“Whatever your clients find attractive about you and the reason they want to work with you is the exact same reason that a buyer is going to find you attractive and want to acquire your agency.”- Shelby CowleyShelby Cowley joined me this week to discuss the complicated world of insurance mergers & acquisitions. How do you get the best valuation for your agency? What key metrics are most attractive to buyers? How much does personality impact the value?We answer all of those questions and more on this week’s episode of Self-Funded.Chapters:00:00:00 Meet Shelby Cowley00:08:51 Empowering Entrepreneurs through Unique Insurance M&A00:11:42 Valuation Impact on Agency Acquisition Success00:15:46 High Demand Driving Top-Tier Valuations in Acquisitions00:19:29 Strategic Evaluation for Successful Business Acquisitions00:22:18 Long-term Partnership Potential in Buyer Selection00:28:45 Performance-Based Growth In Business Sale Agreements00:37:57 Leveraging Private Equity for Growth and Acquisitions00:42:15 Maximizing Acquisition Value Through Seller's Representation00:45:18 Value-Driven Consulting in Client RelationshipsKey Links for Social:@SelfFunded on YouTube for video versions of the podcast and much more - https://www.youtube.com/@SelfFundedListen on Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1TjmrMrkIj0qSmlwAIevKA?si=068a389925474f02Listen on Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/self-funded-with-spencer/id1566182286Follow Spencer on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/spencer-smith-self-funded/Follow Spencer on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/selffundedwithspencer/Key Words: Insurance Mergers, Mergers And Acquisitions, Business Sales, Sales, Business Acquisition, Market Dynamics, Transactions, Private Equity Deals, PE, Private Equity, Buyer Selection, Earn Out Period, Seller Representation, Consultant, Insurance Industry, Broker, Representative, Valuations, Growth Strategies, Transaction Goals, Employee Benefits, fixing healthcare, podcast, benefits, health, healthcare, health insurance, self funded, self funding#InsuranceMergers #MergersAndAcquisitions #BusinessSales #Sales #BusinessAcquisition #MarketDynamics #Transactions #PrivateEquityDeals #PE #PrivateEquity #BuyerSelection #EarnOutPeriod #SellerRepresentation #Consultant #InsuranceIndustry #Broker #Representative #Valuations #GrowthStrategies #TransactionGoals #EmployeeBenefits #fixinghealthcare #podcast #benefits #health #healthcare #healthinsurance #selffunded #selffunding

“Organ transplant is not something that the employer or even the TPAs are necessarily all experts in." - Guy Finley “There are still going to be some situations and some events inside that episode of care that are going to be stop-loss related, so we want the two to work together.” - Robby Kerr Guy Finley and Robby Kerr from HCC joined me in studio for this week’s episode of Self-Funded to discuss covering organ transplants. The costs associated with and frequency of these procedures have greatly increased in recent years, and Guy and Robby share HCC’s strategy to separately insure transplants. Before jumping into the world of organ transplants, we talked about Guy and Robby’s backgrounds and how they made their way to HCC, as well as each of their roles currently. I was interested to learn why organ transplants became such a passion project for Guy, and how covering them is similar to other high-cost expenditures like specialty drugs.  Join us this week to get an education on organ transplant policy and the best way to cover them in today’s market! Chapters: 00:00:00 Meet Guy Finley and Robby Kerr 00:07:52 Organ Transplant Insurance 00:13:05 Rising Costs of Transplant Procedures 00:17:31 Comprehensive Coverage for Potential Transplants 00:21:56 Transplant Coverage Financial Assessment 00:27:11 Transplant Nurse Advisors 00:33:24 Transplant Policy Evaluation and Underwriting Process 00:37:26 Rising Liver Transplant Numbers 00:47:42 Innovative Risk Mitigation in Gene Therapy 00:50:17 Rising Rates of Organ Transplants Nationwide 00:59:41 Empowering Consumers Through Healthcare Price Transparency Key Links for Social: @SelfFunded on YouTube for video versions of the podcast and much more - https://www.youtube.com/@SelfFunded Listen on Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1TjmrMrkIj0qSmlwAIevKA?si=068a389925474f02 Listen on Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/self-funded-with-spencer/id1566182286 Follow Spencer on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/spencer-smith-self-funded/ Follow Spencer on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/selffundedwithspencer/ Key Words:  insurance industry, organ transplant, transplants, transplant, transplant insurance, healthcare costs, risk mitigation, transplant coverage, care coordination, stop loss, price transparency, financial planning, Employee Benefits, fixing healthcare, podcast, benefits, health, healthcare, health insurance, self funded, self funding #insuranceindustry #organtransplant #transplants #transplant #transplantinsurance #healthcarecosts #riskmitigation #transplantcoverage #carecoordination #stoploss #pricetransparency #financialplanning #EmployeeBenefits #fixinghealthcare #podcast #benefits #health #healthcare #healthinsurance #selffunded #selffunding

“It's everything. Exposure, knowledge, education, generating new business, solving clients, risk management objectives. It's all here." - John Capasso“And the question comes up year over year, what is the ROI of SIIA? Did we have a legitimate hard dollar return on investment? And the answer is yes, we've always seen a return.” - Amy Gasbarro This week’s episode of Self-Funded was recorded at the SIIA National Conference in September 2024. I spoke on-stage with Amy Gasbarro and John Capasso about their work at SIIA, what SIIA’s legislative efforts have looked like in recent years, and some practical networking tips for anybody attending a SIIA event. Along the way, we also dive into the history of SIIA, what’s made it so relevant for so long, and what the real ROI is for both the attendees and the sponsors. At the end of the podcast, we have a Q&A with the audience.  Thank you to SIIA for sponsoring this special edition of the podcast!  Chapters: 00:00:00 Self-Funded At SIIA 00:07:44 Amy and John’s Work At SIIA 00:11:09 SIIA’s Legislative Efforts 00:18:29 Practical Tips For Insurance Conference Networking 00:27:26 AI Discussions At SIIA 00:36:50 Collaborative Networking At SIIA 00:41:10 The Real ROI Of SIIA Sponsorship 00:45:40 The Educational Opportunities At SIIA 00:50:09 Q&A Key Links for Social: @SelfFunded on YouTube for video versions of the podcast and much more - https://www.youtube.com/@SelfFunded Listen on Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1TjmrMrkIj0qSmlwAIevKA?si=068a389925474f02 Listen on Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/self-funded-with-spencer/id1566182286 Follow Spencer on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/spencer-smith-self-funded/ Follow Spencer on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/selffundedwithspencer/ Key Words:  SIIA, Insurance Conference, Advocacy, Networking, SIIA Conference, Self Insurance, Sponsorship, Event Planning, Industry Education, Legislation, ROI, Self Insurance Community, Employee Benefits, podcast, benefits, health, healthcare, health insurance, self funded, self funding #SIIA #InsuranceConference #Advocacy #Networking #SIIAConference #SelfInsurance #Sponsorship #EventPlanning #IndustryEducation #Legislation #ROI #SelfInsuranceCommunity #EmployeeBenefits #podcast #benefits #health #healthcare #healthinsurance #selffunded #selffunding

"If we're not accessible to you, we can't help you." - David Kinzler David Kinzler, CEO of One-to-One Health, joined me this week to talk about the importance of primary care, restoring the doctor-patient relationship, and TextCare, which provides text messaging access to a dedicated care team with response times under 5 minutes. David is a former Marine, and spent a few years in US politics before joining the healthcare world, and eventually leading One-to-One. His key focus is simplifying healthcare, meeting patients where they’re at, and re-centering the healthcare experience around the primary care doctor. We’re failing patients in the current system, and David and I discuss the potential solutions. Chapters: 00:00:00 Meet David Kinzler 00:08:12 Healthcare Cost Management 00:20:19 Enhancing Primary Care 00:27:09 Significance of Relationship-Based Primary Care 00:29:48 Primary Care Leads To Better Outcomes 00:32:34 The Power Of Texting With Patients 00:46:29 Making Healthcare More Accessible 00:59:32 Mental Healthcare Access 01:09:57 Employers Influencing The Future Of Healthcare  Key Links for Social: @SelfFunded on YouTube for video versions of the podcast and much more - https://www.youtube.com/@SelfFunded Listen on Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1TjmrMrkIj0qSmlwAIevKA?si=068a389925474f02 Listen on Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/self-funded-with-spencer/id1566182286 Follow Spencer on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/spencer-smith-self-funded/ Follow Spencer on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/selffundedwithspencer/ Key Words:  Primary Care, family doctor, Primary Care Access, Healthcare Innovation, Employer Sponsored Plans, Patient Engagement, Text Care, Healthcare Transformation, Mental Health, Primary Care Relationships, employer healthcare, Accessible Healthcare,  Fiduciary Services, Employer Driven Change, healthcare access, employer healthcare, Employee Benefits, fixing healthcare, podcast, benefits, health, healthcare, health insurance, self funded, self funding #PrimaryCare #familydoctor #PrimaryCareAccess #HealthcareInnovation #EmployerSponsoredPlans #PatientEngagement #TextCare #HealthcareTransformation #MentalHealth #PrimaryCareRelationships #employerhealthcare #AccessibleHealthcare #FiduciaryServices #EmployerDrivenChange #healthcareaccess #EmployeeBenefits #fixinghealthcare #podcast #benefits #health #healthcare #healthinsurance #selffunded #selffunding

 "The problem with a lot of healthcare is everybody is coming in, making their own solution. So you have thousands of point solution vendors and all we're doing is confusing the end user and the people that we really want to be educated." - Chelsea Ryckis One of the most influential duos in healthcare, Chelsea and Donovan Ryckis, joined me this week to discuss their company Ethos Benefits, running a benefits agency based on values, and producing the documentary “It’s Not Personal, It’s Just Healthcare.” Along the way, we get into each of their origins in insurance, how they met each other, and what it’s like to run an insurance agency with your spouse. Chelsea and Donovan also share why they’re so passionate about promoting transparency and accountability in this space.  Chapters: 00:00:00 Meet Chelsea & Donovan Ryckis 00:11:20 Getting Started In Health Insurance Consulting 00:18:08 Client-First Financial Advising 00:29:47 Building A Business Based On Values 00:35:32 Enhancing Client Value Through Self-Funding 00:37:33 Performance-Based Compensation 00:41:06 Value-Based Employee Retention 00:53:15 Compensation Transparency 00:59:08 Producing A Healthcare Documentary 01:07:49 Promoting Accountability in Healthcare Key Links for Social: @SelfFunded on YouTube for video versions of the podcast and much more - https://www.youtube.com/@SelfFunded Listen on Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1TjmrMrkIj0qSmlwAIevKA?si=068a389925474f02 Listen on Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/self-funded-with-spencer/id1566182286 Follow Spencer on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/spencer-smith-self-funded/ Follow Spencer on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/selffundedwithspencer/ Key Words:  Insurance Consulting, Fiduciary, Ethos, documentary, producing, filmmaking, movie, film, Client Retention, Employee Retention, Compensation Structure, Compensation, Transparency, Employee Benefits, fixing healthcare, podcast benefits, health, healthcare, health insurance, self funded, self funding #InsuranceConsulting #Fiduciary #Ethos #documentary #producing #filmmaking #movie #film #ClientRetention #CompensationStructure #EmployeeRetention #Compensation #Transparency #EmployeeBenefits #fixinghealthcare #podcast #benefits #health #healthcare #healthinsurance #selffunded #selffunding

"I think I'd say our patients deserve better. Our Americans who are encountering the healthcare system deserve better." - Binu Samuel Binu Samuel, Director of Commercial Partnerships at Carrum Health, joined me for the first podcast of 2025 to discuss how we lower healthcare costs for self-funded employers. Binu, and Carrum’s, mission is to make healthcare easier for the employers, employees, and physicians, which includes focusing on making healthcare cost nothing out of pocket to employees. That also typically increases the amount of proactive care that members engage with, which is key to catching huge health problems before they happen. Join us this week to learn how to save money for employers and employees! Chapters: 00:00:00 Meet Binu Samuel 00:04:42 Outcome-Driven Healthcare 00:05:12 Value-Based Care 00:10:55 Cost-saving Strategies For Employers 00:20:01 Enhanced Healthcare Cost Savings 00:25:51 Carrum's Mission 00:29:51 Predictive Member Care Outreach for Procedures 00:34:20 The Benefits Of Proactive Healthcare Key Links for Social: @SelfFunded on YouTube for video versions of the podcast and much more - https://www.youtube.com/@SelfFunded Listen on Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1TjmrMrkIj0qSmlwAIevKA?si=068a389925474f02 Listen on Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/self-funded-with-spencer/id1566182286 Follow Spencer on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/spencer-smith-self-funded/ Follow Spencer on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/selffundedwithspencer/ Key Words: Value Based Care, Patient Experience, network, Employers, Cancer Treatment, Cost Savings, Proactive Care, Warranty System, Healthcare Innovation, Quality Care, Transparent Healthcare, fixing healthcare, podcast, benefits, health, healthcare, health insurance, self funded, self funding #ValueBasedCare #PatientExperience #network #Employers #CancerTreatment #CostSavings #ProactiveCare #WarrantySystem #HealthcareInnovation #QualityCare #TransparentHealthcare #fixinghealthcare #podcast #benefits #health #healthcare #healthinsurance #selffunded #selffunding

"Everybody makes an excuse at the end as to why they didn't post or why they didn't start the thing they really wanted to start." - Me 
Happy New Year! As a bonus episode this week, I’m sharing a talk I gave at a recent ParetoHealth event about getting started with social media content, and how it can be used effectively for sales. Whether you’re new to the industry or you’ve been in it for decades, it’s never too late to start a social media presence, and I share some practical tips on how to get started. Chapters: 00:00:00 Social Media Presence 00:01:43 Utilizing Social Media To Boost Sales 
00:04:01 How To Build Your LinkedIn Network
 00:07:32 How To Get Started With Video Content
 00:14:00 How The Podcast Impacts My Industry Presence
 Key Links for Social: @SelfFunded on YouTube for video versions of the podcast and much more - https://www.youtube.com/@SelfFunded Listen on Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1TjmrMrkIj0qSmlwAIevKA?si=068a389925474f02 Listen on Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/self-funded-with-spencer/id1566182286 Follow Spencer on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/spencer-smith-self-funded/ Follow Spencer on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/selffundedwithspencer/ Key Words: Social Media Sales, social media, linkedin, brandbuilding, Engagement, Podcasting, content, networking Content Creation, Authenticity, Consistency, Virtual Networking, podcast, benefits, health, healthcare, health insurance, self funded, self funding #SocialMediaSales #socialmedia #linkedin #brandbuilding #Engagement #Podcasting #content #networking #ContentCreation #Authenticity #Consistency #VirtualNetworking #podcast #benefits #health #healthcare #healthinsurance #selffunded #selffunding

"They have to understand the value. That’s how you get people to use it." - Megan Glaros “I had somebody who said once, why take a pill when you can get a shot? That's the way we kind of treat health, is like, just treat us with medication.” - Matt Glaros 
For the final podcast of 2024, Matt and Megan Glaros joined me (in a different studio than usual!) to discuss the unique ways that they both approach benefits. Matt helped grow his family’s agency before co-founding the Meyers Glaros Group, while Megan is a former meteorologist and TV personality who joined the insurance world recently to film benefits education content for employers, and she shares the fresh perspective she has as an industry outsider. I’m obviously passionate about the role that content plays in broadening the understanding of the healthcare system in America, and we talked about the impact that their content has had so far, both on cost containment for employers and on individual employees lives. Join us for a conversation on the power of educational content and how it can (help) solve some of this industry’s biggest challenges. Chapters: 00:00:00 Meet Matt and Megan Glaros 
00:03:08 Megan’s Experience As A Meteorologist
 00:19:45 Why Megan Left The TV Industry
 00:28:29 Engaging Insurance Education
 00:36:05 How Do We Get Employees To Understand Their Benefits? 
00:40:15 It’s Hard To Get Employees To Engage With Their Benefits
 00:53:07 Empowering Employees 
00:55:58 Cost-Effective Healthcare Education 
01:08:39 Enhancing Cost Containment Through Employee Education
 01:12:23 AI's Impact on Benefits Key Links for Social: @SelfFunded on YouTube for video versions of the podcast and much more - https://www.youtube.com/@SelfFunded Listen on Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1TjmrMrkIj0qSmlwAIevKA?si=068a389925474f02 Listen on Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/self-funded-with-spencer/id1566182286 Follow Spencer on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/spencer-smith-self-funded/ Follow Spencer on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/selffundedwithspencer/ Key Words: Effective Communication, Communication, Meteorology, TV Industry, Employee Benefits, Storytelling, AI, AI Healthcare, healthcare tech, health tech, Employer, Education, Care Navigation, podcast, benefits, health, healthcare, health insurance, self funded, self funding #EffectiveCommunication #Communication #Meteorology #TVIndustry #EmployeeBenefits #Storytelling #AI #AIHealthcare #healthcaretech #healthtech #Employer #Education #CareNavigation #podcast #benefits #health #healthcare #healthinsurance #selffunded #selffunding

"I felt like I was putting $10,000 bandaids on someone's diabetic ketoacidosis instead of actually helping them to never be there in the first place." - Tiffany Ryder 
Tiffany Ryder, medical physician associate and healthcare advocate, joined me this week to continue the theme of my previous episode: how do we empower patients to make informed decisions, and to advocate for a better system? Tiffany shared with me her journey to this space, which took her from the world of NFL cheerleading to providing care as a medical physician associate, and why that gives her a unique perspective on the industry. We talk about the critical lack of awareness that the average American has of how the healthcare and health insurance industries work, why there needs to be much more transparency in these spaces, and what the future looks like for healthcare in America. Chapters: 00:00:00 Meet Tiffany Ryder
 00:00:38 Veterans' Healthcare
 00:24:39 Empowering Patients
 00:29:08 Healthcare Cost Transparency
 00:37:50 Informed Decision-Making in Healthcare
 00:40:33 Simplifying Healthcare Communication 
 00:45:12 Ethical Dilemmas in Healthcare
 00:54:23 Advocating For A Better System Key Links for Social: @SelfFunded on YouTube for video versions of the podcast and much more - https://www.youtube.com/@SelfFunded Listen on Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1TjmrMrkIj0qSmlwAIevKA?si=068a389925474f02 Listen on Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/self-funded-with-spencer/id1566182286 Follow Spencer on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/spencer-smith-self-funded/ Follow Spencer on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/selffundedwithspencer/ Key Words: Impact, Patient Advocacy, advocacy, Transparency, Patient Care, education, Effective Communication, fair, provider, Ethical Healthcare, Healthcare Awareness, Veterans Healthcare, Patient Empowerment, affordable healthcare, podcast, benefits, health, healthcare, health insurance, self funded, self funding #Impact #PatientAdvocacy #advocacy #Transparency #PatientCare #education #EffectiveCommunication #fair #provider #EthicalHealthcare #HealthcareAwareness #VeteransHealthcare #PatientEmpowerment #affordablehealthcare #podcast #benefits #health #healthcare #healthinsurance #selffunded #selffunding

Jenni Nolan, a Board-Certified Patient Advocate at Clear Healthcare Advocacy, sheds light on the often-overlooked world of medical billing. She discusses the necessity of consumer education to combat the assumption that high healthcare costs are inevitable. Jenni emphasizes the growing role of patient advocates in negotiating fair hospital bills and correcting billing errors. Through insightful anecdotes, she demonstrates how patients can empower themselves, navigate the complexities of medical expenses, and ultimately change their financial futures.