Advanced Benefit Consulting (ABC)

When the pandemic first hit the U.S. in March 2020, the economic uncertainty and market volatility drove organizations to update actuarial valuations of defined benefit liabilities and revise the estimates used to recognize the expenses associated with employee benefits. However, this was a task easier said than done, given the complex nature of employee benefit plans and the ever-evolving regulatory landscape.

An employee benefit consulting firm and health insurance agency, Advanced Benefit Consulting (ABC), was quick to understand the gravity of the situation and adapt to the changing market dynamics.

"Within just a few days of the state of California being locked down by the Governor's orders, we saw the need to help our clients and their employees understand the situation," says Dorothy Cociu, the President of Advanced Benefit Consulting (ABC).

A Friend in Need

For those working remotely, ABC recorded videos to train them on the necessary state and local guidelines from the CDC and state departments of health, including everything from how to properly wash their hands and clean surfaces to what employers could and couldn't do in the offices based on OSHA and Cal-OSHA guidelines. As the weeks passed, the company researched and prepared a complete COVID-19 guide for employers with all the necessary information they needed, including links to government websites and information pertaining to Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) and the CARES Act.

Cociu herself wrote two detailed articles for the ABC COVID Guide, and later these were published in many industry trade publications, including The Statement, California Broker, and America's Benefit Specialists, to help businesses sail through the trying times. This was followed by a series of webinars beginning as early as the end of March. In 2021, ABC updated and improved their webinar content adapting to the current priorities of employers. The goal was to make organizations accustomed to the new federal and state Leave Laws defined by the FFCRA. This was followed by more webinars on this and related topics from Ms. Cociu and ABC’s benefits and compliance attorney.

Simultaneously, for employers with essential workers, ABC offered on-site training and education, as well as open enrollment meetings, using the local COVID guidelines for each location, including purchasing event tents for outdoor meetings, PPE for their staff, sneeze guards and other measures to make everyone feel safe but still provide the on-site assistance her clients needed. By undertaking all these measures, ABC made its clients accustomed to the stringent regulations present in the employee benefits administration space. This played a vital role in eliminating the employee benefit burden from employers, allowing them to focus on their core business operations.

Even in today's post-COVID world, when employers are struggling to attract and retain quality talents, ABC comes to the rescue. The company realizes that applicants today are more focused on the benefits that their prospective employers offer. To this end, ABC enables self-funded clients—having myriads of benefit options—to design their benefit plans from the ground up to meet the needs of both the employer and the employees. Not stopping there, in the fully insured market, where the benefits options are limited, ABC works with the carriers and takes a deep dive into what can be offered to accommodate a client's specific needs.

A Comprehensive Approach to Support Clients

This client-centric approach is not new for ABC; it has been in the company's DNA since its inception in 1995. ABC has always been driven by the mission to help mid-sized and large groups with more than 500 employees, design strategic employee benefit plans that comply with complex regulations.

ABC specializes in self-insured and fully-insured health plans and overall benefit compliance. They are experts in ERISA, HIPAA Privacy & Security, COBRA and other compliance topics. The company's myriads of employee benefit programs range from self-insured medical, dental, and vision to fully insured medical, dental, and vision, plus long-term and short-term disability, Section 125/Cafeteria Plans, life insurance, and 401(k) plans.

The goal is to provide superior products and customer service to employers and their employees through the right combination of insights, education, innovation, knowledge, and compassion.

ABC is one of the few high-quality boutique employee benefits and health insurance agencies that has held its ground in the last year. The entire industry has shrunk in the number of health insurance agencies, consulting, and brokerage firms due to acquisitions by giant houses. However, Cociu's strategic leadership and drive for uninterrupted growth have enabled ABC to go the extra mile to offer technology-driven solutions, including custom video production, educational podcasts (Benefits Executive Roundtable), and an on-demand educational platform.

"The goal is to provide superior products and customer service to employers and their employees through the right combination of insights, education, innovation, knowledge, and compassion. We strive to not only meet, but exceed clients' expectations," says Cociu.

Staying Upfront with the Changing Laws and Regulations

ABC provides an ongoing series of employer education programs. The firm conducts monthly seminars, webinars, or workshops every year consisting of varying topics (as applicable for the urgency of the information).

All webinars are recorded and available for on-demand use from ABC's Empowered Education Center, which has many tracks and video categories. For example, through the "Clients Only Section," clients can access all the courses free of charge at any time. Employers can use the recorded webinars to provide stand-alone training to current employees or new-hires.
ABC prefers in-person seminars for longer topics that need the participation of multiple employers. The firm's common in-person training and workshops entail several topics, including HIPAA privacy and cybersecurity. The company also conducts specialized workshops like "How to Conduct an Electronic Risk Assessment."

A Partner who Cares and Knows the Pain Points

ABC stays on top of all new federal and state laws. This has been possible because of Cociu's research, reviewed by the firm's employee benefits attorney. She researches the laws and the changes and writes detailed articles on them, keeping all team members updated with the shifting market dynamics.

ABC also provides employee-friendly communication materials and creates simplified videos so that employees and their families can understand what the laws mean to them.

What enables ABC to always be on top of its game is its nimble nature. The owners get personally involved with every client to understand their needs and where they struggle. And this is highly unlikely to change in the foreseeable future because the firm truly cares for its clients.

Upping its ante in the employee benefits space, ABC has partnered with technology experts in HIPAA security, HITECH, and cybersecurity, the Aditi Group. This allows ABC to provide in-depth training and education, as well as IT and electronic security resources to clients.

"As the world is getting accustomed to a hybrid work model, ABC has already started to focus on working with remote employees and monitoring them," informs Cociu. "We always stay ahead of the time and keep on testing new solutions. This enables us to address all the client requirements, no matter how unique or complicated they are."

Over the years, by addressing clients' diverse needs, ABC has been able to set a standard of excellence, combining old-fashioned caring and customer service with the requirements of modern-day employers, who are more accustomed to cutting-edge technology. The firm perceives technology as a means to extend its compassionate approach.