real change
• The ROI of onsite primary care clinics — and the lives it’s saving

Whether you're an HR professional, CFO, CEO, or just tired of rising healthcare costs, this is your call to rethink benefits strategy and finally take control.

Connect with Chelsea and Donovan:
Website: www.ethoseffectpodcast.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ethoseffectpodcast/
Chelsea: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chelsea-ryckis 
Donovan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donovanryckis/

In this no-nonsense episode of The Business of Benefits, host Chelsea Ryckis dives into the critical but often misunderstood world of Third Party Administrators (TPAs) with industry veteran Eugene Starks. This episode offers employers and consultants a candid breakdown of why the TPA is arguably the most important player in a health plan—acting as the “quarterback” responsible for claims processing, eligibility management, vendor coordination, and plan integrity.

Eugene brings over two decades of insider expertise to the table, explaining:

• The core functions of a TPA—including paying claims, managing eligibility, and building plan logic
• What questions employers should ask when selecting a TPA (e.g., claim turnaround time, fee transparency, ownership structure, and scalability)
• Red flags to look for in TPA contracts—like hidden fees, clawback charges, or outsourced claim processing
• How TPAs interact with other key components like PBMs, stop-loss providers, and networks
• The importance of employee communication and education in plan success, especially when using point solutions or reference-based pricing

They also tackle a hot debate: should the consultant or the TPA be the “true quarterback”? The takeaway—collaboration is key. Success lies in choosing the right consultant who partners effectively with the right TPA, ensuring strategic alignment, smart cost-containment, and a great member experience.

Don’t be distracted by lower admin fees—value, transparency, and execution matter more. If you're ready to rethink how benefits should actually work, this episode is your playbook. 

Connect with Chelsea and Donovan:
Website: www.ethoseffectpodcast.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ethoseffectpodcast/
Chelsea: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chelsea-ryckis 
Donovan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donovanryckis/