Employee Benefits Playbook: Strategies for Smarter Decisions

Employee benefits can feel like a complicated game: rising costs, changing rules, carrier options, employee expectations, and annual renewal decisions that seem to arrive faster every year. For employers, business owners, and firm leaders, it can be frustrating to feel like you are expected to play without ever receiving the full playbook.

This session is designed to change that.

Join Clint Merriman, Senior Employee Benefits Advisor with Trucordia, for an approachable, practical conversation about how employers can take a more strategic look at their benefits program. With nearly 30 years of experience helping employers attract and retain talent — including 17 years focused specifically on employee benefits — Clint brings a coaching mindset to a topic that affects both the bottom line and the employee experience.

Clint works with employers ranging from 3 to 300 employees, helping them understand the insurance landscape, evaluate their options, and make benefits decisions that support people, operations, and long-term business goals. In this educational session, he will open the playbook and help attendees better understand how the game is played and how to make smarter, more intentional benefits decisions.

Whether your firm is reviewing renewals, trying to stay competitive in hiring, or simply looking for a clearer understanding of employee benefits strategy, this session will offer practical takeaways you can bring back to your team.

What You’ll Learn

• Better understand the “game” of employee benefits and insurance renewals
• Evaluate benefits as a strategic business tool, not just an annual expense
• Identify ways benefits can support recruiting, retention, and employee satisfaction
• Think beyond cost when reviewing plan design and employee value
• Ask better questions when working with brokers, carriers, and decision-makers

 Who Should Attend – This session is ideal for SDA members and AEC professionals who help make, manage, or support employee benefits decisions, including:

• Firm owners, principals, and senior leaders
• Business operations and office managers
• HR professionals and benefits administrators
• Finance and accounting team members involved in budgeting or renewals
• Administrators who support recruiting, retention, onboarding, or employee communications
• Anyone who wants a clearer understanding of how employee benefits decisions affect people, cost, and firm strategy

Event Details

• Date & Time: Tuesday, July 14, 2026 | 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM (Pacific)
• Duration: 1 Hour
• Location: Virtual via Zoom
• Cost*: $0 for SDA PNW members | $10 for SDA members of other Chapters | $20 for Non-Members

Register / purchase tickets via the link below – note tiered pricing options.  Attendees of the live event will receive a Certificate of Attendance and access to the recording (SDA Category: Human Resources). *For this online presentation, ticket holders may share the Zoom link with their coworkers (same location). Please note: Cancellations within 3 days of the event and no-shows are not eligible for a refund. If registration is closed, this session may be full.

Meet the Speaker: Clint Merriman is a Senior Employee Benefits Advisor with Trucordia. He has spent nearly 30 years helping employers attract and retain top talent, with the last 17 years focused on employee benefits. Clint works with employers of 3 to 300 employees, helping them navigate the insurance landscape with a strategic, people-centered approach.

Rather than focusing only on cost, Clint helps employers look at how a benefits package can support employees, strengthen operations, and contribute to long-term growth. His practical coaching style helps business owners and leaders better understand their options and make more confident decisions.