“…as a business owner or as just a CEO running a business… probably the first thing you should be thinking about… as it relates to attracting and retaining employees… is are the benefits that we offer today working.”

- Dennis Carlson

Welcome to a brand new episode of the Cash Flow CFO Podcast. Join me for a conversation with Dennis Carlson, Executive Benefits Advisor for Marsh McLennan Agency. Dennis previously played the role of entrepreneur inside the insurance industry, founding Bespoke Benefits in 2009, which was later acquired in 2017. Now, he leads the executive benefits practice for Marsh McLennan Agency in the western United States. Dennis has extensive experience advising on employee and executive benefits, helping businesses attract and retain top talent. Get to know him, and hear some of his wisdom.

Join us to learn the whole story!

“…really every small business owner should be thinking about these things. And… it's one of those things that nobody wants to deal with. It's easy to push off and easy to not think about.”

- Dennis Carlson

You Get What You Pay For

Dennis and I dive into the often overlooked aspects of executive benefits. We discuss the financial challenges businesses face when offering competitive benefit packages and explore alternative financing strategies to make these benefits more affordable. Dennis highlights the importance of finding a balance between cost and value, ensuring that businesses can attract top talent without breaking the bank.

Renaissance Man

We also touch on Dennis’s journey into the insurance industry, which began unexpectedly after a stint in the music industry. His marketing background played a pivotal role in his transition to insurance, where he built an employee benefits practice from scratch. Dennis shares how leveraging technology has been crucial in keeping ahead of the competition in an industry that is traditionally slow to adapt.

Human Capital

We get deep into the specific benefits that business owners should consider for their executive teams, such as life insurance, disability insurance, and retirement plans. Dennis emphasizes the need for benefits that cover the unique needs of high-earning executives. We discuss the significance of capturing variable compensation and ensuring comprehensive coverage. Dennis also explains how insurance can protect businesses from the sudden loss of key personnel.

“...it's for that individual employee who, that if something happened to them unexpectedly, sick or hurt, can't work or passed away unexpectedly… what would it cost the business to rehire, retrain… lost income because maybe they were one of the top salespeople?”

- Dennis Carlson

Want to get in touch with Dennis Carlson?

Email: dennis.carlson@marshmma.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/denniscarlson

Website: https://www.marshmma.com

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