Insights & Resources
Expert perspectives on healthcare benefits, industry trends, and strategies to help you make better decisions for your business.
Latest Articles
Insurance Coverage Isn't the Same as Access to Care
What a health plan pays for and how employees get help are different questions. Learn where virtual care and Amaze fit—and what they do not replace.
How to Evaluate a Benefits Broker Beyond the Quote
Use this employer scorecard to compare service, compensation, employee support, and implementation—not just the renewal spreadsheet.
Davenport University: A Wellbeing Benefit Employees Actually Use
How Davenport University gave its team 24/7 access to care, $0 medications, and tax-free protection through Integrity Well-Being powered by Amaze Health.
Beyond Payroll: What Small Business Owners Should Know About Integrated Payroll & Benefits
Learn how integrated payroll and benefits systems streamline compliance, reduce costs, and improve employee satisfaction for small businesses.
Communicating Your Benefits Package: A 3-Step Plan for Employee Engagement
Learn a 3-step framework for communicating benefits to drive enrollment and demonstrate value to your workforce.
Declining ACA Marketplace Competition: What It Means for Your Employee Health Options
Understand marketplace carrier consolidation trends and whether ACA plans remain viable for your workforce. Strategic insights for employers.
Why Your Employees Aren't Using Their Health Benefits (And What You Can Do About It)
Learn why employees underutilize health benefits and discover proven communication strategies to increase plan engagement and ROI.
Employer Health Insurance Costs: Benchmarking & Budget Planning for 2024
Learn how to benchmark employer health insurance costs and control premium growth in 2024. Regional insights and practical cost containment strategies.
2027 ICHRA Compliance Update: Medicare Part D Creditable Coverage Changes
Essential 2027 ICHRA compliance updates on Medicare Part D creditable coverage requirements and what small business owners need to know.
ICHRA Explained: A Practical Guide for Benefits Advisors
Learn ICHRA fundamentals as a benefits advisor. Understand how individual coverage HRAs work and when they're right for your clients.
ICHRA for Mid-Market Employers: Design Options and Implementation Strategy
Learn how mid-sized employers can leverage ICHRA as an alternative to group health plans. Design options, ROI analysis, and implementation best practices.
ICHRA Strategy for Micro and Small Employers: Advisor Talking Points
Learn ICHRA strategy for small employers. Qualifying criteria, plan design tips, and client communication strategies for sub-50 employee groups.
Retention Strategy: How Competitive Benefits Packages Reduce Turnover and Protect Organizational Knowledge
Learn how competitive benefits reduce employee turnover, protect organizational knowledge, and lower hiring costs for small businesses.
Gap Analysis: Why Employees Feel Unprotected and What Your Benefits Plan Is Missing
Discover common benefit plan gaps leaving employees exposed and learn how to strengthen your company's protection strategy.
Flexible Employer Contributions: Legal Ways to Offer Tiered or Defined-Contribution Models
Learn legal strategies for flexible employer health contributions while staying compliant with nondiscrimination rules and IRS regulations.
The Complete Employee Benefits Landscape: A Roadmap for West Michigan Employers
Complete guide to employee benefits for small business owners. Learn which benefits matter most and how to build a competitive benefits package.
Benefits Regulatory Updates & Industry News
Stay current with critical benefits compliance updates and regulatory changes affecting small and mid-sized employers.
Why Employee Benefits Matter: ROI, Retention, and Recruitment
Learn why strategic employee benefits drive business results through improved retention, recruitment, and productivity. A practical guide for small business owners.
How Government Shutdowns Impact Your Employee Benefits
Learn how government shutdowns affect employee benefits, compliance requirements, and what employers must do to protect coverage.
Out-of-Network Payment Disputes: What Employers Need to Know
Learn how employers can protect themselves from out-of-network payment disputes and ensure adequate provider networks for employees.
Open Enrollment 2026: What Michigan Employers Need to Know
Essential guide for Michigan employers on 2026 open enrollment deadlines, regulations, and communication strategies to ensure compliance and employee satisfaction.
Switching Health Plans: Advisor Checklist for Smooth Transitions
Essential checklist for employers switching health plans. Learn timing, communication strategies, and compliance requirements for smooth transitions.
Advisor Resource Library: Benefits Planning Guides & Checklists
Curated collection of downloadable resources and checklists for benefits advisors to streamline planning and client communication.
Mid-Market & Large Employer Benefits: Strategic Considerations
Strategic guide to employee benefits for mid-market and large employers, covering compliance, plan design, and cost containment strategies.
Small Business Benefits Strategy: What Sub-50 Employers Need
Essential benefits strategies for small employers under 50 employees. Learn health insurance options, compliance requirements, and cost management tips.
Cost Containment Strategy: Helping Clients Negotiate Medical Expenses
Learn practical negotiation tactics to help clients reduce medical expenses and maximize their health benefit investments.
Benefits Strategy for Remote Workforces: What Attracts and Retains Distributed Talent
Design competitive benefits packages for remote and hybrid teams. Learn what attracts and retains distributed talent in 2024.
Additional Medicare Tax: Implications for High-Earning Clients
Learn how Additional Medicare Tax affects high-earning business owners and strategies to minimize tax burden while maintaining benefits.
Benefits Terminology Guide: Essential Concepts for Advisors
A practical glossary of employee benefits terms for advisors explaining coverage, funding, and plan administration to clients.
Account-Based Health Plans vs. Reimbursement Plans: Which Strategy Fits Your Client's Goals?
Compare account-based and reimbursement health plan designs to help your clients choose the right benefits strategy for their business goals.
Small Business HRA Implementation: A Practical Guide
Learn how to evaluate and implement an HRA for your small business with this practical guide covering costs, compliance, and best practices.
How HRAs Work: Step-by-Step for Advisors
Learn how HRAs function from enrollment through reimbursement. Step-by-step guide for small business owners and HR professionals.
Group Coverage HRA: Supplementing Traditional Group Plans
Learn how Group Coverage HRAs bridge gaps in traditional group health plans while managing costs for small businesses and their employees.
HSA, FSA, and Dependent Care Account Updates: Navigating 2025 Regulatory Changes
Understand 2025 HSA, FSA, and dependent care account changes. Learn new contribution limits, eligibility rules, and employer obligations.
Beyond EAP: Often-Missed Benefits That Support Employee Mental Health
Discover hidden mental health benefits beyond EAP. Learn how HSAs, FSAs, and voluntary benefits fill critical wellness gaps.
HRA and Health Plan Integration: What Advisors Must Clarify for Clients
Learn critical HRA eligibility rules and integration requirements to help your clients avoid costly compliance mistakes.
The Essential Benefits Menu: What Smart Small Business Owners Are Offering in 2024
Discover which employee benefits smart small business owners are offering in 2024. Beyond health insurance—affordable options that attract and retain talent.
Group Coverage HRA (GCHRA): Supplementing Group Plans
Learn how Group Coverage HRAs complement group plans by helping employees manage deductibles, copays, and coinsurance costs.
Integrated HRAs: Pairing with Group Plans for Optimal Benefits
Learn how to layer Health Reimbursement Arrangements with group plans to reduce employee costs and boost satisfaction.
Why HRAs Work as Defined Contribution Health Benefits
Learn how HRAs provide defined contribution health benefits with cost predictability for small business employers.
Comparing Employee Health Benefit Strategies: Stipends, Salary, and HRAs from a Total Rewards Perspective
Compare health benefit stipends, salary increases, and HRAs to find the right strategy for your small business's culture and budget.
ICHRA vs. Minimum Essential Coverage: Which Strategy Fits Your Company Goals?
Compare ICHRA and Minimum Essential Coverage arrangements and the different coverage and employer considerations behind each approach.
Eliminating Benefits Confusion: 4 Communication Fundamentals for Employers
Learn 4 proven communication fundamentals to simplify benefits enrollment and improve employee understanding during open enrollment.
Building Stress-Reducing Benefits: 7 Strategic Approaches for Employers
Learn 7 strategic approaches to design stress-reducing benefits that improve employee wellbeing and support your bottom line.
4 Strategies to Address Rising Benefits Costs Without Sacrificing Employee Health
Proven strategies to reduce rising benefits costs while maintaining employee health coverage. Actionable tactics for small business owners and HR professionals.
5 Hidden Costs in Traditional Group Health Plans—And How to Audit Your Client's True Spend
Uncover hidden costs in group health plans. Learn how to audit true spend and identify inefficiencies in traditional carrier plans.
HRA Fundamentals: Types, Rules, and When to Recommend Them
Learn HRA types, compliance rules, and how to recommend them to clients. Complete guide for HR professionals and business owners.
Minimum Essential Coverage (MEC): What Employers Need to Know for ACA Compliance
Understand MEC requirements, safe harbors, and how employer coverage affects employee subsidy eligibility under the Affordable Care Act.
HRAs for Independent Contractors: What's Allowed and What Isn't
Learn IRS rules on HRAs for independent contractors and discover compliant benefit solutions for non-W2 workforces.
A Broker's Guide to Pharmacy Cost Control Strategies for Employers
Learn pharmacy cost control strategies employers can negotiate with brokers to reduce prescription drug expenses and optimize benefit plans.
Decoding the No Surprises Act: What Advisors Need to Tell Clients About New Federal Guidance
Learn what the No Surprises Act means for your business. We break down federal guidance into actionable steps for employers and HR teams.
Spring Benefits Benchmarking: How Michigan Employers Compare
How do your benefits compare to other Michigan employers? Data-driven benchmarks for health plan costs, employee contributions, HSAs, retirement, and voluntary benefits in 2026.
HRA Coverage Gaps: What Your Clients Need to Know Beyond Their Health Plan
Learn how HRAs fill critical gaps in standard health plans. Guide your clients toward comprehensive benefit strategies that reduce employee costs.
March 2026 State & Local Benefits Law Changes: What Advisors Need to Know
Q1 2026 compliance briefing on state and local benefits law changes affecting plan design, payroll, and renewal strategies for small businesses.
What Employers Need to Know About the DOL's New AI Literacy Framework
Learn how the DOL's AI literacy framework affects your business. We break down compliance obligations and practical implementation steps for HR leaders.
HRA Deadline Calendar: What Your Clients Need to Know This Year
Master HRA compliance deadlines and plan year requirements. Your complete advisor guide to critical dates impacting client strategy.
Document Delivery vs. Receipt: Critical Compliance Deadlines Your Clients Can't Miss
Learn the critical legal distinction between document delivery and receipt dates to avoid costly compliance violations on benefits deadlines.
ICHRA vs. Level-Funded Plans: Which Structure Fits Your Client?
Compare ICHRA and level-funded health plans, including how each structure affects employer budgeting, plan choices, and administration.
Structuring Benefits for Contract & Contingent Workers: What Employers Need to Know
Learn how to structure benefits for contract and contingent workers while managing ACA compliance and controlling costs.
Secure 2.0 Implementation 2026: A Benefit Advisor's Roadmap to Client Conversations
Master SECURE 2.0 changes with this advisor's guide to client conversations and 2026 plan implementation strategies.
2026 FSA and HRA Limits: What's Changing and How to Advise Clients
Learn 2026 FSA and HRA limit changes and how to position pre-tax savings as an inflation hedge for your clients.
Secure 2.0 Catch-Up Rules Finalized: Advising Clients on New Retirement Contribution Flexibility
Understand new Secure 2.0 catch-up contribution rules. A practical guide for small business owners on maximizing retirement savings with updated IRS guidance.
2026 Retirement Plan Contribution Limits Increase: How to Position This in Client Conversations
Learn how 2026 contribution limit increases can strengthen employee retention and engagement while positioning your benefits strategy competitively.
2026 Retirement Plan Deadlines: A Checklist for Advisor Conversations with Employers
Master 2026 retirement plan deadlines with our practical checklist. Protect employers from penalties and ensure compliance.
Why HSAs Remain Your Clients' Best-Kept Secret: A Broker's Guide to the Triple Tax Advantage
Learn why HSAs are underutilized wealth-building tools. Discover the triple tax advantage and how to pitch HSAs effectively to clients.
ICHRA and Minimum Essential Coverage: Compliance Questions Advisors Get Asked
Understand ICHRA and minimum essential coverage requirements. Get answers to common compliance questions from a benefits advisor's perspective.
ICHRA for Michigan Nonprofits: From Zero Benefits to Competitive Coverage
83% of ICHRA adopters never offered health benefits before. Learn how Michigan nonprofits can use ICHRA to provide competitive coverage with fixed, predictable costs.
ICHRA for Churches: The ERISA Exemption Nobody's Talking About
Churches are ERISA-exempt, but ICHRA is an ERISA plan. Learn how the church plan exemption interacts with ICHRA rules, COBRA, health sharing ministries, and clergy tax status.
GLP-1 Drugs and Your Health Plan: Managing the Ozempic Cost Crisis in 2026
GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy are reshaping employer health plan costs. Learn your four coverage options, cost data, and strategies to manage GLP-1 pharmacy spend in 2026.
HRA Fundamentals: What Advisors Need to Know
Learn HRA mechanics, tax advantages, and eligibility rules. Essential guide for advisors positioning HRAs to small business clients.
ICHRA in Michigan After the 2025 Marketplace Exodus: What Employers Need to Know
Three carriers left Michigan's marketplace. Rates jumped 20%. Subsidies expired. What it means for ICHRA — and whether the math still works.
Health Insurance Options for Churches: Group Plans, ICHRA, and Denominational Providers Compared
Five church health insurance options compared — group plans, level-funded, ICHRA, denominational, and health sharing. What works in Michigan for your church.
ERISA Exemptions for Church Plans: What Your Benefits Broker Should Know
Church plans are exempt from ERISA — but not the ACA. Here's what Section 3(33) covers, where churches overspend, and the mistake most brokers miss.
Michigan's Earned Sick Time Act: Compliance Update One Year In
ESTA turns one. Here's the compliance checklist Michigan employers need — headcount traps, PTO alignment, frontloading vs. accrual, and penalty math.
COBRA Administration: Why Most Small Employers Shouldn't Handle It In-House
COBRA administration is more hassle than it's worth for most small employers. Here's what it involves, what it costs to outsource, and why it's one of the easiest things to take off your plate.
Helping a Local Manufacturing Shop Save $125,000 on Health Insurance Costs
A dramatic $125,000 in annual savings for a local manufacturer, happier employees, and a streamlined HR process. Read more about how to save.
A Small Business Guide to Successfully Administering an ICHRA
Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangement (ICHRA) is a strategic way to elevate your employee benefits while being flexible.
How a Local Organic Farm Simplified Employee Benefits with Expert Guidance
A personalized, expert-driven approach transformed their benefits strategy, empowering employees and reducing HR's workload.
How a Grand Rapids Auto Dealership Elevated Employee Health Coverage
Effective employee health coverage isn't just a perk—it's a key component to retaining talented staff and ensuring workplace satisfaction.
Transforming Health Insurance for a Small Manufacturing Company in Cedar Springs, Michigan
Feeling stuck between offering health insurance and the cost to your business? See how a Cedar Springs manufacturer saved over $200,000 annually.
Accurately Calculate Your Adjusted Gross Income for Marketplace Subsidies and Cost-Sharing Reductions
Your AGI determines eligibility for ACA savings including Marketplace subsidies and Cost-Sharing Reductions. Here's how to get it right.
A Complete Guide to Flexible Spending Accounts
FSAs can be a powerful tool for small businesses looking to enhance their benefits package without incurring massive costs.
The Power of Health Stipends: A Flexible Alternative to HRAs
Health stipends are a straightforward, flexible alternative to Health Reimbursement Arrangements. Here's why they're a game-changer.
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