5:30 a.m.
Up bright and early after staying up kind of late watching my Chicago Bears win a game. I start my day by listening to a daily devotional, spending some time in prayer and then listening to a TED podcast.
6:45 a.m.
I spend the first 30 minutes of my business day getting organized. I own an employee benefits brokerage and consulting firm and have four employees.
7:15 a.m.
With all of the Affordable Care Act changes, our activity level, frankly, is off the charts this December. Our array of clients all seem to have much greater needs than ever before, particularly from a compliance perspective. I spend 45 minutes preparing for an employee benefits enrollment meeting, finalizing my presentation and tweaking a handout for the client firms employees. It explains the individual mandate, how the public exchange works, the fact that their employer currently provides benefits compliant with the ACA, and more.
9:00 a.m.
I travel an hour to my meeting. This particular group is comprised of higher-income professionals and I focus on the handout as well as providing an overview of their 2014 medical plan choices. Following my presentation, a carrier representative presents information about some new voluntary benefits being offered voluntary life and both short- and long-term disability. My sense is that well see a good enrollment outcome with voluntary.
10:30 a.m.
Since I have a second enrollment meeting scheduled with the same client firm at 1 p.m. in a different location, I stop at my remote office, Starbucks, and return calls and emails to clients and carrier reps. I also send out a few tweets. I have both a personal and a business Twitter account. With the personal account its kind of no-holds-barred with my opinions. With the business account, I stick pretty close to employee benefits-related content.
1:00 p.m.
I conduct my enrollment meeting at the client firms other location, following the same script as earlier. Had some really great questions.
2:30 p.m.
I drive an hour back to my office. I wrap up my business day by meeting with my team and preparing for the next few days since I will be out at a key client meeting and then attending EBAs Workplace Benefits Transitions conference in Chicago.
5:30 p.m.
I am an active member of NAHU, having co-founded the local chapter nine years ago. I prepare an email to our group about a meeting that will feature our state lobbyist, who will share state-level legislative, regulatory and policy initiatives.
7:30 p.m.
On Tuesdays, my wife and I attend a meeting at our church, and this evening we had great fellowship time.
9:00 p.m.
I conclude my day with my Samsung tablet device, reading the Wall Street Journal, Flipboard, checking out my Twitter feeds and listening to Google Play. Its been a very good day and tomorrow promises to be even better.
