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If the list of benefit solutions keeps growing and it is getting harder to tell which ones actually matter, this episode shows how employers can step back, find the gaps worth closing, and decide what to do now, later, or not at all. Resources Mentioned: • 2026 On the Pulse Report: Insights on Employee Benefits Trends – Download this free report for forward-looking trends in employee benefits, including point solutions, workforce strategy, and how employers decide what deserves attention. https://imacorp.com/insights/hr- insights-on-the-pulse-report-2026 • Visit imacorp.com to connect with the IMA team and learn more about building smarter employee benefits. Listen and Subscribe: Share this episode with a fellow HR leader and subscribe to On the Pulse with IMA on your favorite podcast platform for more practical insights. Have questions or topics you’d like covered? Reach out via imacorp.com. Episode Description: Kelly Bowman sits down with Nick Holdbrooks, Senior Vice President and Colorado Market Leader at IMA Financial Group, to talk about why more benefit options do not automatically create a better strategy. Nick explains how one-at-a-time decisions can lead to vendor fatigue, duplicated services, and spend that is disconnected from what the organization is trying to do. He walks through the IMA Gap Analysis, a way to start with the employer rather than a vendor list: what the program already provides, where employees feel friction, and which opportunities deserve attention now, later, or not at all. A missing benefit is not automatically a gap. They cover how cost, administrative capacity, and company size shape what is realistic, why two similar employers can have completely different gaps, and how an in-house strategy assistant can surface options without replacing human judgment. Whether you are heading into a strategy meeting, trying not to copy the competition, or unsure which conversations are worth continuing, Nick offers a practical first question: what do you want the benefit program to do? Guest Bio: Nick Holdbrooks is Senior Vice President and Colorado Market Leader at IMA Financial Group, based in Denver. He works with employers navigating complex benefits decisions, from cost pressure and pharmacy spend to point solutions and total rewards. His team developed the IMA Gap Analysis to help clients see what they already have, identify meaningful gaps, and prioritize a manageable set of actions aligned with people and business goals. In 2026, Risk & Insurance named him an Employee Benefits Power Broker. Host: Kelly Bowman Key Timestamps: 00:00 – 00:41: Introduction to why more benefit options do not automatically create a better strategy. 00:41 – 01:11: Show intro and welcome. 01:11 – 02:12: Getting to know Nick: Denver, hiking, skiing, and time outdoors. 02:12 – 04:17: Why employers needed a better way to evaluate options, and how one-at-a-time decisions fragment the program. 04:17 – 05:51: What counts as a meaningful gap, and why employers need a way to separate interesting ideas from ideas that will matter. 05:51 – 09:25: How cost, capacity, demographics, and feedback shape what is realistic, and why a missing benefit is not automatically a gap. 09:25 – 11:47: Why two similar employers can have different gaps, and how benchmarking differs from deciding what to do next. 11:47 – 12:31: How to avoid copying the competition, and when peer comparison still belongs in the strategy. 12:31 – 14:45: A client example: narrowing a long list to two or three conversations worth continuing. 14:45 – 17:13: How a broad list of solutions becomes a manageable set of decisions: why it matters, what already exists, and when to act. 17:13 – 19:57: Four lessons from using the analysis: the conversation, using what you already have, timing, and consulting discipline. 19:57 – 21:27: Where the tool helps, and where human judgment still has to take over. 21:27 – 25:35: Where benefit strategy is headed: cost, affordability, pharmacy, employee feedback, and a multi-year roadmap. 25:35 – 26:37: The first question to ask: what do you want the benefit program to do, and do you have what you need to deliver it? 26:37 – End: Closing thanks and show outro. Resources Mentioned (Repeated for Convenience): • 2026 On the Pulse Report: Insights on Employee Benefits Trends – Download this free report for forward-looking trends in employee benefits, including point solutions, workforce strategy, and how employers decide what deserves attention. https://imacorp.com/insights/hr- insights-on-the-pulse-report-2026 • Visit imacorp.com to connect with the IMA team and learn more about building smarter employee benefits. Listen and Subscribe (Repeated for Convenience): If you enjoyed this episode, share it with a fellow HR leader and subscribe to On the Pulse with IMA on your favorite podcast platform for more practical insights. Have questions or topics you’d like covered? Reach out via imacorp.com.

If rising healthcare costs, leaner HR teams, and financial pressure are forcing a harder look at benefits, this episode shows how employers can use those programs more strategically to manage risk, support their people, and reinforce the culture they are trying to build. Resources Mentioned: • 2026 On the Pulse Report: Insights on Employee Benefits Trends – Download this free report for forward-looking trends in employee benefits, including healthcare cost management, specialty strategy, workforce risk, and employee experience. https://imacorp.com/insights/hr- insights-on-the-pulse-report-2026 • Visit imacorp.com to connect with the IMA team and learn more about building smarter employee benefits. Listen and Subscribe: Share this episode with a fellow HR leader and subscribe to On the Pulse with IMA on your favorite podcast platform for more practical insights. Have questions or topics you’d like covered? Reach out via imacorp.com. Episode Description: Kelly Bowman sits down with Colleen Savoie, National Specialty Practice Leader at IMA Financial Group, to discuss why employee benefits can no longer stop at placing coverage. Colleen explains the pressures hitting employers and employees at the same time, including faster cost increases, multimillion-dollar claims, leaner HR teams, and shifting reimbursement that pushes more cost onto employer plans. She also points to the openings inside that disruption: AI that turns data into earlier action, clients more willing to leave the status quo, and benefit programs that can mitigate risk and reinforce culture. They cover why specialization matters in pharmacy, stop loss, captives, and industry practices, how that expertise should still feel seamless to the client, and how advisors should decide what deserves attention. Whether you are trying to understand what is driving cost, align HR and finance, or decide if your advisor is still leading the work, Colleen offers a practical place to start. Guest Bio: Colleen Savoie is National Specialty Practice Leader at IMA Financial Group. Based in Anchorage, Alaska, she has spent nearly 30 years working with complex employee benefit strategies, including self-funded health plans, purchasing coalitions, specialty practices, and legislative issues. Her work focuses on helping employers connect benefits to people strategy, manage emerging risk, and use specialized expertise in areas such as pharmacy, stop loss, captives, and industry practices. She also serves on the board of Alaska PAWS, formerly the Alaska SPCA. Host: Kelly Bowman Key Timestamps: 00:00 – 00:49: Introduction to rising costs, stretched HR teams, and the chance to rethink what benefits can accomplish. 00:49 – 01:19: Show intro and welcome. 01:19 – 02:42: Getting to know Colleen: Anchorage, travel, cooking, the outdoors, and board service with Alaska PAWS. 02:42 – 06:55: The biggest client challenges: faster cost growth, multimillion-dollar claims, access issues, leaner HR teams, and employee financial pressure. 06:55 – 09:29: Reasons for optimism: AI that turns data into action, guided enrollment, and tools that help employees find the right coverage and providers. 09:29 – 10:37: Why financial pressure is opening the door to new funding, specialty pharmacy, and communication approaches. 10:37 – 11:59: How Colleen’s view of benefits has shifted from coverage in place to programs that reinforce culture and business goals. 11:59 – 14:47: What clients should be thinking about: connecting benefits to compensation, retirement, workers’ comp, future workforce needs, and culture. 14:47 – 17:51: Why specialization matters, from industry practices to stop loss, captives, pharmacy, and data. 17:51 – 18:50: How specialist work stays connected and still feels seamless from the client’s side. 18:50 – 21:51: How to decide what deserves attention: business goals, affordability, HR capacity, and the people who rely on the plan. 21:51 – 23:18: What good guidance looks like, red flags to watch for, and why the consultant should drive the process. 23:18 – 24:19: What the most successful employers will be doing differently three years from now. 24:19 – 26:11: What to stop doing, and the first step: tell your advisor what you want, then understand what is driving cost and behavior. 26:11 – 28:11: What gives Colleen the most optimism, and her hope that employers will look at people strategy as a whole. 28:11 – End: Closing thanks and show outro. Resources Mentioned (Repeated for Convenience): • 2026 On the Pulse Report: Insights on Employee Benefits Trends – Download this free report for forward-looking trends in employee benefits, including healthcare cost management, specialty strategy, workforce risk, and employee experience. https://imacorp.com/insights/hr- insights-on-the-pulse-report-2026 • Visit imacorp.com to connect with the IMA team and learn more about building smarter employee benefits. Listen and Subscribe (Repeated for Convenience): If you enjoyed this episode, share it with a fellow HR leader and subscribe to On the Pulse with IMA on your favorite podcast platform for more practical insights. Have questions or topics you’d like covered? Reach out via imacorp.com.

If richer coverage still feels like the safest way to support employees, this episode shows why that assumption can miss the mark, and how employers can use data to see whether people are paying for benefits they do not need or value. Resources Mentioned: • 2026 On the Pulse Report: Insights on Employee Benefits Trends – Download this free report for forward-looking trends in employee benefits, including healthcare cost management, plan design, data, and total rewards. https://imacorp.com/insights/hr-insights-on-the-pulse- report-2026 • Visit imacorp.com to connect with the IMA team and learn more about building smarter employee benefits. Listen and Subscribe: Share this episode with a fellow HR leader and subscribe to On the Pulse with IMA on your favorite podcast platform for more practical insights. Have questions or topics you’d like covered? Reach out via imacorp.com. Episode Description: Kelly Bowman sits down with Dalton Drumm of IMA’s Data and Analytics team to challenge a common assumption: that the richest health plan automatically creates the best employee experience. Dalton explains why employers still default to richer coverage, and why that is no longer the main reason people join or stay. He walks through actuarial value in plain terms, shares a client example where three very rich plans looked almost the same on a dartboard, and shows how a younger workforce was paying for coverage it rarely used. They discuss the difference between a rich plan and a good plan, the trade-off between healthcare spend and compensation, and how social determinants of health can help employers see what a workforce can actually use. Whether you are heading into another renewal, wondering if employees are over-insured, or trying to explain a plan change without it sounding like a takeaway, Dalton offers a practical first question: are employees getting the most value from the plans you offer? Guest Bio: Dalton Drumm is part of IMA Financial Group’s Data and Analytics team. Based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, he helps employers look past premiums, deductibles, and co-pays to understand plan richness, utilization, and workforce fit. His work focuses on actuarial value, demographic and social determinants analysis, and plan design that matches how employees actually use coverage, so benefit dollars can be redirected where they create more value. Host: Kelly Bowman Key Timestamps: 00:00 – 00:42: Introduction to the assumption that richer health plans are automatically better. 00:42 – 01:12: Show intro and welcome. 01:12 – 02:27: Getting to know Dalton: Grand Rapids and recharging on Michigan lakes. 02:27 – 04:28: Why employers assume richer coverage creates a better experience, and why benefits are no longer the main hiring or retention tool. 04:28 – 06:36: A client example: very rich plans, a younger workforce, and three options that looked almost the same. 06:36 – 08:25: What actuarial value means, metallic tiers, and where richer coverage starts producing diminishing returns. 08:25 – 09:58: What employers miss if they only compare premiums, deductibles, and co-pays, and the difference between a rich plan and a good plan. 09:58 – 11:48: How demographics and behavior should shape plan design, and when employees can be over-insured. 11:48 – 13:21: The trade-off between healthcare spend and compensation, HSA funding, and retirement. 13:21 – 14:56: How a social determinants of health analysis helps employers see what the workforce values, and why this is a total rewards conversation. 14:56 – 16:36: What to analyze before changing plan richness: utilization, and how generations often fall into different plan levels. 16:36 – 18:20: What employers are doing differently than five years ago, and how cost pressure is pushing them to be more proactive. 18:20 – 20:04: How to talk about plan value so employees do not only hear that benefits are being taken away. 20:04 – 22:55: The shift from richer plans to smarter plans, and what a high-value strategy may look like in five years. 22:55 – 24:15: How data and AI can surface savings, and where those dollars can be reinvested. 24:15 – 26:52: The question to ask now, what to look at before the next renewal, and the first step: understand the workforce. 26:52 – End: Closing thanks and show outro. Resources Mentioned (Repeated for Convenience): • 2026 On the Pulse Report: Insights on Employee Benefits Trends – Download this free report for forward-looking trends in employee benefits, including healthcare cost management, plan design, data, and total rewards. https://imacorp.com/insights/hr-insights-on-the-pulse- report-2026 • Visit imacorp.com to connect with the IMA team and learn more about building smarter employee benefits. Listen and Subscribe (Repeated for Convenience): If you enjoyed this episode, share it with a fellow HR leader and subscribe to On the Pulse with IMA on your favorite podcast platform for more practical insights. Have questions or topics you’d like covered? Reach out via imacorp.com.

If the advisor relationship still feels like a renewal meeting a few months out, this episode shows what a year-round partnership looks like, and how HR leaders can tell whether they have the right person in the seat. Resources Mentioned: • 2026 On the Pulse Report: Insights on Employee Benefits Trends – Download this free report for forward-looking trends in employee benefits, including cost pressure, advisor relationships, and multi-year strategy. https://imacorp.com/insights/hr-insights-on-the-pulse- report-2026 • Visit imacorp.com to connect with the IMA team and learn more about building smarter employee benefits. Listen and Subscribe: Share this episode with a fellow HR leader and subscribe to On the Pulse with IMA on your favorite podcast platform for more practical insights. Have questions or topics you’d like covered? Reach out via imacorp.com. Episode Description: Kelly Bowman sits down with Andrew Rose and Nick Hendricks of IMA’s Atlanta team to talk about how the advisor role has moved from a renewal transaction to a year-round partnership. Nick explains why showing up a few months before renewal is no longer enough, and why more CHROs now have a seat with the rest of the leadership team. Andrew makes the case that the relationship has to start with trust, and that a good partner should be willing to bring ideas a client might say no to. They cover employee friction, why benefits rarely retain people on their own, the case for more C-suite involvement, and why a three-year plan beats waiting for a 25% renewal. They also explain how data from larger groups can inform smaller ones, how quarterly HR leadership dinners grew out of a failed happy hour in Seattle, and how to tell if the current advisor is still the right one. Whether costs are rising faster than the business can absorb, or the relationship has gone quiet, the practical starting point is time: make benefits a priority for the next six months, and if the partner is not the right one, use that window to find someone who will push the work forward. Guest Bios: Andrew Rose is an Employee Benefits and Risk Advisor with IMA Financial Group in Atlanta. He works with employers in technology and professional services, using a listening and discovery approach so the strategy fits the employer’s risk profile and what employees actually prefer. That work includes Voice of the Employee surveys, funding, benchmarking, and self-funding feasibility. A University of Georgia Terry College of Business graduate (B.B.A. in Marketing and Sales), he started his IMA career in Seattle and returned to Atlanta two years ago. He also builds community for HR leaders, a role that can be isolating, through quarterly leadership dinners that started in Seattle and now run in Atlanta. Nick Hendricks is Senior Vice President, Employee Benefits, at IMA Financial Group in Atlanta, and a University of Georgia Terry College of Business graduate. He has specialized in employee benefits for more than 15 years and helps clients build strategies that are financially disciplined without shortchanging their people. His view is that the goal is not to spend less. It is to spend smarter. He hosts the quarterly People Leaders Collective, a dinner that brings HR leaders together, and works alongside Andrew on client strategy in Atlanta. Host: Kelly Bowman Key Timestamps: 00:00 – 00:50: Introduction to the shift from renewal meetings to a trust-based advisory relationship. 00:50 – 01:33: Show intro and welcome. 01:33 – 03:02: Getting to know Andrew and Nick: Atlanta, UGA, Seattle, and Saturday birthday parties. 03:02 – 06:00: How the role moved from broker to advisor, and why a strong HR leader often sits with the companies that are winning. 06:00 – 08:35: Why trust comes before ideas, and why a good partner should hear no sometimes. 08:35 – 11:42: Day-to-day friction with employees, why benefits rarely retain people on their own, and the prediction of more C-suite involvement. 11:42 – 13:27: Why advisors have to understand the business, and what happens when there is no three-year plan. 13:27 – 16:10: How multi-year work on self-funding and pharmacy changes the calendar, and the strain that puts on consulting teams. 16:10 – 21:37: Using data from larger groups to inform smaller ones, and how to deliver a hard renewal early enough to budget for it. 21:37 – 26:23: The HR leadership dinners: a failed Seattle happy hour, two simple rules, and a community that is not a sales event. 26:23 – 28:34: What HR leaders get from the room, including connections that continue without IMA in the middle. 28:34 – 32:02: How to tell if the current advisor is the right one, and why the real test is who will push the right decision in June. 32:02 – 37:23: The next five years: AI, faster change, and why the human relationship still matters. 37:23 – 39:08: Where to start: make time for benefits in the next six months, and find a partner who will push the work forward. 39:08 – End: Closing thanks and show outro. Resources Mentioned (Repeated for Convenience): • 2026 On the Pulse Report: Insights on Employee Benefits Trends – Download this free report for forward-looking trends in employee benefits, including cost pressure, advisor relationships, and multi-year strategy. https://imacorp.com/insights/hr-insights-on-the-pulse- report-2026 • Visit imacorp.com to connect with the IMA team and learn more about building smarter employee benefits. Listen and Subscribe (Repeated for Convenience): If you enjoyed this episode, share it with a fellow HR leader and subscribe to On the Pulse with IMA on your favorite podcast platform for more practical insights. Have questions or topics you’d like covered? Reach out via imacorp.com.

If rising costs, stacked renewals, and a flood of funding options have made benefits decisions harder to navigate, this episode shows what HR leaders and CFOs should expect from their advisors, where the pressure shows up first, and how to raise the standard for the advice they receive. Resources Mentioned: • 2026 On the Pulse Report: Insights on Employee Benefits Trends – Download this free report for forward-looking trends in employee benefits, including healthcare cost management, alternative funding, and advisor partnerships. https://imacorp.com/insights/hr-insights-on-the- pulse-report-2026 • Visit imacorp.com to connect with the IMA team and learn more about building smarter employee benefits. Listen and Subscribe: Share this episode with a fellow HR leader and subscribe to On the Pulse with IMA on your favorite podcast platform for more practical insights. Have questions or topics you’d like covered? Reach out via imacorp.com. Episode Description: Kelly Bowman sits down with Tom Polenzani, Employee Benefits National Sales Leader at IMA Financial Group, to discuss why benefits decisions have become more expensive, more complex, and more central to the C-suite. Tom explains how stacked fully insured increases are pushing mid-market employers toward alternative funding, why CFOs struggle with the loss of a fixed premium number, and what happens when organizations move without understanding cost drivers or getting every decision- maker in the room. They talk about information overload, the difference between dumping data and giving a recommendation, and why education over a three- to five-year horizon matters more than a one-year renewal conversation. Tom also shares what employers should do before the next renewal hits the desk, including getting a second opinion without a 45-page RFP, asking whether the marketplace is being fully explored, and expecting an advisor who understands the business, not just the plan. Whether you are facing another double-digit increase, considering self-funding or a captive, or questioning whether your current advice is still serving you, Tom offers a practical standard for what good counsel should look like when the stakes are this high. Guest Bio: Tom Polenzani is Employee Benefits National Sales Leader and West Region Sales Leader at IMA Financial Group. Based in Pasadena, California, Tom has spent more than 25 years in insurance and human capital management, working with HR leaders, CFOs, and ownership teams to navigate cost pressure, funding strategy, and complex plan design. He previously served as Managing Director at Bolton and as President of Polenzani Benefits. His work focuses on helping employers look beyond a single renewal cycle, educate stakeholders, and build programs they can sustain over three to five years. Host: Kelly Bowman Key Timestamps: 00:00 – 00:43: Introduction to rising cost, complexity, and why the easiest solution is not always the right one. 00:43 – 01:12: Show intro and welcome. 01:12 – 02:34: Getting to know Tom: Pasadena home, family, and recharging at Newport Beach. 02:34 – 04:28: What disruption looks like day to day: outsized cost, more C-suite involvement, and longer planning cycles. 04:28 – 07:27: What HR leaders and CFOs need to understand now that they did not need five or ten years ago. 07:27 – 10:03: Where pressure shows up first: moving to alternative funding when the CFO no longer has a fixed premium number. 10:03 – 12:09: What happens when organizations change funding without understanding cost drivers or claim volatility. 12:09 – 15:53: Information overload, missing decision-makers, and why advisors need to be more directive. 15:53 – 17:07: What clients finally see once they understand they can design the program instead of accepting a packaged plan. 24:17 – 25:22: Why resources and client advocacy matter, and what makes this work rewarding. 25:22 – 28:24: What to do before renewal numbers hit the desk: a second opinion without a 45-page RFP. 28:24 – 31:31: What employers should start questioning, including staying on the same program for more than three years without a conversation. 31:31 – 33:19: Why advisors must understand the client’s business, not just the benefits plan. 33:19 – 35:41: One thing to refuse to accept: a broker who is not exploring multiple carriers, TPAs, and stop-loss options. 35:41 – 38:21: How to know you have a strong advisor: they understand your business, work hard for the result, and are available when you need them. 38:21 – End: Closing thoughts on mid-year collaboration, trust, and show outro. Resources Mentioned (Repeated for Convenience): • 2026 On the Pulse Report: Insights on Employee Benefits Trends – Download this free report for forward-looking trends in employee benefits, including healthcare cost management, alternative funding, and advisor partnerships. https://imacorp.com/insights/hr-insights-on-the- pulse-report-2026 • Visit imacorp.com to connect with the IMA team and learn more about building smarter employee benefits. Listen and Subscribe (Repeated for Convenience): If you enjoyed this episode, share it with a fellow HR leader and subscribe to On the Pulse with IMA on your favorite podcast platform for more practical insights. Have questions or topics you’d like covered? Reach out via imacorp.com.

If traditional wellness programs feel like checkboxes that have not moved the needle on rising healthcare costs or chronic disease, this episode shows how lifestyle medicine addresses root causes and helps organizations build workplaces where people can actually thrive. Resources Mentioned: Listen and Subscribe: Share this episode with a fellow HR leader and subscribe to On the Pulse with IMA on your favorite podcast platform for more practical insights. Have questions or topics you’d like covered? Reach out via imacorp.com. Episode Description: Kelly Bowman sits down with Val Tivnan, Vice President of Population Health Strategy and Wellbeing at IMA, to explore why traditional corporate wellness programs have struggled to reduce costs or improve chronic disease outcomes, and what a more effective approach looks like. Val explains the six pillars of lifestyle medicine, the difference between checkbox perks and evidence-based therapeutic programs, and the real pressures keeping employers up at night: affordability, economic uncertainty, engagement, mental health, and AI. She shares research on the Diabetes Prevention Program and workplace ROI studies, describes a free step-by-step guide she helped develop with ACLM and ACOEM, and outlines practical first steps any organization can take. Whether you are evaluating current wellness spend, looking for measurable impact, or ready to build a culture that supports healthier employees, Val offers a clear path forward that starts with knowing where you are today and taking one realistic next step. Guest Bio: Val Tivnan is Vice President of Population Health Strategy and Wellbeing at IMA Financial Group. Based in Boston, she has spent nearly 11 years at IMA and more than 25 years in the industry helping employers design strategies that improve employee health and create cultures of wellbeing. She chairs the Lifestyle Medicine in the Workplace member interest group at the American College of Lifestyle Medicine and collaborated with ACLM and the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine on a free guide that gives employers a practical roadmap for bringing lifestyle medicine into the workplace. Her work focuses on connecting clients with evidence-based programs, measuring results, and helping organizations address root causes rather than symptoms. Host: Kelly Bowman Key Timestamps: 00:00 – 00:55: Introduction to rising costs, chronic disease, and the limits of traditional wellness programs. 00:55 – 01:29: Show intro and welcome. 01:29 – 02:51: Getting to know Val: Boston base, travel with family and Boston terrier Tyson, and New England nature. 02:51 – 04:54: Val’s role at IMA, 25-plus years in the industry, and how she helps clients build cultures of wellbeing. 04:54 – 08:06: What lifestyle medicine is, how Val discovered it through Dr. Beth Frates and ACLM, and the six pillars. 08:06 – 11:06: What keeps employers up at night: affordability, economic uncertainty, engagement, mental health, and AI. 11:06 – 13:07: Why traditional checkbox wellness programs have not delivered the results employers hoped for. 13:07 – 14:46: The evidence: Diabetes Prevention Program results and a workplace study showing strong ROI. 14:46 – 15:42: Why lifestyle medicine is finally resonating: it targets root causes employers are paying for. 15:42 – 17:28: The free workplace guide Val helped create with ACLM and ACOEM, and how employers can use it. 17:28 – 18:22: Employer feedback on the guide and the reality that many meaningful steps require little or no budget. 18:22 – 20:26: Val’s work as an adjunct professor and the soft skills and psychological safety she emphasizes with students. 20:26 – 21:56: Optimism about the younger generation and their stronger advocacy for health and better leadership. 21:56 – 25:08: Practical first steps: know where you are today, look under the iceberg, use data, and align the environment with the message. 25:08 – 26:01: The single best action in the next 90 days: get the free guide and identify one realistic next step. 26:01 – 27:05: What gives Val the most optimism: documented, multi-year client results and healthier, more engaged workforces. 27:05 – End: Closing thanks and show outro. Resources Mentioned (Repeated for Convenience): Listen and Subscribe (Repeated for Convenience): If you enjoyed this episode, share it with a fellow HR leader and subscribe to On the Pulse with IMA on your favorite podcast platform for more practical insights. Have questions or topics you’d like covered? Reach out via imacorp.com. • A Guide to Bringing Lifestyle Medicine into Workplaces – A free, step-by-step resource developed in collaboration with the American College of Lifestyle Medicine and the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. The guide helps employers move from assessment to implementation with practical tools and a clear roadmap.• 2026 On the Pulse Report: Insights on Employee Benefits Trends – Download this free report for forward-looking trends in employee benefits, including workforce wellbeing, chronic disease management, and population health strategy. https://imacorp.com/insights/hr-insights-on-the-pulse-report-2026• Visit imacorp.com to connect with the IMA team and learn more about building smarter employee benefits and whole-health strategies.• A Guide to Bringing Lifestyle Medicine into Workplaces – A free, step-by-step resource developed in collaboration with the American College of Lifestyle Medicine and the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. The guide helps employers move from assessment to implementation with practical tools and a clear roadmap.• 2026 On the Pulse Report: Insights on Employee Benefits Trends – Download this free report for forward-looking trends in employee benefits, including workforce wellbeing, chronic disease management, and population health strategy. https://imacorp.com/insights/hr-insights-on-the-pulse-report-2026• Visit imacorp.com to connect with the IMA team and learn more about building smarter employee benefits and whole-health strategies.

If leaders are spending more time worrying about AI’s cost impact than its growth potential, or if performance, culture, and leadership feel harder to manage in a rapidly changing workplace, this episode shows how organizations can use technology to create capacity, free people for higher-value work, and strengthen the human elements that drive results. Resources Mentioned: Listen and Subscribe: Share this episode with a fellow HR leader and subscribe to On the Pulse with IMA on your favorite podcast platform for more practical insights. Have questions or topics you’d like covered? Reach out via imacorp.com. Episode Description: Kelly Bowman sits down with Greg Boothroyd, Chief People Officer at IMA Financial Group, to explore how organizations can approach the future of work with greater intention. Greg explains why leaders often focus too narrowly on the cost side of AI instead of its revenue and growth potential, how technology should free capacity rather than replace people, and why the uniquely human elements of work (empathy, relationship-building, judgment, and coaching) will become even more valuable. They discuss IMA’s People Powered strategic pillar, the importance of role clarity and performance differentiation, how culture is shaped by the experiences leaders create, and why investing in managers as coaches is essential for sustainable growth. Whether you are evaluating AI tools, redesigning work processes, strengthening performance management, or building leadership capability, Greg offers a practical starting point for using this moment to strengthen what makes organizations effective. Guest Bio: Greg Boothroyd is Chief People Officer at IMA Financial Group. He joined IMA in 2025 from Vail Resorts, where he served as Vice President of HR Business Solutions and Chief of Staff to the CEO. With more than 15 years of human resources experience across multiple industries and leadership roles, Greg leads IMA’s people strategy with a focus on talent investment, culture, leadership development, performance systems, and aligning people practices with business growth. He holds an MBA from the Stephen M. Ross School of Business and a BA in Sociology from the University of Michigan. Host: Kelly Bowman Key Timestamps: 00:00 – 00:34: Show intro and welcome to On the Pulse with IMA. 00:34 – 01:48: Getting to know Greg: being a dad to Grant and Henry, tree houses, go-karts, and wake surfing. 01:48 – 03:51: The future of work: leaders over-focusing on AI cost versus revenue and growth potential. AI as a task aid, not a job replacement. 03:51 – 05:36: What leaders get wrong about AI (treating agents as employees) and why technology is best viewed as a productivity enabler, like Excel or factory robots. 05:36 – 08:04: How to identify what to automate versus keep human: start with the value a role delivers, break work into tasks, and protect empathy, vulnerability, and relationship-building. 08:04 – 09:43: Beyond simply giving employees AI tools: HR’s opportunity in organization design, work design, process mapping, and creating capacity. 09:43 – 11:41: Making work more human: machines do the machine stuff, people do the people stuff. The critical need for better data plumbing. 11:41 – 13:36: Building a high-performance culture: clarity of who is on the team, shared goals, accountability, mutual respect, and teamwork. 13:36 – 15:02: Why differentiating outcomes based on individual contribution matters and how rewards systems send cultural signals. 15:02 – 17:02: Why well-intentioned leaders struggle with performance conversations and how to equip managers with the skills to have them. 17:02 – 18:52: IMA’s People Powered initiative: role clarity, career growth, leaders as coaches, and performance tied to rewards. 18:52 – 21:07: Key learnings from People Powered: people as the true differentiator, relationship culture as secret sauce, and the reality that what got you here will not get you there. 21:07 – 23:33: How the HR function must evolve: people strategy linked to business strategy, creating capacity for strategic work through better technology and process. 23:33 – 26:14: Preserving and evolving culture at scale: culture is what people believe, and beliefs are shaped by the experiences leaders deliberately create. 26:14 – 28:45: What’s missing in most leadership development: the 70/20/10 model, on-the-job application, and treating senior leaders as coaches for their teams. 28:45 – 30:22: Why every leader benefits from coaching and continuous improvement, and what it signals when someone believes they do not need it. 30:22 – 31:50: The biggest disconnect: distraction by the latest AI model versus knowing where human capital is deployed and whether that allocation drives growth. 31:50 – 33:56: What will distinguish organizations that thrive: thoughtful use of technology grounded in core value, investment in leadership capability, and strengthening humanity (judgment, relationships, creativity, and coaching). 33:56 – 37:26: What gives Greg the most optimism: intergenerational learning (interns teaching prompting, experienced leaders bringing craft knowledge), and choosing the perspective that change equals growth. 37:26 – End: Closing thanks and show outro. Resources Mentioned (Repeated for Convenience): Listen and Subscribe (Repeated for Convenience): If you enjoyed this episode, share it with a fellow HR leader and subscribe to On the Pulse with IMA on your favorite podcast platform for more practical insights. Have questions or topics you’d like covered? Reach out via imacorp.com. • 2026 On the Pulse Report: Insights on Employee Benefits Trends – Download this free report for forward-looking trends in employee benefits, including workforce strategy, leadership, AI, and organizational performance. https://imacorp.com/insights/hr-insights-on-the-pulse-report-2026• Visit imacorp.com to connect with the IMA team and learn more about building smarter employee benefits and people strategies.• 2026 On the Pulse Report: Insights on Employee Benefits Trends – Download this free report for forward-looking trends in employee benefits, including workforce strategy, leadership, AI, and organizational performance. https://imacorp.com/insights/hr-insights-on-the-pulse-report-2026• Visit imacorp.com to connect with the IMA team and learn more about building smarter employee benefits and people strategies.

If AI, cyber risk, healthcare costs, and workforce change feel like separate challenges, this episode shows why they are connected and how HR can help lead the response. Resources Mentioned: 2026 On the Pulse Report: Insights on Employee Benefits Trends – Download this free report for forward-looking trends in employee benefits, including AI, workforce strategy, healthcare cost management, leadership, and organizational change. [https://imacorp.com/insights/hr-insights-on-the-pulse-report-2026] The Obstacle Is the Way – Explore Ryan Holiday’s practical framework for turning obstacles, uncertainty, and resistance into a path forward. Visit imacorp.com to connect with the IMA team and learn more about building smarter employee benefits. Listen and Subscribe: Share this episode with a fellow HR leader and subscribe to On the Pulse with IMA on your favorite podcast platform for more practical insights. Have questions or topics you'd like covered? Reach out via imacorp.com. Episode Description: Kelly Bowman sits down with John Hearn, Chief Operating Officer at IMA Financial Group, to discuss how HR leaders can help organizations prepare for a workforce being reshaped by AI. John explains why leaders need to look beyond short-term tools and first define what the workforce, customer relationship, and operating model must look like in three to five years. They explore how ambiguity and change fatigue can stall action, why organizations should move before they have perfect information, and how protected AI environments, clear policies, workforce upskilling, and stronger human connection skills can create a foundation for responsible innovation. John also breaks down the cybersecurity and data risks of unmanaged AI use, the need to balance speed with enterprise scale, and the role HR can play in bringing operations, IT, and leadership into a disciplined strategic conversation. The discussion also turns to healthcare cost pressure and why employers must be willing to challenge conventional approaches rather than let a misaligned system control their choices. For HR leaders navigating AI, workforce planning, healthcare costs, and organizational change, John offers a practical case for acting now, leading strategically, and treating disruption as an opportunity. Guest Bio: John Hearn is Chief Operating Officer at IMA Financial Group. He brings decades of experience across risk management, insurance, employee benefits, and business leadership. In his role, John helps guide IMA’s operations and long-term strategy, with a focus on scalable growth, workforce development, innovation, and client impact. He is also a recognized voice on healthcare reform and employer strategies for challenging the status quo, managing cost trends, and creating better outcomes for organizations and their employees. His current work includes helping leaders think more intentionally about AI adoption, cyber risk, organizational change, and the skills companies will need to remain relevant in the years ahead. Host: Kelly Bowman Key Timestamps: 00:00 - 01:37: John’s family background, twin sister, travel to 47 states, and personal introduction. 01:37 - 03:58: The workforce of the future, end-to-end processes, and building a foundation for AI. 03:58 - 06:36: Leading through ambiguity, acting with incomplete information, and overcoming change fatigue. 06:36 - 08:53: Protected AI tools, employee upskilling, and the growing importance of human connection and “power skills.” 08:53 - 10:46: How HR can frame AI as a strategic business issue for CEOs and boards. 10:46 - 14:57: The Smith Corona lesson, future workforce questions, and why organizations must scale prudently. 14:57 - 19:43: Healthcare cost pressure, systemic misalignment, and helping employers regain control. 19:43 - 23:26: Cyber threats, unprotected AI use, and the risk of exposing proprietary or protected information. 23:26 - 26:37: Balancing speed and scale, supporting innovators, and turning individual AI experiments into enterprise standards. 26:37 - 29:44: Three near-term actions for HR: convene the right leaders, strengthen AI governance, and plan for the future workforce. 29:44 - 32:51: Why AI could help solve workforce shortages and create new productivity opportunities. 32:51 - End: John’s encouragement for HR leaders to take a strategic role in organizational transformation. Resources Mentioned (Repeated for Convenience): 2026 On the Pulse Report: Insights on Employee Benefits Trends – Download this free report for forward-looking trends in employee benefits, including AI, workforce strategy, healthcare cost management, leadership, and organizational change. [https://imacorp.com/insights/hr-insights-on-the-pulse-report-2026] The Obstacle Is the Way – Explore Ryan Holiday’s practical framework for turning obstacles, uncertainty, and resistance into a path forward. Visit imacorp.com to connect with the IMA team and learn more about building smarter employee benefits. Listen and Subscribe: If you enjoyed this episode, share it with a fellow HR leader and subscribe to On the Pulse with IMA on your favorite podcast platform for more practical insights. Have questions or topics you'd like covered? Reach out via imacorp.com.

If rising healthcare costs, renewal increases, and pharmacy spend feel impossible to control, this episode shows how employers can explore smarter funding strategies, stronger partnerships, and more transparent solutions. Resources Mentioned: 2026 On the Pulse Report: Insights on Employee Benefits Trends – Download this free report for forward-looking trends in employee benefits, including healthcare cost management, alternative funding, pharmacy strategy, and workforce wellbeing. [https://imacorp.com/insights/hr-insights-on-the-pulse-report-2026] Visit imacorp.com to connect with the IMA team and learn more about building smarter employee benefits. Listen and Subscribe: Share this episode with a fellow HR leader and subscribe to On the Pulse with IMA on your favorite podcast platform for more practical insights. Have questions or topics you'd like covered? Reach out via imacorp.com. Episode Description: Kelly Bowman sits down with Andrew Agress, Executive Vice President of Employee Benefits at IMA Financial Group, to discuss how employers can respond to rising healthcare costs with greater control, transparency, and confidence. Andrew explains why traditional fully insured and HMO models are becoming harder for some employers to justify, how self-funded and level-funded strategies are opening new possibilities for mid-market organizations, and why pharmacy transparency remains one of the biggest opportunities for savings. They also explore the importance of trusted relationships, HR communities, aggregation and harmonization for private equity and shared-ownership structures, and the role of a broker partner who brings proactive education instead of simply reacting to renewals. Whether you are facing renewal pressure, looking for better data, or wondering if alternative funding is right for your organization, Andrew offers a practical starting point for taking back control of healthcare costs. Guest Bio: Andrew Agress is Executive Vice President of Employee Benefits at IMA Financial Group. Based in Southern California, Andrew has spent more than two decades working with HR leaders and executives to navigate healthcare complexity, carrier negotiations, benefits strategy, and cost control. He also leads and supports HR executive communities through the National Human Resources Association and invite-only roundtables, helping leaders connect, share resources, and solve challenges together. His work focuses on helping employers evaluate smarter funding models, improve access to care, build stronger benefits strategies, and support employees and families when they need care most. Host: Kelly Bowman Key Timestamps: 00:00 - 01:20: Introduction to rising healthcare costs and smarter ways for employers to take control. 01:20 - 02:50: Show intro, Andrew’s Southern California base, and life as a sports dad. 02:50 - 04:55: Andrew’s career path from recruiting to employee benefits. 04:55 - 07:40: Early lessons, culture fit, and the support that shaped his career at IMA. 07:40 - 10:35: Andrew’s current role, client strategy, HR communities, and COVID-era support. 10:35 - 15:00: What client support looks like beyond the traditional broker relationship. 15:00 - 17:55: The value of HR roundtables, community, and trusted relationships. 17:55 - 20:25: The current healthcare market, cost pressure, access challenges, and employer frustration. 20:25 - 22:05: Pharmacy transparency, IMARx, and alternative solutions for cost control. 22:05 - 25:55: Fully insured vs. self-funded models, loss ratios, and HMO renewal pressure. 25:55 - 29:15: Client example: moving from fully insured to self-funded, reference-based pricing, and direct provider negotiations. 29:15 - 32:40: Aggregation and harmonization for private equity firms and shared-ownership structures. 32:40 - 35:25: The future of alternative funding, level funding, captives, consortiums, and data access. 35:25 - 38:10: The first step employers should take when evaluating funding options. 38:10 - 42:30: What keeps Andrew motivated: community, impact, innovation, and trusted client relationships. 42:30 - 45:55: Future optimism around transparency, equitable pricing, and employer control. 45:55 - End: Closing thanks and show outro. Resources Mentioned (Repeated for Convenience): 2026 On the Pulse Report: Insights on Employee Benefits Trends – Download this free report for forward-looking trends in employee benefits, including healthcare cost management, alternative funding, pharmacy strategy, and workforce wellbeing. [https://imacorp.com/insights/hr-insights-on-the-pulse-report-2026] Visit imacorp.com to connect with the IMA team and learn more about building smarter employee benefits. Listen and Subscribe (Repeated for Convenience): If you enjoyed this episode, share it with a fellow HR leader and subscribe to On the Pulse with IMA on your favorite podcast platform for more practical insights. Have questions or topics you'd like covered? Reach out via imacorp.com.

If your organization is trying to improve retention with more perks, surveys, or exit interviews, this episode shows why the real opportunity may be the conversations leaders are not having. Resources Mentioned: 2026 On the Pulse Report: Insights on Employee Benefits Trends – Download this free report for forward-looking trends in employee benefits, including workforce wellbeing, employee engagement, retention, and leadership communication. [https://imacorp.com/insights/hr-insights-on-the-pulse-report-2026] Visit imacorp.com to connect with the IMA team and learn more about building smarter employee benefits. Listen and Subscribe: Share this episode with a fellow HR leader and subscribe to On the Pulse with IMA on your favorite podcast platform for more practical insights. Have questions or topics you'd like covered? Reach out via imacorp.com. Episode Description: Kelly Bowman sits down with Gary Butterworth, a communication expert, speaker, trainer, and former broadcaster, to discuss why employee retention often comes down to the quality of the relationship between a leader and their people. Gary explains why perks and surveys are not enough, how one-on-one conversations build trust, and why stay interviews can reveal what exit interviews often miss. They explore the difference between efficiency and effectiveness, the role of active listening, how leaders can create space for honest dialogue, and why Gary prefers to call stay interviews “bespoke career-centered conversations.” From practical questions leaders can ask to advice for handling unexpected responses, this conversation offers a clear reminder that employees are more likely to stay when they feel seen, heard, supported, and able to grow. Guest Bio: Gary Butterworth is a communication expert, speaker, trainer, former broadcaster, and longtime Toastmasters participant. His career has included radio, television weathercasting, teaching, training, and leadership communication. Known for his energy, humor, and practical approach to interpersonal skills, Gary helps leaders strengthen workplace relationships through better listening, more meaningful conversations, and communication practices that build trust and engagement. Host: Kelly Bowman Key Timestamps: 00:00 - 01:05: Introduction to retention, leadership communication, and why employees leave. 01:05 - 01:34: Show intro and welcome. 01:34 - 03:32: Gary shares his career journey from radio and TV to speaking, training, and Toastmasters. 03:32 - 05:51: How broadcasting, listening, and interpersonal skills shaped Gary’s communication approach. 05:51 - 08:31: Why retention is less about perks and more about leader-employee relationships. 08:31 - 11:11: Why surveys are not enough and why one-on-one conversations are more effective. 11:11 - 14:56: Stay interviews versus exit interviews, and how trust influences whether employees stay. 14:56 - 19:49: How employees can approach stay conversations and why leaders must build credibility over time. 19:49 - 23:27: Gary’s “bespoke career-centered conversation” approach and why it should be separate from performance reviews. 23:27 - 26:29: The communication skills leaders need: active listening, follow-up questions, note-taking, and curiosity. 26:29 - 29:30: How hesitant leaders can prepare through role-playing and practice. 29:30 - 34:45: Sample stay interview questions and how leaders can listen for meaning, motivation, and growth opportunities. 34:45 - 38:27: How leaders should respond when employees share unexpected or difficult feedback. 38:27 - 43:00: The future of leader-employee relationships, emotional intelligence, AI, and creating meaning at work. 43:00 - 45:38: Why communication may separate organizations that retain talent from those that struggle. 45:38 - 47:29: Gary’s final takeaway: meet one-on-one, grow your people, and build trust consistently. 47:29 - End: Closing thanks and show outro. Resources Mentioned (Repeated for Convenience): 2026 On the Pulse Report: Insights on Employee Benefits Trends – Download this free report for forward-looking trends in employee benefits, including workforce wellbeing, employee engagement, retention, and leadership communication. [https://imacorp.com/insights/hr-insights-on-the-pulse-report-2026] Visit imacorp.com to connect with the IMA team and learn more about building smarter employee benefits. Listen and Subscribe (Repeated for Convenience): If you enjoyed this episode, share it with a fellow HR leader and subscribe to On the Pulse with IMA on your favorite podcast platform for more practical insights. Have questions or topics you'd like covered? Reach out via imacorp.com.

If pharmacy benefits feel like one of the least transparent parts of your health plan strategy, this episode shows how employers can look beyond the spreadsheet, ask better questions, and uncover real opportunities for savings. Resources Mentioned: 2026 On the Pulse Report: Insights on Employee Benefits Trends – Download this free report for forward-looking trends in employee benefits, including pharmacy strategy, healthcare cost management, transparency, and smarter plan design. [https://imacorp.com/insights/hr-insights-on-the-pulse-report-2026] Visit imacorp.com to connect with the IMA team and learn more about building smarter employee benefits. Listen and Subscribe: Share this episode with a fellow HR leader and subscribe to On the Pulse with IMA on your favorite podcast platform for more practical insights. Have questions or topics you'd like covered? Reach out via imacorp.com. Episode Description: Kelly Bowman sits down with Matt Collier of IMA Financial Group to explore why pharmacy benefits have become one of the fastest-growing and most complex areas of healthcare spend. Matt explains why many employers lack visibility into their PBM contracts, how spreadsheet comparisons can miss important contract details, and why words, exclusions, rebate structures, audit rights, and pricing guarantees all matter. They discuss IMA Pharmacy Consulting, the importance of transparency and accountability, the role of regulation, and why employers should begin evaluating their pharmacy strategy now instead of waiting for new rules to take effect. Matt also breaks down specialty drug costs, GLP-1 coverage considerations, biosimilars, prior authorization, step therapy, IMARx, and the difference between a lowest net cost strategy and a rebate-driven approach. Whether you are reviewing your PBM contract, preparing for an RFP, or simply trying to understand where pharmacy spend is going, this episode offers a practical roadmap for taking a more proactive approach. Guest Bio: Matt Collier is a pharmacy benefits specialist at IMA Financial Group. Based in Denver, Matt has been with IMA for 19 years and has worked across financial analysis, self-funding, PBM strategy, and pharmacy consulting. His work focuses on helping employers better understand pharmacy benefit contracts, evaluate PBM arrangements, identify hidden cost drivers, and build more transparent, accountable pharmacy strategies. Host: Kelly Bowman Key Timestamps: 00:00 - 00:55: Introduction to pharmacy benefits as a fast-growing and complex area of healthcare spend. 00:55 - 01:25: Show intro and welcome. 01:25 - 02:41: Matt introduces himself, his Denver base, family life, and 19-year career at IMA. 02:41 - 03:48: How Matt moved into pharmacy benefits and helped build IMA’s pharmacy consulting capabilities. 03:48 - 05:23: What IMA Pharmacy Consulting is and why IMA built this internal expertise. 05:23 - 06:36: Common gaps employers face with PBM contracts, hidden fees, AWP discounts, and contract language. 06:36 - 09:27: Simplifying pharmacy complexity through analogies like the detailed horse, snorkeling, scuba diving, and the iceberg. 09:27 - 10:37: Why employers are asking more questions about PBMs, GLP-1s, rebates, and pharmacy strategy. 10:37 - 13:10: Why many employers still lack transparency and control in pharmacy benefits. 13:10 - 14:39: Why spreadsheet comparisons are only the surface of PBM evaluation. 14:39 - 16:03: How regulation is changing the PBM landscape and why consultants need to act now. 16:03 - 17:09: What employers can do today to begin evaluating their current pharmacy arrangement. 17:09 - 19:44: How IMA engages with clients from first review through procurement, implementation, and ongoing monitoring. 19:44 - 22:13: Where savings opportunities often appear, including contract terms, exclusions, benchmarks, GLP-1s, step therapy, prior authorization, and biosimilars. 22:13 - 23:43: Strategies for specialty drugs, specialty carve-outs, clinical programs, IMARx, and lowest net cost management. 23:43 - 25:26: Why GLP-1s are in a league of their own and how employers can think through coverage decisions. 25:26 - 27:42: Lowest net cost versus rebate-driven strategies and why higher rebates do not always mean lower total cost. 27:42 - 29:11: When employers should consider running a PBM RFP or procurement process. 29:11 - 30:48: Where pharmacy benefits are headed and why transparency, visibility, and cost management will remain critical. 30:48 - 32:40: Matt’s advice for employers: demand transparency, ask better questions, and review contracts proactively. 32:40 - End: Closing thanks and show outro. Resources Mentioned (Repeated for Convenience): 2026 On the Pulse Report: Insights on Employee Benefits Trends – Download this free report for forward-looking trends in employee benefits, including pharmacy strategy, healthcare cost management, transparency, and smarter plan design. [https://imacorp.com/insights/hr-insights-on-the-pulse-report-2026] Visit imacorp.com to connect with the IMA team and learn more about building smarter employee benefits. Listen and Subscribe (Repeated for Convenience): If you enjoyed this episode, share it with a fellow HR leader and subscribe to On the Pulse with IMA on your favorite podcast platform for more practical insights. Have questions or topics you'd like covered? Reach out via imacorp.com.

If employees are spending only minutes choosing benefits that can shape their financial lives for an entire year, this episode explores how AI can help make benefits more personal, more useful, and easier to understand. Resources Mentioned: 2026 On the Pulse Report: Insights on Employee Benefits Trends – Download this free report for forward-looking trends in employee benefits, including AI, personalization, employee engagement, and benefits communication. [https://imacorp.com/insights/hr-insights-on-the-pulse-report-2026] Visit imacorp.com to connect with the IMA team and learn more about building smarter employee benefits. Listen and Subscribe: Share this episode with a fellow HR leader and subscribe to On the Pulse with IMA on your favorite podcast platform for more practical insights. Have questions or topics you'd like covered? Reach out via imacorp.com. Episode Description: Kelly Bowman sits down with Pauline Roteta, CEO and Co-Founder of Pasito, to discuss how AI is changing the employee benefits experience. Pauline shares how her background in finance, including her time at BlackRock and her work as a CFA and CFP, shaped her view of benefits as a critical part of an employee’s financial life. They explore why employees spend so little time choosing benefits, why one-time open enrollment communication falls short, and how personalized, year-round support can help people better understand and use the programs available to them. Pauline also explains the difference between generic AI and vertical, purpose-built AI, how AI agents can reduce manual work for employers, brokers, and carriers, and why benefits will always remain a deeply human business. Whether you are evaluating AI tools, looking to improve benefits engagement, or trying to help employees see the full value of their benefits package, Pauline offers a practical look at where the industry is headed next. Guest Bio: Pauline Roteta is the CEO and Co-Founder of Pasito, an AI-native benefits workspace designed to help employers, brokers, carriers, and employees improve the way benefits are built, delivered, and experienced. Before founding Pasito, Pauline worked at BlackRock as a Senior Investor and Portfolio Manager. She is a CFA and Certified Financial Planner, bringing a financial planning lens to health, wealth, and total rewards strategy. Her work focuses on using AI to simplify complex benefits workflows, personalize employee support, and help organizations deliver a better year-round benefits experience. Host: Kelly Bowman Key Timestamps: 00:00 - 01:01: Introduction to the 18-minute benefits decision problem and the promise of AI. 01:01 - 01:31: Show intro and welcome. 01:31 - 03:22: Pauline’s background at BlackRock, becoming a CFP, and the path to Pasito. 03:22 - 05:11: What Pasito does and how its AI-native benefits workspace works. 05:11 - 07:20: How Pasito evolved from decision support to a broader AI benefits workbench. 07:20 - 10:15: Surprises from the market, unified systems, and stronger employee engagement. 10:15 - 14:21: Why employees spend so little time choosing benefits and why that matters. 14:21 - 18:18: Moving from one-time open enrollment to personalized, year-round benefits support. 18:18 - 20:36: Pauline’s vision for AI as foundational infrastructure in employee benefits. 20:36 - 23:39: What people misunderstand about AI, hallucination risk, vertical AI, and agentic AI. 23:39 - 28:22: How Pauline’s finance background shapes her view of benefits, total rewards, and employee decision-making. 28:22 - 32:30: Long-term value, ROI, engagement, and how AI can help HR teams understand what employees need. 32:30 - 35:12: How brokers and consultants can use AI to reduce manual work and focus on higher-value client support. 35:12 - 38:41: Practical first steps for consultants who want to understand and apply AI. 38:41 - 43:15: How to evaluate AI partners, start with a use case, and manage change effectively. 43:15 - 47:35: What great could look like five years from now as AI reshapes benefits administration and employee experience. 47:35 - 48:26: Final reflections on AI, benefits, and the need for a part two. 48:26 - End: Closing thanks and show outro. Resources Mentioned (Repeated for Convenience): 2026 On the Pulse Report: Insights on Employee Benefits Trends – Download this free report for forward-looking trends in employee benefits, including AI, personalization, employee engagement, and benefits communication. [https://imacorp.com/insights/hr-insights-on-the-pulse-report-2026] Visit imacorp.com to connect with the IMA team and learn more about building smarter employee benefits. Listen and Subscribe (Repeated for Convenience): If you enjoyed this episode, share it with a fellow HR leader and subscribe to On the Pulse with IMA on your favorite podcast platform for more practical insights. Have questions or topics you'd like covered? Reach out via imacorp.com.

If Medicare feels overwhelming, confusing, or full of costly deadlines, this episode breaks down the basics and shows how the right guidance can turn a stressful healthcare transition into a confident decision. Resources Mentioned: Medicare.gov – Visit the official Medicare website to compare plans, review costs, understand enrollment periods, and access reliable Medicare information. State Health Insurance Assistance Program, or SHIP – Connect with state-based Medicare counselors for additional education and support. Visit imacorp.com to connect with the IMA team and learn more about building smarter employee benefits. Listen and Subscribe: Share this episode with a fellow HR leader and subscribe to On the Pulse with IMA on your favorite podcast platform for more practical insights. Have questions or topics you'd like covered? Reach out via imacorp.com. Episode Description: Kelly Bowman sits down with Leigh Bennett and Catherine White of IMA’s Medicare Advisory Services team to make Medicare feel less intimidating and more manageable. Leigh and Catherine explain the different parts of Medicare, including Parts A, B, C, and D, and walk through the major decisions individuals face when approaching age 65 or transitioning later at retirement. They discuss common misconceptions around Social Security, employer coverage, COBRA, HSAs, Medicare supplements, Medicare Advantage plans, and late enrollment penalties. They also explain why timing matters, how Medicare coordinates with employer-sponsored coverage, and why COBRA can create a false sense of security for Medicare-eligible individuals. Whether you are approaching Medicare yourself, helping a parent or spouse through the process, or supporting employees preparing for retirement, this episode offers practical guidance, reassurance, and a clearer path forward. Guest Bio: Leigh Bennett is part of IMA’s Medicare Advisory Services team and has spent more than a decade helping individuals navigate the transition to Medicare. Based in Dallas, Leigh began her career in communications, media, and professional development before moving into employee benefits and Medicare advisory work. She founded IMA’s Medicare Advisory Services business after seeing how much individuals needed clear, compassionate guidance during one of the most important healthcare transitions of their lives. Guest Bio: Catherine White is part of IMA’s Medicare Advisory Services team. Based in Dallas, Catherine brings a background in psychology and health policy to her work helping individuals understand Medicare, compare plan options, avoid coverage gaps, and feel more confident in their healthcare decisions. Her work focuses on making a complex and often emotional process easier to understand through education, structure, and ongoing support. Host: Kelly Bowman Key Timestamps: 00:00 - 01:05: Introduction to Medicare, common concerns, and the value of trusted guidance. 01:05 - 01:35: Show intro and welcome. 01:35 - 03:14: Leigh and Catherine introduce themselves, their Dallas connection, and personal background. 03:14 - 05:45: Leigh shares her path from communications and employee benefits to Medicare advisory services. 05:45 - 07:19: Catherine explains her psychology and health policy background and how she joined IMA. 07:19 - 10:27: Breaking down the parts of Medicare: Part A, Part B, Part C, Medicare supplements, and Part D. 10:27 - 12:11: Why Medicare feels confusing and how advisors help people understand insurance basics. 12:11 - 13:34: The long-term impact of choosing between Medicare Advantage and Medicare supplement options. 13:34 - 16:28: When to contact a Medicare advisor and how the initial enrollment period works. 16:28 - 18:32: What happens if someone waits too long and when Medicare enrollment may or may not be required. 18:32 - 20:15: Transitioning to Medicare after working past 65 and why timing matters before retirement. 20:15 - 23:19: Common misinformation, Medicare.gov, COBRA misconceptions, and avoiding gaps in coverage. 23:19 - 26:12: How a Medicare advisor simplifies choices, compares plans, and provides year-round support. 26:12 - 29:49: Key questions around employer coverage, high-deductible health plans, HSAs, Part A, and Part B. 29:49 - 31:07: Misunderstandings around working past 65 and coordinating Medicare with employer coverage. 31:07 - 34:34: COBRA, Medicare coordination, dependent coverage, secondary payer issues, and late enrollment risk. 34:34 - 37:36: The difference guidance makes and why transparency matters in Medicare advisory work. 37:36 - 38:54: Client feedback, referrals, annual enrollment support, and ongoing relationships. 38:54 - 40:24: Reliable resources, including Medicare.gov and SHIP counselors. 40:24 - 41:44: Leigh’s advice for approaching Medicare with confidence instead of fear. 41:44 - 44:47: What Leigh and Catherine find most rewarding about helping people through the transition. 44:47 - 45:33: Final reflections on making Medicare less scary through education and preparation. 45:33 - End: Closing thanks and show outro. Resources Mentioned (Repeated for Convenience): Medicare.gov – Visit the official Medicare website to compare plans, review costs, understand enrollment periods, and access reliable Medicare information. State Health Insurance Assistance Program, or SHIP – Connect with state-based Medicare counselors for additional education and support. Visit imacorp.com to connect with the IMA team and learn more about building smarter employee benefits. Listen and Subscribe (Repeated for Convenience): If you enjoyed this episode, share it with a fellow HR leader and subscribe to On the Pulse with IMA on your favorite podcast platform for more practical insights. Have questions or topics you'd like covered? Reach out via imacorp.com.

If your organization is investing in employee wellbeing programs but still seeing rising costs, low engagement, and no measurable results, this episode shows exactly how to move from check-the-box perks to a strategic, outcomes-driven approach that delivers real business impact. Resources Mentioned: 2026 On the Pulse Report: Insights on Employee Benefits Trends – Download this free report for forward-looking trends in employee benefits, including wellbeing strategies, mental health integration, and workforce performance. Visit imacorp.com to connect with the IMA team and learn more about building smarter employee benefits. Listen and Subscribe: Share this episode with a fellow HR leader and subscribe to On the Pulse with IMA on your favorite podcast platform for more practical insights. Have questions or topics you'd like covered? Reach out via imacorp.com. Episode Description: Kelly Bowman sits down with Debra Wein, CEO and Founder of Wellness Workdays and a registered dietitian with more than 25 years in the health and wellness space, to unpack why many wellbeing programs fail to deliver results. Debra explains the true cost of doing nothing, the pitfalls of treating wellbeing as a checklist or perk, and the four-step process every organization needs: assess the population, set a clear strategy, implement targeted interventions, and evaluate outcomes. They dive into building an integrated approach that connects physical, mental, and financial wellbeing, the power of behavioral health coaching, red flags to watch for when evaluating vendors, and a real-world client example showing how focusing on mental health led to improved lifestyle choices, better biometrics, and measurable ROI. Whether you’re struggling with low participation, burnout, or justifying investment to leadership, Debra’s insights provide a practical roadmap to turn wellbeing into a true competitive advantage. Guest Bio: Debra Wein is the CEO and Founder of Wellness Workdays, a registered dietitian, and a nationally recognized expert in employee wellbeing with more than 25 years of experience helping organizations design strategic, outcomes-based programs. A long-time vegetarian and advocate for healthy living, she has guided employers across industries to move beyond fragmented perks to integrated strategies that improve workforce health, productivity, and bottom-line results. She is also the author of the upcoming book The Wellness Multiplier. Host: Kelly Bowman Key Timestamps: 00:00 - 01:20: Introduction to wellbeing challenges and the cost of doing nothing. 01:20 - 02:05: Show intro and welcome. 02:05 - 03:15: Debra introduces herself, her role, and a fun fact. 03:15 - 04:10: Personal chit-chat on background and healthy living. 04:10 - 06:00: Debra’s evolution from nutrition to full-spectrum wellbeing. 06:00 - 07:00: Why wellbeing has shifted from “nice to have” to “need to have.” 07:00 - 08:30: The cost of treating wellbeing as a checklist or perk. 08:30 - 10:50: What organizations miss and where costs show up. 10:50 - 13:15: Wellbeing as a competitive advantage and key metrics to track. 13:15 - 15:55: Leading vs. lagging indicators and the importance of outcomes. 15:55 - 19:25: Building an integrated wellbeing strategy (physical, mental, financial). 19:25 - 21:25: Common pitfalls and the four-step process most employers skip. 21:25 - 22:30: Red flags when evaluating wellness programs or vendors. 22:30 - 24:00: Real-world client example: mental health focus driving lifestyle and biometric improvements. 24:00 - 26:00: ROI and value-on-investment calculations. 26:00 - 28:30: How to get leadership buy-in and resonate with different roles. 28:30 - 29:45: Trends HR leaders are prioritizing in 2026. 29:45 - 31:55: What separates successful programs and the shift toward outcomes. 31:55 - 33:30: Debra’s upcoming book The Wellness Multiplier. 33:30 - 34:40: One key shift every employer should make. 34:40 - End: Closing thanks and show outro. Resources Mentioned (Repeated for Convenience): 2026 On the Pulse Report: Insights on Employee Benefits Trends – Download this free report for forward-looking trends in employee benefits, including wellbeing strategies, mental health integration, and workforce performance. [https://imacorp.com/insights/hr-insights-on-the-pulse-report-2026] Visit imacorp.com to connect with the IMA team and learn more about building smarter employee benefits. Listen and Subscribe (Repeated for Convenience): If you enjoyed this episode, share it with a fellow HR leader and subscribe to On the Pulse with IMA on your favorite podcast platform for more practical insights. Have questions or topics you'd like covered? Reach out via imacorp.com.

If great ideas in your organization feel scattered, stuck in silos, or never fully realized, this episode reveals how to create the right environment to connect them and drive meaningful impact in employee benefits. Resources Mentioned: 2026 On the Pulse Report: Insights on Employee Benefits Trends – Download this free report for forward-looking trends in employee benefits, including innovation strategies, AI, and human-centered approaches. Visit imacorp.com to connect with the IMA team and learn more about building smarter employee benefits. Listen and Subscribe: Share this episode with a fellow HR leader and subscribe to On the Pulse with IMA on your favorite podcast platform for more practical insights. Have questions or topics you'd like covered? Reach out via imacorp.com. Episode Description: Kelly Bowman sits down with Mason Powers, National Employee Benefits Innovation Leader at IMA Financial Group, to explore how organizations move from isolated ideas to real impact. Mason shares the story behind EBX Labs—a cross-functional initiative designed to surface, challenge, and connect ideas across silos. They discuss why innovation is less about chasing big breakthroughs and more about building the right environment, mindset shifts, opportunity framing, and human connection. From the first cohort’s selection process and storytelling exercises to practical ways employees can get involved, this conversation offers actionable insights for HR leaders seeking to foster collaboration, improve teammate and client experiences, and adapt to rising complexity with confidence. Guest Bio: Mason Powers is the National Employee Benefits Innovation Leader at IMA Financial Group. Based in Minnesota, he leads the development of EBX Labs to connect strategy, ideas, and execution across the organization. With a background that sparked the creation of this dedicated innovation role, Mason focuses on building collaborative spaces that empower teams, challenge the status quo, and deliver better experiences for both employees and clients. Outside of work, he enjoys lake life, bird hunting, fishing, and travel. Host: Kelly Bowman Key Timestamps: 00:00 - 01:20: Introduction to innovation challenges and the role of environment. 01:20 - 02:05: Show intro and welcome. 02:05 - 03:15: Mason introduces himself, his role at IMA, and a fun fact. 03:15 - 04:10: Personal chit-chat on location, sports, and outdoor life. 04:10 - 06:00: Defining Mason’s role and how innovation fits into employee benefits. 06:00 - 07:00: How the innovation role was created at IMA. 07:00 - 08:30: Changes observed since onboarding and the need for broader involvement. 08:30 - 10:50: Birth of EBX Labs and why it was needed. 10:50 - 13:15: Selection process, criteria, and forming the first cohort. 13:15 - 15:55: Early days of EBX Labs, pre-work, and first in-person session. 15:55 - 19:25: Dream Coach session, opportunity statements, and mindset shifts. 19:25 - 21:25: Storytelling exercises and lessons from movies like The Martian and Hidden Figures. 21:25 - 22:30: Permission to fail and sharing unfinished ideas. 22:30 - 24:00: Mindset shifts and incremental vs. transformational innovation. 24:00 - 26:00: Future of innovation in employee benefits amid complexity. 26:00 - 28:30: Importance of cross-disciplinary collaboration and breaking silos. 28:30 - 29:45: Biggest opportunities and the lab’s core focus areas. 29:45 - 31:55: Why sequencing (exploration before solutions) matters. 31:55 - 33:30: How to get involved and the path of least resistance. 33:30 - 34:40: Signals of success and what “working” looks like. 34:40 - 34:55: Giving voice to quieter contributors. 34:55 - 35:40: Vision for the future of EBX Labs. 35:40 - 37:55: Advice for organizations and final thoughts on innovation. 37:55 - End: Closing thanks and show outro. Resources Mentioned (Repeated for Convenience): 2026 On the Pulse Report: Insights on Employee Benefits Trends – Download this free report for forward-looking trends in employee benefits, including innovation strategies, AI, and human-centered approaches. [https://imacorp.com/insights/hr-insights-on-the-pulse-report-2026] Visit imacorp.com to connect with the IMA team and learn more about building smarter employee benefits. Listen and Subscribe (Repeated for Convenience): If you enjoyed this episode, share it with a fellow HR leader and subscribe to On the Pulse with IMA on your favorite podcast platform for more practical insights. Have questions or topics you'd like covered? Reach out via imacorp.com.