Position Overview
Korn Ferry has partnered with our client who is a well-established national advisory firm that serves small and mid-sized businesses with fiduciary-focused retirement plan consulting and wealth solutions.
As part of a strategic growth initiative, the firm is expanding its broader employee benefits advisory capabilities and seeks an experienced Employee Benefits Subject Matter Expert (SME) to serve as a trusted advisor during the development of this new practice.
This individual will provide strategic guidance, market expertise, and industry best practices to help shape a comprehensive employee benefits offering focused on the small and mid-sized business (SMB) market. The engagement is consultative in nature and ideal for a seasoned benefits professional who has built, led, or grown an employee benefits brokerage or advisory business and is interested in influencing a new venture from the ground up.
Responsibilities
- Serve as a strategic advisor in the development of a new employee benefits advisory practice.
- Provide subject matter expertise across health and welfare benefits, including medical, dental, vision, life, disability, and related employee benefit programs.
- Advise on best practices for serving small and mid-sized businesses with approximately 50-150 employees.
- Offer guidance on market positioning, service models, and business development strategies within the employee benefits space.
- Evaluate proposed business strategies and provide feedback on market viability, risks, and opportunities.
- Share insights into industry trends, brokerage operations, carrier relationships, compliance considerations, and client engagement models.
- Help identify leading practices for delivering value to SMB clients facing increasing healthcare costs and benefits complexity.
- Provide perspective on organizational structure, talent requirements, operational processes, and growth strategies for a benefits advisory business.
- Participate in periodic advisory discussions and strategy sessions as needed.
Required Qualifications
- Extensive experience in employee benefits brokerage, consulting, or agency leadership.
- Deep expertise in health and welfare benefits, including employer-sponsored health insurance programs.
- Experience serving small and mid-sized business clients.
- Background working within or leading an insurance agency, benefits consulting practice, or brokerage organization.
- Proven understanding of B2B employee benefits consulting and client advisory services.
- Experience developing, managing, or scaling employee benefits businesses or practice areas.
- Strong understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing SMB employers in today's benefits landscape.
- Ability to provide strategic guidance and practical recommendations based on industry experience.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience building or leading a successful employee benefits practice.
- Prior experience serving on advisory boards or acting as a strategic consultant.
- Strong knowledge of regional healthcare and benefits markets.
- Background with respected regional or national employee benefits consulting organizations.
About Korn Ferry
Korn Ferry unleashes potential in people, teams, and organizations. We work with our clients to design optimal organization structures, roles, and responsibilities. We help them hire the right people and advise them on how to reward and motivate their workforce while developing professionals as they navigate and advance their careers. To learn more, please visit Korn Ferry at www.Kornferry.com
