Shows
American Benefits PodcastEnter Your Destination: Introducing the Council's Long-Term Strategic PlanOn Wednesday, February 12, the American Benefits Council released its long-term public policy strategic plan, DESTINATION 2030: A Roadmap for the Future of Employee Benefits. In this episode, host Jason Hammersla speaks with Strategic Plan Task Force Chair Tami Simon about the plan's development and ultimate framework for advancing holistic well-being.2025-02-1242 min
American Benefits PodcastWindows on Benefits: Introducing New Board Chair Fred Thiele (Microsoft Corporation)Fred Thiele, vice president, global benefits and mobility for Microsoft, will serve as chair of the American Benefits Council's Board of Directors for the 2023-2024 term. In this episode, he speaks with host Jason Hammersla about his company's unique approach to benefits, outlines his priorities for the next year and drops a few tales of questionable reimbursement requests.2023-06-2348 min
American Benefits PodcastBigger Data: The First Step to Improving Health Equity (with Jennifer Haley, Urban Institute)Diversity, equity and inclusion is a priority for many of the American Benefits Council’s member companies, who have in turn directed us to engage with these issues as they relate to employee benefits. Over the previous 12 months, the Council has established a task force to address social determinants of health and joined with a number of other esteemed organizations to release the research report, Collection of Race and Ethnicity Data for Use by Health Plans to Advance Health Equity. The project was a collaboration with Urban Institute and Deloitte’s Health Equity Institute, as funded...2022-09-0139 min
American Benefits PodcastEpisode 44: Follow the Leader: Getting to Know the Council’s New Board Chair (with Tracy Watts, Mercer)If the American Benefits Council is to be a leader in the employee benefits world, we must have strong internal leadership. The Council’s policy agenda is carefully considered and set by our Policy Board of Directors, made up of knowledgeable and dedicated human resource and benefits professionals at each of our most engaged member companies. Holding the gavel at the head of that table is this episode's special guest. Speaking to host Jason Hammersla is Tracy Watts, senior partner in Mercer’s Washington D.C. office and the company’s National Leader for U.S. Health Care Re...2022-08-1734 min
American Benefits PodcastEpisode No. 43: Thinking Globally, Acting Locally: A Round-Up of the Council's International Benefits ActivityFor many multinational companies, figuring out how to scale employee benefits for a global population is a critical element of their economic competitiveness. But if providing comprehensive employee benefit programs in the United States is like playing advanced chess, doing so on a global basis is like playing advanced chess on a moving speedboat. The American Benefits Council's policy team is not only engaged with the whole wide world at the “big-picture” level, it is also focused on practical matters for global employee benefit plan sponsors like governance, employee mobility, mergers and acquisitions and more. Guid...2022-08-0334 min
American Benefits PodcastEpisode 42: Into the Deep End: The Big Splash of Pooled Employer Plans (with Rick Jones, Aon)Even as policymakers discuss and debate the so-called "retirement savings gap," employers and others are starting to take part in a newly-minted coverage expansion tool: the SECURE Act of 2019 birthed the inception of the Pooled Employer Plan (PEP), which allows separate companies employers to team up and share plan administration for their collective employees. On this episode of the American Benefits Podcast, host Jason Hammersla is joined by Rick Jones, senior partner in Aon’s National Retirement Practices group. Together they discuss the state of employer plan sponsorship, barriers to plan formation and how PEPs might improve the environment fo...2022-05-2030 min
American Benefits PodcastGet Out the Map: Paid Leave and the State of PlayPaid leave may not be an “employee benefit,” strictly speaking, in the same way that health coverage and retirement coverage are. But providing it has become a significant pressure point for employers, especially as an increasing number of states and localities have erected their own mandates over the last decade. In this episode, host Jason Hammersla talks about this slow-motion explosion of paid leave mandates with one of the nation's foremost legal authorities on the subject: Josh Seidman, a partner in the Labor and Employment department of Seyfarth Shaw, LLP. Together, Jason and Josh talk abou...2022-05-0547 min
American Benefits PodcastNo Surprises, Please: The Twisty Tale of 'Surprise' Medical BillingThe 2020 enactment of legislation to eliminate “surprise” medical billing was not just the most significant health care coverage legislation since the Affordable Care Act. It was also the culmination of a remarkable show of (relatively) swift and bipartisan lawmaking. Since that enactment, however, the story has taken dizzying twists and turns, with more to come as the regulatory implementation phase gives way to nationwide litigation over the Biden administration's rules. In this episode, host Jason Hammersla speaks to Katie Keith, a member of the research faculty for the Georgetown University Center on Health Insurance Reforms, and who has b...2022-04-2148 min
The Hammersla InquisitionSarah Kate Benton KentAll hail the dairy queen! (But hold the dairy.) Sarah Kate Benton Kent, copy editing legend and Earth Mother, joins Jason to talk about prepositions, propositions and strict vegetarianism, among other things.The Hammersla Exposition is the prose-only, non-union equivalent of the Inquisition. Read and subscribe at www.buttondown.email/hammerslaAll rights reserved. Lefts, too.2022-03-281h 09
American Benefits PodcastPlumbing and the PBGC: How Plans and Participants are Getting StuckEven casual observers know that, over the past several decades, the nation's retirement system has evolved from a predominantly defined benefit system to a predominantly defined contribution system. That said, there are still nearly 47,000 defined benefit plans in the United States, (half of which are insured by the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, or PBGC), covering almost 33 million people and totaling more than $3.2 trillion in assets. On this past New Year's Eve, the PBGC’s Participant and Plan Sponsor Advocate, Connie Donovan, issued the 2021 Annual Report of the Participant and Plan Sponsor Advocate, highlighting the agency’s successes and...2022-03-2438 min
American Benefits PodcastNontraditional Workers and Barriers to Retirement SavingsThe current labor market is in flux, with many industries still in pandemic recovery while the "great resignation" creating a talent vacuum. Contingent or "nontraditional" work may not be as trendy a topic as it was five years ago, but it could represent a resource for companies seeking to fill important roles. In this episode, host Jason Hammersla speaks to John C. Scott, director of the Pew Charitable Trusts Retirement Savings Project, about recent research on the retirement preparedness of "nontraditional workers" and remaining barriers to their improved financial security.2022-03-1046 minThe Hammersla InquisitionA Hammersla Disquisition: On the Beatles, Getting Back and Letting it BeIn this special bonus episode, host Jason Hammersla is joined by friends of the show and musical experts Eric R. Danton and Jeremy Rothman to break down the Get Back documentary airing on Disney+. The guys dig deep on prison movies, fur coats and the ominous power of toast.A few post-editing observations:- Man, do I have some smart friends.- Eric argued at one point that tight deadlines are bad for creativity, and while I can see his point with respect to the extremes, I think if I were quicker on...2022-01-1156 minThe Hammersla InquisitionRaina PatelThere's a doctor in the house. Raina Patel, of the famed St. Martin's Nursery School Class of 1982, joins Jason to talk about queens, fairy stepmothers and the worst date ever, among other things.The Hammersla Exposition is the prose-only, non-union equivalent of the Inquisition. Read and subscribe at www.buttondown.email/hammerslaAll rights reserved. Lefts, too.2021-12-301h 18
Risky BenefitsSilver Linings Pandemic Playbook with A.B.C. • Risky Benefits S2, Ep. #18Jason Hammersla, Vice President of Communications at American Benefits Counsel, is on mic to talk about the “Silver Linings Pandemic Playbook”. The playbook is a collection of vignettes and interviews with a dozen large US companies on the strategies they deployed to take care of their employees in one of the most unprecedented times, the COVID-19 pandemic.Not only will these stories inspire you, but you'll also learn about healthcare trends that are taking off, and how the American Benefits Counsel advocates for straight-forward benefits and administrative laws.MORE ABOUT OUR GUEST: Ja...2021-08-3141 min
The Hammersla InquisitionPhil UnwinJason's former college suitemate, fraternity brother and fellow native Rochesterian S. Philip Unwin joins the podcast. We proceed to touch the third rail, paint over a Picasso and submit to The Rock.Rundown:0:04:40 Questions & Tangents & Answers0:28:31 Questions from the Listening Audience0:43:29 But Seriously1:00:44 Turn the Tables1:06:23 Word Association1:08:00 Eulopologies2021-07-061h 16
American Benefits PodcastPolak's Republic: A Dialogue on Working Smarter and 'Compassionate Productivity'Over the past year, the American workforce has undergone a forced evolution, with work environments and habits thrown into chaos. But even before the pandemic, human resources strategy had shown signs of strain under a rigid definition of "productivity." In this episode, host Jason Hammersla speaks to internationally respected HR consultant Richard Polak, who thinks there is a better way. Polak explains the philosophy behind his new book, Work Smart Now: How to Jump Start Productivity, Empower Employees, and Achieve More, what "compassionate productivity" means and why "work-life balance" is a misnomer.2021-03-3149 minThe Hammersla InquisitionChristin SchaafMy No. 1 fan and former president Christin Schaaf talks to Jason about values, history (A.P. and otherwise) and the mystery of #!&% pics.2021-03-221h 10The Hammersla InquisitionDavid I. LeavittThe Hammersla Inquisition returns from a long hiatus with a long-awaited episode. The most interesting guy Jason knows finally appears on the podcast to talk cow tipping, job interviewing and how football is like cell phones.This podcast will be updated intermittently and as available, which is to say probably not very often. But it is back, so stay tuned for more eps.Rundown:0:02:58 Questions & Tangents & Answers0:25:21 Questions from the Listening Audience0:34:51 But Seriously0:58:07 Turn the Tables1:11:13 Word Association1:13:24 Eulopologies1:29:13 Special...2020-10-261h 33The Hammersla InquisitionCeli (Clark) HagaPerpetual pen pal and exceptional American Celi Haga talks to Jason about round tables, sliding doors and combating household odors.The Hammersla Inquisition is going on a short hiatus, but if I have anything to say in the meantime you can find it via the Hammersla Exposition: https://buttondown.email/hammersla (void where prohibited)2020-03-0253 minThe Hammersla InquisitionEric R. DantonAll-around expert and college chum Eric R. Danton talks to Jason about heckling, love insurance, how to stop worrying and learning to love the bomb.For more navel-gazing content like this, sign up for the Hammersla Exposition here: https://buttondown.email/hammersla (no headphones necessary!)N.B. This episode, being recorded from an international internet call, features audio quality that is inconsistent at best and crappy at worst. I have done my best to try and clean it up in "post" but there are still some bits that jump out. I apologize for any distraction...2020-02-2044 minThe Hammersla InquisitionMaria Rose CookErstwhile cello prodigy and current Dr. Feelgood Maria Rose (Nespeca) Cook talks to Jason about time travel, the "Scarlet D" and embodying the spectac-tical.For more navel-gazing content like this, sign up for the Hammersla Exposition here: https://buttondown.email/hammersla (no headphones necessary!)2020-02-1355 minThe Hammersla InquisitionEmily Epstein WhiteEditorial protege and all-around wordsmith Emily Epstein White talks to Jason about life as a comic, questionable advice and why she crossed the road.2020-02-0649 minThe Hammersla InquisitionGraham KentHigh school frienemy Graham Kent talks to Jason about faith, fearlessness and learning to believe in bacon.2020-01-3053 minAmerican Benefits PodcastBetter Know a Council Colleague: New Health Policy Senior Counsel Katy JohnsonThe American Benefits Council is known for its staff continuity, with seven of our 15 staff members having been here for at least two decades. Occasionally, however, the employee benefit gods require new blood and new energy. The most recent addition to the Council family is Katy Johnson, who succeeds the newly retired Kathryn Wilber as Senior Counsel, Health Policy, directing the analysis and advocacy of health policy regulation and litigation. In addition to her tireless work ethic, Katy brings a wealth of experience to the role after stints at the U.S. Treasury Department and Internal Revenue...2020-01-2835 minAmerican Benefits PodcastBenefits Calling: The World of Church Plans with Rev. Jeff ThiemannWhile we often focus on the Fortune 500 companies that dominate the world economy, another group of employers plays a fundamental role in the daily lives of millions of Americans: the churches, religious institutions and affiliated organizations that employ hundreds of thousands of clergy, lay workers, and their family members. This is a population with very typical health and retirement needs but also very unique practices and perspectives. Ably representing these perspectives in the advocacy world and in the American Benefits Council is the Church Alliance, a coalition of the chief executive officers of 38 church benefit programs. In...2019-12-1840 minAmerican Benefits PodcastEpisode 32: It’s a Big World After All - Going Global with Mark Azzarello, International PaperThe American economy crosses borders, oceans, time zones, cultures, languages and great walls. And therefore, compensation and benefits has gone global, too. For many multinational companies, figuring out how to scale employee benefits for a global population is a critical element of their economic competitiveness. Here at the Council, we’re engaged on global benefits in numerous ways, from functioning as the U.S. chapter of the International Employee Benefit Association (or “IEBA”) to serving as a private-sector advisor to the U.S. delegation to the Organizational for Economic Cooperation and Development. We’re also focused on practical matters for glob...2019-12-0349 minAmerican Benefits PodcastEpisode 31: All Debts, Public and Private - Helping Employers Help Employees Pay Down Student LoansRetirement benefits are obviously one pillar of employee health and financial security, but despite all that employers do the “retirement savings gap” between what people have and should have, continues to grow. One of the biggest barriers to savings is student loan debt, which now exceeds 1.5 trillion in the U.S., while tuition rises 8% year over year. In an effort to help their employees, more companies are now seeing value in helping to allay this burden. The American Benefits Council is part of a broad, multi-stakeholder coalition called Debt Free Tax Free, whose mission is to help empl...2019-10-0837 minAmerican Benefits PodcastEpisode 30: Talking Benefits with Families USA’s Executive Director, Frederick IsasiWe talk all the time about employee benefits for the evolving global workforce, but the truth is that benefits are important for more than just workers. For example, many covered lives are those of the spouses and children of workers with job-based health insurance. The voice of these families in Washington DC belongs to Frederick Isasi and his colleagues at Families USA, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization whose stated mission is “the achievement of high-quality, affordable health care and improved health for all.” In May of this year, Families USA launched Consumers First, a broad, multi-stakeholder alliance that seeks to addr...2019-08-1238 minAmerican Benefits PodcastThe Compensation of ‘Independents’: Designing Portable Benefits with the Aspen Institute’s Shelly StewardThe independent workforce – a potent mixture of temp workers, contingent workers, “gig” workers and others – represents anywhere between 4 and 40% of the overall labor market and constitutes an interesting economic challenge: in a nation where employment is central to one’s health and retirement benefits, how do we provide financial security to those who do not have long-term, consistent employment? In recent years, the Council has grappled with this question, setting forth The Five “Cs”: Principles for Policymakers Regarding Benefits and Independent Workers. Others are approaching the issue from the other direction. Shelly Steward, research manager for Aspen Institute’s Future of Work Initiative...2019-07-1843 minAmerican Benefits PodcastEpisode 28: The People Have Spoken - What Do 2018 Election and Polling Results Mean for Employee Benefits?As a result of the 2018 midterm elections, Democrats will assume control of the U.S. House of Representatives in 2019. And while Republicans still control the White House and the Senate, this one change has the potential to derail the whole legislative process, like when one bulb goes out in a string of Christmas lights. So what does that mean for the rest of 2018 and the next two years? That’s a good question for James A. Klein, Council president and political prognosticator-in-chief. In this special podcast episode, Jim speaks with host and loyal underling Jason Hammersla about th...2018-12-1341 minAmerican Benefits PodcastEpisode 27: Cover Me, I’m Going In - Talking Workplace Health Insurance with AHIP’s Adam BeckOn the cusp of the 2018 midterm elections, health care remains a major issue for American voters. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, 71 percent say that health care policy is “very important” in their decision about how to cast their vote and a plurality – 30 percent – say that health care is the most important issue in the midterm elections. Since more than half of all Americans, 181 million people plus, are covered by health insurance through an employer, policies affecting workplace coverage are of paramount importance. Enter America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), the national association whose members provide coverage for health...2018-11-0144 minAmerican Benefits PodcastEpisode 26: Where Do We Go From Here? Talking Retirement Policy with Mike BarryRetirement policy is supposed to be a bastion of stability and security, but the history of that policy is characterized by constant change: changing demographics, workforce patterns, plan designs and political priorities – to say nothing of rising financial markets and falling interest rates. The resulting story has unfolded like a drama with an uncertain ending. Author, attorney and benefits professional Mike Barry has written a new book, Retirement Savings Policy: Past, Present and Future, telling that tale and speculating on how the story might continue. He joins host Jason Hammersla to talk about the fundamental risks of re...2018-10-101h 05American Benefits PodcastEpisode 23: In Conversation with Jim Firman, National Council on AgingIt’s not just you: the workforce is getting older. Health care advances and increased life expectancies mean people are working longer and later, while low birth rates mean that there are fewer workers to succeed the ones who retire. As of 2016, the median age of the labor force was 42, up from about 38 in 1996. That puts increased pressure on the federal social safety net as well as for workplace health and retirement benefits. The unique needs and desires of older Americans, therefore, takes on increased importance for all stakeholders in the benefits system. Over more than two de...2018-07-1044 minAmerican Benefits PodcastEpisode 22: EBRI Little Thing They Do Is Magic: Lori Lucas and the Role of Benefits ResearchThe Employee Benefit Research Institute (or “EBRI”) describes itself as the place “where the world turns for facts on employee benefits.” Founded in 1978, celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, EBRI is considered the gold standard for authoritative data and research on these critical, complex issues. Today, EBRI is led by Lori Lucas, who took over just four months ago, at a societally auspicious time for the valuation and understanding of fact. As president and CEO, Lori is responsible for leading EBRI in its mission to provide unbiased, fact-based research and data on retirement, health care, and other benefits...2018-06-2728 minAmerican Benefits PodcastEpisode 21: We Need to Talk About Millennials: Young Americans and the Struggle to SaveMillennials – roughly, those born between 1981 and 1996 – are the most well-educated, most diverse and most populous generation in the workforce today. They told us in our national poll last year that employer-provided retirement benefits would be the most important benefit to them over the next ten years. And yet, a new report suggests that they are lagging behind in their preparedness for retirement. In this episode of the American Benefits Podcast, host Jason Hammersla speaks with Jennifer Erin Brown, manager of research for the National Institute on Retirement Security (NIRS) and the author of a new study, Millennials and...2018-05-0142 minAmerican Benefits PodcastEpisode 20: Innovations in Health Coverage: Mercer’s Tracy Watts and the Power of a Good IdeaThe American Benefits Council and Mercer, a global human resource consultancy firm, recently released a paper, Leading the Way: Employer Innovations in Health Coverage, which shows how large companies are using their stature and their ingenuity to try and tackle the pervasive problems surrounding health care, including high costs and inconsistent service. Podcast host Jason Hammersla speaks with Tracy Watts, who spearheaded this project. Tracy is a senior partner in Mercer’s Washington D.C. office and the company’s National Leader for U.S. Health Care Reform. In this episode, Jason and Tracy talk about how to d...2018-04-1738 minAmerican Benefits PodcastBetter Know a Council Staff Member: Meet Ilyse Schuman, Senior Vice President, Health PolicyEven though the Council boasts more than 7,300 members from 440 companies worldwide, the Council staff itself is only 15 individuals strong. The latest addition to the Council family is Ilyse Schuman, the Council’s new senior vice president, health policy. Ilyse succeeds the previous VP, Katy Spangler, and now directs the development and advocacy of all health policy priorities. In this episode of the American Benefits Podcast, host Jason Hammersla learns about Ilyse’s origin story, her tenure with the Senate HELP Committee and her breakroom snack preferences – and enjoys a friendly game of word association.2018-04-0334 minAmerican Benefits PodcastEpisode 18: Let’s Make It Simple: The American College of Employee Benefits Council and its $10,000 PrizeWilliam Shakespeare’s admonition about lawyers notwithstanding, most employer-sponsored benefit plans could not function without the sage counsel of the attorneys who have devoted their careers to employee benefits law. The “hall of fame” for these skilled attorneys is the American College of Employee Benefits Counsel, which recognizes the small share lawyers who have made lasting contributions to the benefits field. As part of its mission to advance the public’s understanding of the employee benefits system, the College is now sponsoring the First Annual Employee Benefits Simplification Prize, with a $10,000 prize going to the winner. The deadline...2018-03-1436 minAmerican Benefits PodcastEpisode 17: Benefits for a Cause: How ‘The Greater Give’ Could Revolutionize PhilanthropyPayroll-deduction, defined contribution plans have changed the way we save for retirement and may yet change the way we pay for health care and pay down college debt. Now the CEO of a large third-party administrator (TPA) has a plan to use it to create a nation of “everyday philanthropists.” The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act is likely to reduce the percentage of Americans who itemize – and thereby have access to the charitable giving tax deduction – to less than ten percent, eliminating much of the tax incentive to contribute. Enter Dan Rashke, CEO of TASC, the man behind T...2018-03-0733 minAmerican Benefits PodcastProfiles in Paid Leave: A Hallmark Case StudyWhile health and retirement benefits have long been the twin pillars of the American Benefits Council’s policy agenda. As time has gone on, however, other kinds of employee benefits have arisen – namely, paid leave – posing unique challenges for employers’ benefit programs. Unfortunately, Congress has thus far ceded this issue to the states, spurring a patchwork of state- and municipal-level laws. In response, the Council has advocated for a federal solution in the form of a voluntary minimum standard for paid leave. In this episode, host Jason Hammersla speaks with representatives from Hallmark, a world-renowned company for which pa...2018-02-0837 minAmerican Benefits PodcastFrom Here to Retirement Security, Featuring Bob Reynolds, President and CEO, Great West Financial and Putnam InvestmentsAs lawmakers get closer and closer to tax reform – and have to find a way to pay for it – it is becoming increasingly likely that they will seek to alter the tax incentives supporting workplace retirement savings. Bob Reynolds, president and CEO of Great West Financial and Putnam Investments, sees this as a dangerous and counter-productive change to our national retirement savings policy. Reynolds’ new book, From Here to Security, describes the history and strengths of the 401(k) savings system and makes the case for building on that system by making wise policy decisions to enhance their effect...2017-10-1735 minAmerican Benefits PodcastCongress and the Tax Reform Tightrope, Featuring Former Rep. Jim McCrery (R-LA), Partner with Capitol CounselWith the congressional Republicans’ health care “repeal-and-replace” efforts stymied, attention on Capitol Hill now turns to the difficult business of tax reform, where incentives for workplace health and retirement benefit plans continue to hang in the balance. The Council is working with the Save Our Savings coalition and Capitol Counsel to ensure that Americans’ retirement savings are not affected by comprehensive tax reform legislation. To help us understand that challenge, Capitol Counsel Partner and former Congressman Jim McCrery (R-LA) talks with host Jason Hammersla about lawmakers’ temptation to tap those retirement savings incentives for present-day revenue, and the “budge...2017-10-0342 minAmerican Benefits PodcastThe Trouble with Tax Reform with Janice Mays, Former Democratic Chief Counsel and Staff Director, House Ways and Means CommitteeIf you want to trace the history of employee benefits, one good way to do so is to look at the tax code. Employer-sponsored health and retirement benefits are governed in part by the tax code, and over the years the incentives for these plans have been dialed up and down, often to meet certain revenue goals. Congress is now toying with the idea of comprehensive tax reform once again. To give us some perspective on that process, host Jason Hammersla talks with Janice Mays, who is currently the managing director of Washington National Tax Services Tax P...2017-07-1254 minAmerican Benefits PodcastMinding the National Savings Gap with John C. Scott of the Pew Charitable Trusts Retirement Research ProjectPublic perception and prevailing data suggest the presence of a “retirement savings gap,” the difference between what Americans have saved for retirement versus what they actually need. In this episode, Jason Hammersla talks with John C. Scott, Director of the Pew Charitable Trusts Retirement Savings Project, about the real challenges and potential improvements to building retirement savings, including the rise of state-based programs for private-sector workers. The mission of the Pew Charitable Trusts Retirement Research project is to “study the challenges and opportunities for increasing retirement savings,” specifically examining “barriers to retirement savings.” Before joining Pew, John was a profess...2017-06-2743 min
American Benefits PodcastStarting from scratch on a national retirement policy with the Council's Lynn DudleyOn June 6, the Council released a document of some import: ten principles for building a national retirement policy. In an effort to forge such a policy, we have gathered the insights of our member companies that sponsor these retirement plans into this one document that summarizes our recommended approach. In this episode, Jason Hammersla talks with Lynn Dudley, the Council’s senior vice president, global retirement and compensation policy, about the provenance and purpose of these principles as well as the challenges that lay ahead.2017-06-1338 minAmerican Benefits PodcastBuilding a Secure Retirement for Women with WISER President Cindy HounsellWhat are the unique disadvantages that women face saving for and during retirement? Cindy Hounsell, the president of Women’s Institute for a Secure Retirement (WISER), sits down with host Jason Hammersla to discuss these challenges, as well as what can be done to build a more secure retirement reality for women. Cindy Hounsell is the President of WISER, the Women's Institute for a Secure Retirement, a nonprofit organization that seeks to improve the opportunities for women to secure retirement income and to educate the public about the inequities that disadvantage women in retirement. Hounsell was appointed in...2017-05-1633 minAmerican Benefits PodcastTalking Tax Reform, Retirement Policy and State Plans with former U.S. Representative Earl PomeroyIn the second of a two-part conversation with former U.S. Representative Earl Pomeroy (D-ND), host Jason Hammersla asks about the process and politics behind comprehensive tax reform, contemporary retirement policy challenges, and the rise of state-based benefits legislation.2017-04-1929 minAmerican Benefits PodcastA Closer Look at Repeal-and-Replace ft. former U.S. Representative Earl PomeroyIn the first of a two-part conversation with former U.S. Representative Earl Pomeroy (D-ND), host Jason Hammersla discusses the American Health Care Act, the stalled Republican measure to repeal and replace President Obama’s Affordable Care Act. We talk about the substance and the process behind the bill and what’s next for lawmakers as they consider further efforts to reform health policy or perhaps move on to comprehensive tax reform.2017-04-0435 minAmerican Benefits PodcastThe Future of the Workplace and Employee Benefits ft. Cam Marston The American Benefits Council’s Jason Hammersla is joined by guest, Cam Marston, a noted author, columnist, blogger, and lecturer on generational change and its impact on the workplace. On this episode, Hammersla and Marston consider the future of work, human resource challenges and opportunities, and employee benefits. As a business strategist who advises on how generational characteristics and differences affect every aspect of business – including recruiting and retention – he offers insight on the application of generational trends and attributes to the design of health and retirement benefit plans.2017-03-0637 min