Employee Benefit Review
An employee benefit review is designed to evaluate the full range of employer-provided benefits. These typically include health insurance, HSAs, retirement plan options, deferred compensation, and group life and disability coverage. It also assesses how they fit within your broader financial plan. At Confluence Financial Partners, our team works to help individuals and families understand which benefits to prioritize, optimize their elections, and see the way those decisions connect to their investment strategy, tax planning, and retirement goals.
why employee benefit review
Your employee benefits may deserve more attention than they get
Your employer offers a package of benefits that can represent a significant portion of your total compensation. Yet for most professionals, those benefits are chosen each year, under time pressure, and without a clear picture of how they fit the rest of your financial life. The decisions made during open enrollment may carry consequences that extend well beyond the plan year.
What coordinated benefit decisions can accomplish
When your employee benefits are coordinated with your financial plan, you can better evaluate how an HSA may fit within your overall savings and investment strategy and make more informed decisions regarding deferred compensation timing. We also work to keep your group coverage from duplicating benefits you are already funding privately. Without this context, professionals may over-insure in one area, under-utilize tax-advantaged accounts, and leave meaningful value unclaimed each year.
How we approach employee benefit review
Total compensation, not just salary. Your benefits package is part of your financial picture and should be analyzed as such. Coordinated with your plan. Every benefit decision typically connects to something else, from your HSA to your investment strategy, your deferred comp to your retirement income, and your group life to your estate plan.
Election-cycle preparation. We work to prepare you before open enrollment so you can make each decision intentionally, not under pressure. Ongoing calibration. As your financial situation and career evolve, we believe your benefit elections should too.
our process
What working with our team looks like.
Benefits inventory
We start with a complete catalog of your available employer benefits and their current elections.
Gap analysis
We work to identify where benefits may be underutilized, duplicated, or misaligned with your broader plan.
Coordination review
We map benefit elections to your investment strategy, tax plan, retirement timeline, and insurance needs.
Benefit election guidance
We work to provide specific, prioritized guidance for the upcoming plan year.
Implementation support
We can help you prepare for open enrollment decisions and document the changes.
meet the team
Connect with a Wealth Manager
Employee benefit review sits at the intersection of financial planning, tax considerations, and investment management. The analytical and planning disciplines associated with CFA and CFP® professionals help clients evaluate employee benefit decisions within the context of their broader financial plan.
Zachery Saunders AAMS®, CEPA®, CFP®, Ed.D.
Wealth Manager
Melissa Pirosko CFP®, MBA
Wealth Manager
Nathan Garcia CFP®, MBA
Wealth Manager
Samantha Sheetz CFP®, CDFA®, WFA
Wealth Manager
Dave Cashdollar CFP®
Wealth Manager
Brandon Corlett
Wealth Manager
Jackson Elizondo CFP®, CAP®
Wealth Manager
Loren Paul Fiffik CFP®
Wealth Manager
Paul Frey CFP®, CIMA®
Wealth Manager
Randy Holcombe CFP®
Wealth Manager
Jonathan Jordan
Wealth Manager
Sophia Kann CFP®
Wealth Manager
Kurt Kimmich AAMS®
Wealth Manager
Matt Kimmich CFP®
Wealth Manager
Chuck Kolias
Wealth Manager
Morgan Lee CFP®
Wealth Manager
Katie Montagazzi CFP®
Wealth Manager
Eric Montgomery CFP®
Wealth Manager
Jared Nicholson
Wealth Manager
Nick Proud CFP®
Wealth Manager
Brian Ripley
Wealth Manager
Scott Rogowicz
Wealth Manager
Neil Rongaus CFP®
Wealth Manager
Joe Tabaka CFP®
Wealth Manager
Mike Touscany CFP®
Wealth Manager
RJ Wingertsahn
Wealth Manager
Chuck Ziants CFP®
Wealth Manager
Brandon Beck
Wealth Manager
Tim Cashdollar CRC®
Wealth Manager
Is an employee benefit review right for you?
You may benefit from working with our team on an employee benefit review if:
- You are approaching an open enrollment period and want to make decisions that align with your financial plan
- You have access to deferred compensation, stock options, or executive benefits and want to understand how to elect and time them effectively
- You are unsure whether your current benefit elections align with your overall tax and financial planning considerations
- You recently changed jobs and need to evaluate a new benefits package alongside your existing financial plan
- You have employer-provided life or disability insurance and want to evaluate how your group coverage fits within your overall insurance needs
Request your Consultation
Complete the form below. A member of our team will reach out within one business day to schedule your complimentary 30-minute call.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What is included in an employee benefit review?
An employee benefit review typically includes an evaluation of health and dental coverage, HSA and FSA elections, and group life and disability insurance. It also covers deferred compensation options, retirement plan investment elections, and stock options or equity compensation. We work to assess each benefit in the context of your broader financial plan.
How does an employee benefit review connect to my financial plan?
Every benefit election has financial implications beyond the plan year. Your HSA election connects to your investment strategy, your deferred compensation decisions affect your retirement income and tax position, and your group life coverage intersects with your estate plan. A benefit review can help these decisions reflect the full financial picture.
When should I have my employee benefits reviewed?
The most obvious trigger is open enrollment. But a benefit review is also valuable following a job change, a significant income change, or a life event like marriage or the birth of a child. A review can help any time your financial plan changes in a way that affects how you should use your benefits.
Can a financial advisor help me with open enrollment decisions?
Yes. A financial advisor can help you evaluate benefit elections in the context of your tax situation, retirement plan, and overall financial goals. That way, choices like HSA contribution levels, deferred compensation deferrals, and group insurance options can reflect your actual financial needs.
How can an HSA fit within my broader financial strategy?
An HSA can typically function as a tax-advantaged investment account when contributions exceed current medical expenses. Depending on an individual's circumstances, an HSA may serve as a tax-advantaged savings and investment account. When contributions are not needed for current medical expenses, some individuals choose to invest a portion of those funds for potential long-term growth, which may help support future healthcare and retirement-related expenses.
Ready to Take the First Step?
Schedule your complimentary consultation today.