Employee Benefit Adviser’s Wellness Adviser of the Year is Ali Payne, the divisional vice president, global practice leader, well-being and engagement for Gallagher. EBA editors asked Payne about her biggest professional accomplishment, the best thing about her job and if she had any advice for new brokers.
Employee Benefit Adviser: How big is your book of business?
Ali Payne: It is against Gallagher’s policy to disclose this type of information about our books of business.
EBA: How many clients do you have? What is your client size?
Payne: I support employers of all sizes. 100 to 25,000+ employees.
EBA: How would you describe your client base, by industry type? Where is your geographic area of focus?
Payne: I support clients across all industries and geographies.
EBA: What was your biggest work accomplishment this past year?
Payne: My biggest work accomplishment this year has been formalizing the Well-being & Engagement Practice at Gallagher.
EBA: What was your biggest personal accomplishment this past year?
Payne: My biggest personal accomplishment has been figuring out how to juggle three kids, an expanded global leadership role and living my value.
EBA: What is the best thing about your job?
Payne: The best thing about my job is the ability to be creative, innovative, and push the envelope, plus the great people I work with and for.
EBA: What makes you stand out as an adviser?
Payne: Challenging the status quo. We can’t keep doing the same thing and expecting different results.
EBA: Would you want your child to go into your profession?
Payne: Yes! The opportunities in this industry are endless; and if you have energy and creative ideas, go for it.
EBA: What advice you give to new advisers?
Payne: Build trust with everyone you work with and don’t be afraid to push the status quo.
EBA: What is the biggest trend to watch in benefit advising for 2019?
Payne: Re-humanizing everything we do in at the workplace.
EBA: What technology can you not live without?
Payne: FaceTime! I have three little ones at home; I believe video call technology has revolutionized traveling for work.
EBA: What’s your favorite line from a movie?
Payne: “Why did we ever stop drinking these? Because everyone else started.”
– Carrie Bradshaw, Sex and the City
EBA: Who is your personal hero?
Payne: My husband, Charlie Notheis.
EBA: What person, alive or dead, would you want to meet and why?
Payne: P!nk, because she is a successful working mom, positive role model, and a seriously, amazing badass.
EBA: What is your morning beverage of choice?
Payne: Nitro, Cold Brew
EBA: What is your evening beverage of choice?
Payne: Surly Coffee Bender beer
EBA: What is the most awesome place you traveled to outside your home state?
Payne: Breckenridge, Colorado
EBA: What is the most notable book you read this year?
Payne: Personal: Girl, Wash your Face by Rachel Hollis.
Professional: Firms of Endearment by Rajendra Sisodia.
