Parthenon Employers Service

 “If you’re like most business owners, or decision makers you’ve got a dozen fires to put out daily—and digging into insurance policies isn’t high on your priority list.   

The Illusion of Security with Big-Box Insurance Retailers

• The main reasons employers’ default to renewing bundled insurance plans as-is is the sheer complexity of unbundling individual policies. Evaluating multiple coverage lines—such as health benefits, liability insurance, and risk management—requires substantial time, expertise, and careful renegotiation- we seamlessly handle these transitions putting employers back in the driver’s seat of their largest expenses. 
• Many employers assume that large retail insurance firms provide compliance, stability, reliability, and comprehensive protection. The reality? This sense of security is often just an illusion—one that results in complacency, and inflated costs, and outdated coverage. Ask us about our 5500 Research! 

• Passive vs. Proactive Renewal Strategies:
  • Large Retail Brokerages:
    • Rely on a one-size-fits-all, fully insured model with limited level funding templates.
    • Tend to automatically renew year after year, sticking to the same bundled approach without challenging inefficiencies.
  • Boutique Advisors (Parthenon):
    • Actively pursue a data-driven claims management approach to uncover savings and optimize outcomes.
    • Constantly analyze and adapt policies to align with your evolving business needs and risk profile.
• Data-Driven Optimization vs. Static Templates:
  • Large Retail Insurance Providers:
    • Use standardized templates that miss granular cost management opportunities inherent in bundled healthcare.
  • Boutique Teams:
    • Leverage in-depth data and analytics to pinpoint and address cost drivers, ensuring tailored and efficient coverage.
    • Transparency and Ethical Quoting:
• Transparency and Ethical Quoting 
  • Large Retail Giants:
    • Often engage in defensive health plan quoting by undermining the many benefits alternative funding plans- omitting crucial facts and details from employers, a practice that is not only misleading but highly unethical and opt for the “one size fits all fully insured plans” or their “level funding plans” that offer ZERO cost control mechanisms. Complicating matters: Are the Big 4 Carrier Kickbacks and Bonus Programs agents do not discuss, but actually harm employer bottom lines and employee paychecks. These programs are not operated in secret and both agents and their leadership financially benefit 
  • Parthenon’s Approach:
    • Prioritizes full disclosure and transparency, empowering you with all the necessary information to make informed decisions. Parthenon sets a flat fee per employee eliminating exorbitant commission practices and pay raises EVERY YEAR!

• Long-Term Strategic Value:
  • Large Retail Models:
    • Create a false sense of security that breeds complacency among brokerages, locking you into outdated practices.
• Boutique, Parthenon’s Independent Advisors:
  • Drive continuous improvement through proactive annual reviews, ensuring your plans evolve as your business does and unlocking significant savings.

• Familiarity Over Flexibility – Big-box retail providers promise ease, handling everything in one place. But this "all-in-one" approach often leads to rigid, one-size-fits-all solutions. 
• Initial Due Diligence vs. Ongoing Strategy – Businesses receive thorough assessments when first signing up, but large firms rarely revisit coverage annually to ensure it still meets evolving risks and workforce changes.
• Mass Market Model = Limited Personalization – With hundreds or thousands of clients, large insurers focus on volume over customization. Employers get standardized packages rather than tailored strategies.

Employers are also facing high commissions and fees from current vendors. Recent technological advancements and enhanced EDI capabilities have significantly streamlined benefits administration by providing rapid access to crucial data and more efficient claims processing. Our comprehensive review has identified concerning levels of compensation reported by large retail agents and brokerages —evidenced by their annual 5500 filings—which are difficult to justify in today’s economic environment of rising living costs and inflation.

We invite you to discuss strategies for optimizing your benefits administration and managing expenses, ensuring each investment contributes effectively to your organization’s success and the well-being of your employees.

FACT: Fully insured plans aren't the best solution for most employers—so why do large retail brokers keep pushing them? If we’ve caught your attention, brace yourself -because their next easy-button strategy from their playbook is Big 4 (BUCA) Level Funding Plans. The result? You're still overpaying for health insurance, so why is their strategy always what is easiest for them and not best for employers?  

Insurance decisions shouldn’t be made out of habit—they should be made strategically. Employers who embrace flexibility and expert advisory support will unlock greater financial efficiency, stronger protection, and smarter insurance solutions- it's what we do. Parthenon and its advisors’ processes haven been called a “breath of fresh air” over competitors institutionalized one size fits all practices year after year. 

Let Parthenon advisors reintroduce your company to insurance as it was meant to be—honest, flexible, personal, and unbundled. We’re not just offering a solution; we’re presenting a choice—one that puts your business, your employees, and their well-being above industry inertia. 

Our team of experts shares your frustration with an industry running on autopilot, dictated by conglomerates and shareholders. That’s why we’re committed to sitting on the same side of the table as you, ensuring your insurance experience is built around your needs—not theirs."

Parthenon Employers Service partners strategic alliances allow access to “the best in the business” partnerships, enabling us to provide expert knowledge on a wide array of products and services.  

Appointments, alliances and memberships with carriers, brokers, MGA’s, MGU’s and industry associations allow access to insurers worldwide

Select Brokers and Program Managers 

Maintaining strong relationships with brokers and carriers is integral to negotiating the strongest insurance programs. Our partnerships we maintain were forged years ago, while creating new ones as the markets change, needs arise, and new innovative products enter the market include, but are not limited to

• Roundstone Insurance
• Wellnet TPA
• Allied Benefits TPA
• RT Specialty                                                                              
• CRC
• MCGowen 
• Napco
• Graham Insurance Group
• Unisource
• NFS- Stoneriver
• London International Group
• Halcyon Underwriters
• Braishfield 

At PES, we provide year-round, responsive support for both employers and employees—including evenings and weekends—to handle all benefits-insurance related inquiries with precision.

• Our team manages claims, billing questions, explanation of benefits concerns, and deductible or coinsurance inquiries, eliminating the need for direct contact with insurance carriers. We also audit carrier invoices alongside payroll deductions to ensure complete accuracy.
• Employees never have to navigate impersonal call centers; we offer direct assistance for new hires, terminations, COBRA administration, and annual Form 5500 filings when applicable.
• For compliance, PES provides annual Section 125 plan documents and guidance on document retrieval to prevent common regulatory violations, ensuring your health plan remains up to date with Department of Labor requirements.
• Additionally, our renewal process is seamless and proactive. We carefully analyze plan performance, assess market trends, and provide strategic guidance to optimize benefits while maintaining cost-effectiveness. Employers can rely on our expertise to navigate renewals with confidence, ensuring that coverage continues to meet the needs of their workforce.
• Our personalized approach to customer service ensures that every interaction is handled with professionalism, accuracy, and efficiency, allowing employers and employees to focus on their priorities without the stress of benefits administration.