Executives and professionals responsible for the development, marketing, and distribution of workplace benefits with focus on Life, Disability, Critical Illness, Accident, Hospital Indemnity, and Dental.
Highlights
Insurance, Interrupted. We know how it's been interrupted. Technology, demographics, rules and regulations, consumer centricity. But what can you do about it? And where do you start? We invite you to the LIMRA 2016 Group & Worksite Benefits Conference, September 13-15, at the Newport Marriott in Newport, Rhode Island, to find out how your firm can continue to succeed in this different environment. And don't forget about the opportunities to connect with your peers from across the industry and make new connections! Newport, Rhode Island, is a beautiful place in late summer, and this is the only event of its kind. You owe it to yourself and your company to attend this important meeting.
Here are three highlights:
Our View From the Top panel, where executives will share their insights about key concerns and predictions
The Value of Innovation From a Consultant’s Perspective
Senior Vice President, National Account Sales Group, Voluntary & Worksite Benefits, The Americas, MetLife, Inc.
Chignoli was named to his position in 2016. In his role as Senior Vice President, he oversees sales strategy and key growth initiatives to drive top- and bottom-line financial results. In addition, he is responsible for the development of global strategies and sales of expatriate and multinational solutions to U.S.-based businesses for all GVWB sales teams. Prior to his current role, Chignoli served as vice president of the West Customer Unit for the National Accounts organization. In this role, Chignoli identified and managed key sales and customer relationship management growth strategies and initiatives to drive financial results. Since joining MetLife in 1998 as an account manager and underwriter, he went on to hold various positions in underwriting and account service management.
Legendary ABC News White House Correspondent (1973 – 2014)
Ann Compton has always been a pioneer. As the first woman assigned to cover the White House on network television and with 41 years on the air for ABC News, her longevity and impact are unparalleled. After retiring from daily coverage in 2014, Compton returned to ABC to cover the 2016 political conventions, as well as accepting a fellowship at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government focusing on media coverage of the 2016 election. She now combines her personal experiences on the White House beat with fresh scholarship from the prestigious Miller Center for presidential studies in Virginia.
Product Leader, Voluntary and Exchange Administration, Reliance Standard
In his current role Kirk leads product development and strategic distribution alliances in and around the voluntary benefits, online exchange and benefits administration market space for Reliance Standard, a leading benefits insurance carrier. Reliance Standard specializes in innovative and flexible employee benefits solutions including group disability and term life, a suite of voluntary coverage options, medical stop loss, and fully-integrated absence management. Before joining Reliance Standard, Kirk was a market development manager for a leading group benefits insurance dental carrier, identifying and pursuing profitable revenue growth opportunities through field sales and marketing initiatives.
Dan Fishbein is President, Sun Life Financial U.S., overseeing the U.S. insurance businesses, which include a leading stop-loss and employee benefits business, an expanding voluntary benefits business, and large in force blocks of individual life insurance. Sun Life Financial International, which serves the growing international high-net-worth market, also reports to Dan. He was named to this position in April 2014. Under his leadership, the company completed its acquisition of Assurant Employee Benefits.
Dan has more than 25 years of leadership experience in the employee benefits and health plan management business and has earned a strong track record of delivering business growth. He most recently served as President, Specialty Businesses, for Aetna. He also held several other senior leadership positions during his tenure, gaining experience in product development, distribution, acquiring and integrating new businesses, and building high-performance teams. Dan began his career at MassMutual and later joined New York Life and NYLCare Health Plans of Maine, where he played an active role in the merger of New York Life and Sanus to create NYLCare.
President, Benefits and Protection, Principal Financial Group
Amy C. Friedrich is President of Benefits and Protection with the Principal Financial Group®. Friedrich leads 3,200 employees responsible for group employee benefits, life insurance, disability insurance, and nonqualified deferred compensation, along with the distribution arm, which includes Principal Securities®, the broker-dealer organization, and network of affiliated financial professionals. Prior to joining Principal Financial Group in 2000, she was a Manager with Accenture in Chicago, IL. Friedrich frequently speaks on small business issues, employee benefits and leadership. Friedrich serves on several boards, including Buena Vista University Board of Trustees and Chrysalis Foundation.
Amy Hollis leads Willis Towers Watson’s Voluntary Benefits initiative for Willis Towers Watson. She has more than 19 years of benefits experience, ranging from core benefits, voluntary, employee-paid plans and comprehensive benefit delivery of core and voluntary plans. She is widely known as one of the top industry experts in the design, implementation, marketing, communications and enrollment of voluntary benefit programs, predominantly with the large employer market. Amy’s primary focus, based on her experience in the core and voluntary benefit spectrum, is to assist employers in supporting over-arching total reward and cost-saving measures by effectively and creatively linking employer and employee-paid benefit strategies. Her expertise includes thought leadership in plan design, development and evaluation of the full spectrum of voluntary plans, as well as supporting health cost management strategies through the resources inherent to the delivery of voluntary plans.
President Group Sales, Middle Market and Select, Cigna
Gary Kirkner is currently the President of Cigna Group Sales Middle Market and Select and is responsible for driving strong, sustainable growth as well as account management across the disability, life and accident segment of Cigna’s health service company. Kirkner is a nationally-respected industry veteran. His career portfolio over nearly a quarter-of-a-century in the disability, life and accident marketplace includes serving in executive leadership roles for some of the industry’s most recognizable brands. Kirkner is a national thought leader on the evolving role that disability, life and accident products play as individuals manage their health, well-being and sense of security and employers seek to reduce related costs. He is also an expert on health and disability integration and workplace productivity.
In her role as Consumer product and brokerage leader, Karrie Nelson manages a team of product and brokerage experts. Her primary focus is on carrier management and product development, working closely with Mercer H&B’s carrier relations team. Prior to joining Marsh & McLennan Companies in 2012, Ms. Nelson managed ancillary products (dental, vision and life) for Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Iowa and South Dakota.
Senior Vice President, Head of Membership, Workplace Benefits, and Applied Research Solutions , LIMRA and LOMA
Sean O’Donnell is responsible for developing and implementing LIMRA and LOMA’s member-engagement strategy in the U.S. and Canada. He leads a team of professionals dedicated to helping member-company executives and their teams fully leverage the research, member benefits, and commercial solutions available through LIMRA and LOMA. In addition, he is responsible for leading LIMRA and LOMA’s consulting business, working to help companies apply LIMRA and LOMA’s research and industry expertise to develop strategies for growth. Sean brings more than 25 years of marketing, sales, research, and organizational and consumer-behavior experience to his current role. Over the course of his career at LIMRA and LOMA, O’Donnell has worked with companies in all sectors of the insurance and financial services industry on a variety marketing, distribution, and product-related initiatives.
Vice President, Global Employer Benefits Solutions, Pacific Resources
Patricia (Pat) Purdy is Pacific Resources’ practice leader for all core benefits, including life, disability, dental, absence and productivity. She is responsible for the development of strategic plans, as well as enhancing productivity solutions through the creation of partnerships and programs to meet immediate and emerging client needs. Pat has a wealth of knowledge and experience in absence management, sales management and market development, helping to create innovative employee benefit solutions. Pat also serves as a member of the executive leadership group, playing an integral role in the development and direction of the company’s overall business strategy.
Pam works to develop and manage strategic differentiators and innovations for Allstate Benefits. Pam began her career in the employee benefits industry 25 years ago. She has held leadership positions in many facets of the business including Sales, Field Service, Implementation, and Enrollment.
Senior Vice President, Head of Operations and Product, Group Protection, Lincoln Financial
Eric Reisenwitz is Senior Vice President of Group Protection Operations and Product. In this role, he leads all service, operational and product functions within Lincoln’s Group Protection business including, claims solutions, customer Solutions, contact center, integrated services, centralized intake and specialty Services, as well all GP product development and management areas. Reisenwitz is a seasoned executive in the group insurance and employee benefits arena, with more than 30 years of extensive domestic and international experience in leading strategic, financial, sales, underwriting, marketing and general insurance operations. Before joining Lincoln he served as the Chief Marketing and Distribution Officer for MetLife in Australia. In this position, he was responsible for all product development, product management, pricing, marketing, distribution, and reinsurance management for MetLife’s group insurance and direct marketed business in Australia.
Senior Managing Director, Employee Benefits, Transamerica Life Insurance Company
John Stanley brings nearly 26 years of sales and marketing management experience to his role as the Senior Managing Director, Employee Benefits. As a recognized market leader in supplemental health and life insurance, Transamerica serves more than 1 million policyholders and 19,000-plus employer customers, while managing more than $1 billion in in-force premiums. Responsible for leading the Employee benefits distribution organization, John has overseen a comprehensive re-organization of the business. By aligning four distribution channels, installing key management metrics, creating a culture of accountability, John is focused on positioning Transamerica for continued long-term growth within the employee benefits marketplace.
Prior to assuming the leadership role, John spent five years as the chief marketing officer for the Employee Benefits business. Among his many accomplishments, he refined the company’s go-to-market strategy in employee benefits, revamped the branding and messaging, and built the infrastructure for the Large Markets and Business Development channels.
Join us as the conference begins to meet and greet peers while you share ideas and common experiences. Enjoy a beverage as you renew old friendships and make new acquaintances.
Legendary ABC News White House Correspondent (1973 – 2014)
When the President of the United States went to work, so did Ann Compton. The veteran ABC White House correspondent’s job was to trace the president’s every step to get the stories her audiences want — and need — to hear. Taking her cue from today’s political headlines, Compton provides audiences with something they rarely get: a glimpse of what actually goes on in the West Wing, the behind-the-scenes power struggle of a hot news cycle, as well as how controversies are handled, spun and reported. Tailoring her presentation to meet the audiences’ interests, Compton draws upon her legendary career sharing her observations about current events, a look at the people shaping the future and what lies ahead in the 2016 race for the White House. Compton declares a “White House News Conference” is in session and invites her audience to pepper her with questions.
DOUG MELTON, Ph.D., MPH, Director of Customer Analytics, Cigna Moderator: ALYSSA ZABLOUDIL, FSA, MAAA, Product Performance Director, Mutual of Omaha
Learn how to turn your company’s data into insights that will inform and enhance the buying process for your customers. Attend this session for information on the following:
Pre-enrollment: How you can use analytics to create a campaign that will appeal to your customers
During enrollment: How you can use the data during the enrollment process to improve your understanding of the customer and enhance their overall shopping experience
Post-enrollment: What analysis can be done post-enrollment that will inform future enrollments? What data is collected for post-enrollment follow-up?
This panel will focus on how traditional carriers use non-traditional means to bring ground-breaking innovation to the marketplace. Find out how you can do the same — and how the market is responding.
President, Benefits and Protection, Principal Financial Group
Eric Reisenwitz
Senior Vice President, Head of Operations and Product, Group Protection, Lincoln Financial
Gene Lanzoni, Moderator
Assistant Vice President, Thought Leadership – Group & Worksite Marketing, Guardian Life Insurance Company of America
Every year at our event, industry leaders share their thoughts about today’s most important topics. This is your opportunity to hear what’s on the minds of these executives as they focus on profitable growth during this time of industry interruption.
Moderator: GENE F. LANZONI, Assistant Vice President, Market Intelligence, Guardian Life Insurance Company of America
(This session is exclusive for CEOs, presidents, executive vice presidents, senior vice presidents, CMOs, heads of sales, heads of distribution, CFOs and COOs. Pre-registration for this session is required. See registration form for more details.)
The “A View From the Top” general session is guaranteed to be thought-provoking. Join fellow executives in a moderated roundtable discussion with the panelists to further explore key issues, share perspectives, and hear fresh ideas on the issues impacting all of us.
CHRISTOPHER RYAN, Vice President, Strategic Advisory Services, ADP Moderator: DAYNA KIRK, Assistant Vice President Voluntary Business Development, The Standard
Personal engagement has become critical in our business. For two decades, the delivery model for administering employer group benefits has focused on self-service, driving lower administrative cost but also a more generic consumer experience. But with the onset of consumer directed health, voluntary benefits, and financial literacy, it’s never been more important to keep your customers engaged. Explore emerging service delivery models that permit both Self-Service and Personal Engagement, resulting in smarter benefit choices, more effective use of benefits, and optimal health spending for each consumer.
KAMRAN MALIK, Consulting Actuary, Wakely Actuarial JAMES A. RANICAR, Assistant Vice President, Market Intelligence, Lincoln Financial DEBORAH VANDEVENTER, Vice President, Voluntary Benefits Underwriting and Consumer Solutions Group, Unum ALYSSA ZABLOUDIL, FSA, MAAA, Product Performance Director, Benefits Solutions Division, Mutual of Omaha Moderator: BARBARA S. STEWART, CFP, President, Washington National
Discover how these trends are affecting profitability:
Understand macro trends in the marketplace and how Medical, Group & Worksite carriers are responding to product design and pricing, case underwriting, and enrollment strategies
Learn what new products and benefits are on the drawing board, as well as product bundling and other techniques to drive ancillary product sales
Gain a greater understanding of key assumptions and trends in actuarial and underwriting risk
Compare notes on challenges carriers are facing with new market entrants and competitors gaining market share through aggressive pricing
ANDREW PITZ, Associate, Transamerica Ventures; GORDY STEAD, Vice President, Investments, Gibraltar Ventures, the VC Group of Prudential Moderator: HOLLY LEAN, MBA, ALMI, Senior Manager, Strategic Planning, AFLAC
It’s not enough anymore for carriers to only look within the “traditional walls” of our industry when sizing up the competition. Leave this workshop with a better understanding of:
Which startups are making an impact in our space today and who is on the horizon?
Besides technological advantages, how else are new entrants differentiating themselves in the marketplace?
How do traditional carriers stay ahead of this fast changing landscape?
AMBER BINFORD, Product Development, Assistant Director, The Hartford BILL BADE, FSA, MAAA, Consulting Actuary, Milliman ELIZABETH INCZE, SPHR, CLU, ChFC, Vice President, Product Development, Aetna SHARON PARSONS, Integration Product Category, Humana Moderator: KEVIN KEARNEY, GBA, CMS, Director, Service Operations, Aetna Life Insurance Company
Value-added services are a hot topic in the worksite industry today. Is your company taking advantage of the opportunity to differentiate itself while avoiding regulatory troubles? Join us for a panel discussion of topics including:
How value-added services and other product line enhancements are becoming key differentiators for insurance providers.
How to evaluate a value-added service vendor and align with your core products and purpose. When to move forward and when to say thank you and walk away.
How other carriers view value adds and how they are navigating the legal landscape.
Whether voluntary products can subsidize the cost of value-added services (or vice versa).
VINAY GIDWANEY, Co-Founder & Chief Product Officer, Maxwell Health DR. STEVE NEELEMAN, Founder & Vice Chairman, Health Equity JAMES OCAMPO, Assistant Vice President, MassMutual Moderator: ALAN MARSHALL, Vice President, E-Commerce, Transamerica
The two worlds of Retirement and Medical (Core Enrollment) are colliding. Technology is helping to bridge the gap to what used to be ‘disconnected’ enrollments. This session is designed to discuss the impact they’re having on one another and how employers can prepare for the future’s ‘combined enrollment.’
CARLOS BELLO, Director, Product and Market Development, Unum JOCELYN GREGA, Assistant Vice President, Unum ANITA POTTER, Assistant Vice President, Insurance Research, LIMRA Moderator: BARBARA NASH, Vice President, Corporate Research, Unum
We all know that the workplace of today is very different than it was even ten years ago. How can the products we design keep pace? In this session you will learn:
How the characteristics of workers have changed and will continue to change in terms of demographics, workplace status (FT/PT, contract), and attitudes
How to communicate about your benefits in a way that employees can understand and appreciate
Ideas for re-designing products to better fit the needs of the changing employee population
MARTI CARDI, Esq., Vice President of Product Compliance, Matrix Companies KRISTIN TUGMAN, Ph.D., CRC, LPC, Vice President, Health & Productivity Analytics and Consulting Practice, Prudential Group Insurance Moderator: JENNIFER PARMELEE WITT, FLMI, ACS, Director, Competitive Analysis, Prudential Group Insurance
The legal and regulatory environment is ever-changing. With five generations populating the workplace in varying states of health and wellness, the importance of understanding the disability and absence management landscape has never been greater. In this session you will:
Learn about employment trends and trends in disability that
are impacting the workplace
Gain an overview of the legislative landscape and understanding of how the 2016 election will impact the
current state
Discover how big data is influencing the implementation and administration of disability and absence management programs
Examine Return-to-Work programs and what options are available to employers beyond leave
Hear about best practices in plan design, how to overcome practical barriers, and how to measure success
JOE MITCHELL, Assistant Vice President, Enrollment Technology & Member Services, Lincoln Financial Group STEVE PITZER,FLMI, CSP, Director, Workplace Voluntary Benefits, Humana, Inc. ARMAND WRAY, Director, Sales Operations & Enrollment, Sun Life Financial Moderator: JAMIE RANICAR, Assistant Vice President, Market Intelligence, Lincoln Financial Group
Carriers today are faced with regular requests to support the various costs associated with enrollment (benefit administration, communications, enrollment companies, etc.) — The ‘Ask.’ As the market continues to evolve, these requests will evolve as well. Carriers must determine how they can respond to ‘The Ask’ in a way that is both sustainable and profitable. This session will provide insight into various philosophies around responding, as well as the considerations behind the approaches. Session attendees will gain information and insights to help them define their own funding programs/practices.
There’s no shortage of new ideas and technology in the workplace benefits space. But what works for one company won’t be the right fit for everybody. Hear from a panel of benefits consultants on what innovation and capabilities they would like to see from carriers and which is important to them. Listen as these experts share what they are seeing for group and worksite benefits innovations, discuss which ones have the most potential, and reveal how they can help you grow your business.
JOSEPH A. ALIZIO, Vice President, Middle Market Field Sales Development, Cigna Group Insurance CHUCK BROUSSEAU, Vice President, Distribution, Prudential PAUL GARDNER, Vice President, Business Optimization, Cigna Moderator: DAVID UNDERHILL, Vice President Group and Individual Specialty Products, Cigna
In our sales world, the dynamics are changing at an unprecedented pace. There’s a greater need for specialized, consultative sales training, cross selling and generating more revenue from specialty products. And of course, technology is doing its part to shake things up. Taken together, these are fundamentally changing our business. Learn about all the sales enablement techniques that are necessary to survive in this world.
JENNIFER KISCHELL, Vice President, Enrollment and Benefit Delivery, MetLife; GIL MURDOCK, Chief Revenue Officer & Principal, DirectPath; Moderator: TINA BECKWITH, MBA, Assistant Vice President, Marketing, MetLife
Are you getting the participation rates you desire? Employee participation is the single largest opportunity for carriers in the group insurance space. Explore the employer and employee engagement model. Find out how to ease concerns and discover how to connect with employees to achieve higher participation, leading to more engaged and financially protected workforce.
Hear about the needs and expectations of employers and employees during enrollment
Understand carrier challenges to communication and enrollment
Learn what is needed to successfully fill the gaps and achieve higher participation
DAVE FLORES, Vice President, Strategic Growth Ventures, Trustmark Insurance Company; BERNADETTE BAILEY, Director, Retirement, Investment and Savings Plans, The Hartford; JEFF BASKIN, Executive Vice President, Financial Services, EverFi; Moderator: DAN KRAFT, Vice President, Product and Innovation, Trustmark Insurance Company
What does financial wellness really mean? What do employers and employees really want? Does financial wellness pose a meaningful market opportunity for insurers?
Examine and define the concept of “financial wellness”
Understand employer and employee expectations and barriers to adoption
Gain insight on the capabilities needed to successfully address the financial wellness gap
HOWARD LAPSLEY, Partner, Oliver Wyman Moderator: KAREN WHITE, PMP, FLMI, Assistant Vice President, Health Care Exchange Solutions, Sun Life Financial
Private exchanges are evolving and changing. The adoption rate has been slower than anticipated and many employers are taking the “wait-and-see” approach. Come hear an industry expert share insights on the role exchanges will have in the future and what is needed to make them succeed.
LIMRA requires prepayment of registration fees prior to all conferences and meetings. Please make checks payable to LIMRA in U.S. dollars drawn on a bank in the United States. For Vendor registration fees, call Event Registration at 800-235-4672 (U.S. and Canada) or 860-285-7789.
CANCELLATION POLICY
All cancellations must be received in writing. Cancellations received before August 23, 2016, will be refunded, less a $75 processing fee. Cancellations received from August 23, 2016 to September 6, 2016 will be refunded, less a $275 processing and administrative fee. No refunds will be issued after September 6, 2016.
In the event that a scheduled meeting or event is cancelled by LIMRA for any reason, LIMRA shall refund any conference registration fees that have been paid by the registrant. Under no circumstances, however, shall LIMRA be liable to the registrant for any other expenses including, but not limited to, airfare and hotel expenses incurred by the registrant.
Hotel / Venue
Newport Marriott 25 America’s Cup Avenue Newport, Rhode Island 02840
If you are planning to come to the hotel before the conference or are staying after, please call the hotel to make your reservation: 1-800-228-9290.
Make your room reservation by August 18, 2016 and mention the LIMRA Group & Worksite Benefits Conference to receive the discounted group rate of $229 single/double (plus applicable sales taxes). Requests after August 18, 2016 will be accepted on space availability. The group rate will be offered three days prior and three days after the meeting dates subject to availability of rooms at the time of your reservation. Reservations must be guaranteed with a major credit card. Check in: 4:00 p.m.; check out 12 noon.
Premier Sponsor and Exhibitor Opportunities Available Now
We are close to selling out Exhibit space for this conference, if interested in Exhibiting, please contact Barb Kimball for availability at Bkimball@limra.com; or call her at 860-298-3950.
Connect With Key Prospects This conference is your opportunity to meet financial services marketing, marketing research, public relations, advertising, communications, sales support, and marketing services executives and professionals in one location.
Sponsorship Opportunities We can help you reach out to your target market in many ways, such as:
Multiple conference registrations.
Sponsorship of an evening reception, luncheon, or refreshment break
Special recognition in the registration brochure, onsite conference program, onsite signs, and general session walk-in slides
Acknowledgement from the podium
Your company's marketing piece in attendee packets or on conference pub table
One-time usage of the attendee mailing list before or after the conference
Specialty conference merchandise that will deliver your company name to all attendees
