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

Presenter: Clint Merriman

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.

Eligible for 1.0 hour CEU -Human Resources, Admin

Deadline to Register: July 13, 2026

Register Here:   Employee Benefits Playbook: Strategies for Smarter Decisions – SDA Pacific Northwest