Self-Funded With Spencer

“If you've shied away from showing who you are because you fear that you'll lose sales: people that would not like the authentic version of you are not going to be good customers of you anyway. Put yourself out there, disqualify the people that don't like the real you, and create a bunch of raving fans for yourself." - Sims TillirsonI would honestly be surprised if you listen to this show and haven’t heard of Sims Tillirson; he has one of the best social media presences of anyone in the benefits industry, and he joined me this week to share what got him into benefits, how he got started with social media selling, and his thoughts on the importance of authenticity in the current LinkedIn environment. If you’re just getting started with social media posting or you’ve been posting for a while, there’s a lot to learn from Sims and I’ve been continually impressed to see how his personal brand has grown over the years. Tune in to this week’s episode of Self-Funded with Spencer to learn the power of being authentic on LinkedIn, from the social media master himself!Chapters:00:00:00 The Four Pillars of the Perfect LinkedIn Strategy | with Sims Tillirson00:06:57 How Sims found his way into benefits00:11:13 Navigating the challenges of working at startups00:21:21 How Sims built his personal brand00:24:35 Why personalized video messages are so effective00:27:03 Relationship-focused outbound sales techniques00:28:54 Building trust through social mediaKey Links for Social:@SelfFunded on YouTube for video versions of the podcast and much more - https://www.youtube.com/@SelfFundedListen/watch 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: Sales Techniques, Sales Networking, Social Media Selling, Authenticity, Personal Storytelling, Video Messaging, Outbound Sales, Social Selling, Benefits Industry, Sales Success, Social Media Presence, sims tillirson, spencer smith podcast, healthcare, health insurance, self funded, self funding, self funded health insurance, self funded insurance#SalesTechniques #SalesNetworking #SocialMediaSelling #Authenticity #PersonalStorytelling #VideoMessaging #OutboundSales #SocialSelling #BenefitsIndustry #SalesSuccess #SocialMediaPresence #simstillirson #spencersmith #podcast #healthcare #healthinsurance #selffunded #selffunding #selffundedhealthinsurance #selffundedinsurance

Rob Gelb, a guest host from Philadelphia whose insightful commentary often gives clarity to complex healthcare issues, dives into fascinating topics. He discusses the alarming presence of microplastics in our brains and the implications of UnitedHealth's stock crash, which raises questions about the future of Medicare Advantage. Gelb also touches on the ethics of phasing out artificial food dyes and the surprising presence of heavy metals in Girl Scout cookies. The episode wraps up with a fun quiz debunking medical myths, making healthcare both entertaining and informative!

Chris Burgess, the mind behind the fitness app Affili-Fit, shares his journey from construction to entrepreneurship. He discusses the unique features that set his app apart, focusing on custom workout and meal plans for employee wellness. Chris emphasizes the importance of automation in creating healthy habits and explores the psychology of app monetization. He also shares insights on the future of Affili-Fit, highlighting how personalized health solutions can help lower healthcare costs for employers. Tune in for a blend of innovation and wellness!

“Each acquisition has its own fingerprints. You kind of think, oh, it's an acquisition. No, it's all different.” - Diane DooleyDiane Dooley, a CHRO and consultant, joined me this week to discuss what HR’s role in mergers & acquisitions is, and why HR is so key to that process. We talked about doing the right due diligence before an acquisition, how to merge cultures, and how to navigate the different reactions that employees inevitably have. Diane and I also dove into the psychology of both the buyer and the seller in an M&A transaction, and why the reasons to buy are often not the same as those to sell. Founders often have much more emotions surrounding the transaction, which have to be taken into account to make sure the transition is as smooth as possible for them and their employees.Join me this week on Self-Funded with Spencer to find out what HR’s role is in the M&A process!Chapters:00:00:00 HR’s Role In M&A: Due Diligence, Culture, and Integration | with Diane Dooley00:08:08 Assessing Cultural Fit in M&A00:15:49 Thorough Due Diligence When Acquiring00:20:52 Impact of Company Culture in Mergers00:25:26 Navigating Integration With Change Management 00:39:17 Leadership Continuity00:41:54 The Importance of Employee Incentives00:46:37 Avoiding Hiring Mistakes01:06:51 Being Proactive In HRKey Links for Social:@SelfFunded on YouTube for video versions of the podcast and much more - https://www.youtube.com/@SelfFundedListen/watch 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: HR, Mergers And Acquisitions, M and A, Mergers, Acquisitons, CHRO, Due Diligence, Culture, Integration, Change Management, Succession, Recruitment, Diane Dooley, spencer smith, podcast, healthcare, health insurance, self funded, self funding, self funded health insurance, self funded insurance#HR #MergersAndAcquisitions #MandA #Mergers #Acquisitons #CHRO #DueDiligence #Culture #Integration #ChangeManagement #Succession #Recruitment #dianedooley #spencersmith #podcast #healthcare #healthinsurance #selffunded #selffunding #selffundedhealthinsurance #selffundedinsurance

"If you're an employer, if someone comes up and knocks on your door, take a second, breathe, and listen to what they have to say." - Christopher CordonChristopher Cordon joined me this week to talk about something that may initially seem contradictory to what I typically preach: level-funding. Chris shares why worksite benefits sales for employers with under 50 employees led him to level-funding as a solution, and why he’s so passionate about serving that under-served market.  Chris has a background as an actor, and we also discussed how that has helped him in sales and in the entrepreneurial world, as well as in his recent LinkedIn content. Chris is a passionate guy who genuinely wants to make insurance affordable and easy for small employers, and I hope you’ll tune in to hear just how he does that. Chapters:00:00:00 Health Insurance Benefits With Less Than 50 Employees | with Christopher Cordon00:08:37 Chris’s Career Path00:23:56 Learning How To Navigate Sales00:33:45 Why Large Employers Are Almost All Self-Funded00:44:33 The Efficiency and Cost-Effectiveness of Direct Primary Care00:48:21 Why Chris Has Embraced Level-Funding00:52:59 Simplifying Self-Insurance01:01:51 How Do We Make Healthcare Sustainable?01:10:27 AI's Impact on Healthcare CostsKey Links for Social:@SelfFunded on YouTube for video versions of the podcast and much more - https://www.youtube.com/@SelfFundedListen/watch 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: Direct Primary Care, DPC, Level Funded, Level Funding, Employer Solutions, Healthcare Consulting,  Insurance Business, AI in Healthcare, entrepreneurship, christopher cordon, spencer smith, podcast, healthcare, health insurance, self funded, self funding, self funded health insurance, self funded insurance#DirectPrimaryCare #DPC #LevelFunded #LevelFunding #EmployerSolutions  #HealthcareConsulting  #InsuranceBusiness #AIinHealthcare #entrepreneurship #christophercordon #spencersmith #podcast #healthcare #healthinsurance #selffunded #selffunding #selffundedhealthinsurance #selffundedinsurance

Julie Wasserman, VP of Sales for VerusRx, brings her extensive health benefits expertise to discuss the future focus of Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) in 2025. She emphasizes the importance of transparency to build trust with employers and encourages direct employee engagement through innovative software. The conversation explores the impact of GLP-1 medications on employer health plans, highlighting the need for careful cost management. Tune in for eye-opening insights on how PBMs can adapt to enhance healthcare affordability and outcomes.

If you'd like your question answered on next month's episode, call/text 469-213-6381 and leave us a voicemail/text.Last Month In Healthcare is officially a video podcast! Each month, producer Nathaniel joins me to discuss the previous month's podcasts, headlines, and listener-submitted questions. This episode covers healthcare news from March 2025, including:- Marty Makary getting confirmed to lead the FDA- The HHS restructuring, including 10,000 job cuts- Texas's response to the MAHA commission- Operation Stork Speed, aiming to make baby formula safer and healthier- The potential ban on soda/candy for those on food stamps- Increasing cybersecurity risks for healthcare providersAnd, we play a game of "AI Company, Healthcare Company, or Metal Band?"Chapters: 0:00 - Intro1:10 - The Self-Funded Review5:38 - Healthcare Headlines23:13 - AI Company, Healthcare Company, Or Metal Band?25:17 - OutroSources:https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2025/03/26/Senate-confirms-Marty-Makary/7901742973955/https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/hhs-restructuring-doge.htmlhttps://texasscorecard.com/state/texas-senators-tackle-maha-agenda/https://www.newsnationnow.com/health/rfk-jr-baby-formula-operation-stork-speed/https://www.politico.com/news/2025/03/27/rfk-jr-food-stamps-soda-usda-tension-00252045https://www.hipaajournal.com/himss-survey-healthcare-cybersecurity-2024/https://www.theregister.com/2025/03/06/rural_hospitals_cybersecurity/https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/health-tech/private-equity-takeover-healthcare-firms-need-cybersecurity-vigilance-reporthttps://www.hipaajournal.com/healthcare-data-breach-statistics/https://globalventuring.com/corporate/healthcare/us-hospitals-bump-up-tech-investments-as-healthcare-crises-widen/https://www.discogs.com/lists/Underrated-Obscure-And-Cult-Heavy-Metal-bands/313760?page=7https://builtin.com/artificial-intelligence/ai-companies-rounduphttps://www.glassdoor.com/Explore/browse-companies.htm?filterType=RATING_OVERALL&locId=1&locType=N&locName=United-states§or=10012&page=15&overall_rating_low=4

"Insurance is about health and wealth. It protects your health, it should protect your wealth." - Kylie EverhartKylie Everhart, Chief Growth Officer at Oxbridge Health, joined me to discuss episode benefit plans and how they empower consumers to make better healthcare choices. Episode benefit plans bundle pricing for the entirety of an “episode of care” - for example, if you need a knee surgery, an episode benefit plan would figure out the cost of everything involved in that procedure from several different providers in your area, and offer you multiple bundled price points to choose from. Americans deserve to know the price of their healthcare upfront so that they can make informed decisions. As Kylie shares in the episode, once people have transparent pricing on medical procedures, they demand it from any healthcare plan they use in the future.Tune in this week to Self-Funded with Spencer for a new method of empowering consumers to make good healthcare choices.  Chapters:(00:00:00) Empowering Americans To Shop For Their Healthcare | with Kylie Everhart(00:05:22) Consumerism In Healthcare(00:23:59) Connecting Patients To Cost-Effective Care(00:28:02) The Balance of Technology and Human Connection(00:29:44) Data-Driven Solutions for Employer Healthcare Costs(00:42:17) What Are Episode Benefit Plans?(00:57:21) Transparent Pricing Empowers ConsumersKey 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: Healthcare Choice, Employer Healthcare, Healthcare Plans, Episode Benefit Plans, Oxbridge, Empowering Consumers, Consumer Healthcare, Healthcare Consumerism, Healthcare Transparency, spencer smith, podcast, healthcare, health insurance, self funded, self funding, self funded health insurance, self funded insurance#HealthcareChoice #EmployerHealthcare #HealthcarePlans #EpisodeBenefitPlans #Oxbridge #EmpoweringConsumers #ConsumerHealthcare #HealthcareConsumerism #HealthcareTransparency #spencersmith #podcast #healthcare #healthinsurance #selffunded #selffunding #selffundedhealthinsurance #selffundedinsurance

"I think innovation is supposed to be hard. That's why it's innovation.” - Seth Denson“Better consumption requires a lot more education.” - Trey Marinello"Don't compare GLP-1s to working out, because if they were working out, they wouldn't need the GLP1s." - Danish Nagda“I think what RFK has done with the MAHA movement is he's gotten people interested in health again.” - Jonathan LopezSeth Denson, Trey Marinello, Danish Nagda, and Jonathan Lopez joined me for the most ambitious podcast we’ve ever attempted. On location in the Red Phone Booth speakeasy in The Colony, Texas, 35 guests joined us from across the United States to share ideas to shape the future of healthcare. In my longest podcast ever, we covered the doctor shortage in America, GLP-1s, AI’s role in healthcare, answered live audience questions, and so much more.This podcast was made possible by Havencrest Capital Management and True Rx Health Strategists. Special thank you to Sawyer Stratton.No matter what role you play in our healthcare ecosystem, I promise that you’ll learn something from these four amazing guests I had on this week’s episode of Self-Funded with Spencer.Chapters:00:00:00 The Future Of Healthcare Podcast00:11:31 Solving The Healthcare Provider Shortage00:16:49 AI’s Role In Healthcare00:23:01 Enhancing The Healthcare Consumer Experience00:29:27 Empowering Individuals in Healthcare Decision-Making00:32:20 PBMs Role In Healthcare00:39:06 GLP-1 Concerns00:51:02 Improving Patient Outcomes01:13:05 Audience Q&AKey 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: Healthcare Innovation, Future Of Healthcare, Doctor Shortage, Care Navigation, GLP1, Ozempic, PBMs, Healthcare Incentives, MAHA, make america healthy again, rfk, jonathan lopez, danish nagda, seth denson, trey marinello, spencer smith, podcast, healthcare, health insurance, self funded, self funding, self funded health insurance, self funded insurance#HealthcareInnovation #FutureOfHealthcare #DoctorShortage #CareNavigation #GLP1 #Ozempic #PBMs #HealthcareIncentives #MAHA #makeamericahealthyagain #rfk #jonathanlopez #danishnagda #sethdenson #treymarinello #spencersmith #podcast #healthcare #healthinsurance #selffunded #selffunding #selffundedhealthinsurance #selffundedinsurance

"Our business is predicated on two things: consolidating things that would otherwise be disparate, and then using that as a trusted chassis to communicate and engage effectively." - Ryan CoplonRyan Coplon, co-founder of HealthWallet, joined me to discuss why improving member engagement actually reduces health plan expenses, how we get members to understand their healthcare, and what the “perfect” employer health plan would look like. In my opinion, solutions like HealthWallet are something of a no-brainer if you’re an employer; you can implement amazing, cost-containing point solutions, but if your employees don’t know how to access them, they aren’t going to when they access care. Ryan and I talk about the importance of accessibility and empowering consumers to make the right choices with their care.Tune in this week to learn how to simplify the way employees access their healthcare!Chapters:00:00:00 Fixing The Way Employees Access Healthcare with Ryan Coplon00:14:26 Re-bundling Disparate Services To Improve Member Experience00:19:50 Enhancing Member Engagement00:21:28 Integrated Healthcare Reduces Expenses00:31:50 Healthcare Simplification00:46:45 Transitioning to Digital Member IDs00:52:49 Building the Perfect Health PlanKey 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: Member Experience, Health Wallet, Health Plans, Member Access, Accessing Healthcare, Digital ID, Direct Primary Care, Emergency Care Navigation, Care Navigation, podcast, healthcare, health insurance, self funded, self funding, self funded health insurance, self funded insurance#MemberExperience #HealthWallet #HealthPlans #MemberAccess #AccessingHealthcare #DigitalID #DirectPrimaryCare #EmergencyCareNavigation #CareNavigation #podcast #healthcare #healthinsurance #selffunded #selffunding #selffundedhealthinsurance #selffundedinsurance