In Part 2 of this two-part series, Vita Talks host Gianna Ricciardi welcomes back John Cochrane, Founder of JD Consulting, for the conclusion of a deep dive into group insurance funding models and risk evaluation.

Building on the foundational conversation in Episode 11, this episode breaks down the real-world results of a comprehensive benefits audit for a 600-employee organization. The outcome? A $350,000 cost reduction, enhanced control over reserves, and a shift to a customized ASO (Administrative Services Only) model, without adding undue risk.

Hear how the client, previously on a refund accounting model for over two decades, was guided through a detailed analysis of historical claims, pooling levels, and risk tolerance. John explains how organizations can assess whether they’re paying too much for too little flexibility—and how pooling levels, third-party administrators, and hybrid approaches all play a role in optimizing a benefits strategy.

The episode concludes with a clear takeaway: Every organization deserves a full understanding of its funding model options and the confidence to choose the one that aligns with its risk profile, size, and goals.

Who Should Listen?

• HR and finance professionals managing employee benefits

• Employers considering changes to their plan structure

• Advisors looking for deeper insights into funding model strategy

• Business leaders aiming to improve cost-efficiency without compromising employee experience

🎧 Listen to Part 2 now and revisit Part 1 for the full story.

Mentioned Links:

• JD Consulting
• John Cochrane’s LinkedIn

Stay Connected to Vita Assure: Insurance and Workplace Benefits

• Vita Talks Podcast
• LinkedIn
• Website

Ways to Support This Podcast:

💡 Share this episode with colleagues and leaders in your network
⭐ Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify
🔔 Subscribe for future conversations about benefits, leadership, and workplace wellness

In Part 1 of this two-part series, host Gianna Ricciardi is joined by John Cochrane, Partner and Founder of JD Consulting, to explore the often-misunderstood world of group insurance funding and underwriting arrangements.

Drawing on over 25 years of experience in employee benefits consulting, John outlines the three primary funding models—fully insured, refund (retention) accounting, and administrative services only (ASO)—and explains how each structure allocates risk between the insurer and the client.

Listeners will hear a real-world scenario involving a 600-employee organization that has managed its plan directly with an insurer for over 20 years without advisory support. After agreeing to a confidential audit, the company uncovered significant inefficiencies in its funding model.

📆 Part 2, airing next month, will unpack the audit findings in more detail and share actionable insights for employers considering a funding model shift.

Who Should Listen?

• 🎯 HR and payroll professionals managing group insurance plans
• 🎯 CFOs and finance leaders focused on cost containment and plan ROI
• 🎯 Employers with growing teams and evolving risk profiles
• 🎯 Benefits consultants and advisors seeking clearer ways to explain funding models

Mentioned Links:

• JD Consulting
• John Cochrane’s LinkedIn

Stay Connected to Vita Assure: Insurance and Workplace Benefits

• Vita Talks Podcast
• LinkedIn
• Vita Assure Website

💡 Share this episode with colleagues and leaders in your network
⭐ Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify
🔔 Subscribe for future conversations about benefits, leadership, and workplace wellness

In this episode of the Vita Talks Podcast, we sit down with Giovanna Buscemi, Executive Coach and Founder of Clareo Institute, to explore how executive coaching empowers leaders—especially women navigating complex leadership roles—to thrive through transition, overcome internal blockers, and lead with confidence.

Giovanna brings decades of experience in HR, leadership development, and counseling to her work with high-performing executives. She shares a compelling case study based on a composite of real clients—a seasoned female executive who reaches the C-suite only to be met with resistance, isolation, and self-doubt.

We explore what happens when traditional success strategies no longer work, and how coaching helps leaders unlearn old habits, develop managerial courage, and redefine what success looks like at the top.

If you’ve ever felt stuck in your leadership journey or are supporting someone navigating change in a high-impact role, this conversation is full of wisdom and practical guidance.

• Female Executives Navigating Leadership Transitions
• HR Professionals supporting Senior Leaders
• Business Leaders and Founders Scaling Their Organizations
• Anyone interested in executive coaching, emotional intelligence, or personal leadership growth

Mentioned Links:

• Clareo Institute Website
• Connect with Giovanna on LinkedIn
• Clareo Institute LinkedIn Page

Stay Connected to Vita Assure; Insurance and Workplace Benefits

• Vita Talks Podcast
• LinkedIn
• Group Insurance and Group Retirement

💡 Share this episode with colleagues and leaders in your network
⭐ Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify
🔔 Subscribe for future conversations about benefits, leadership, and workplace wellness

Thinking about offering employee benefits but feeling lost? You’re not alone. Many small businesses struggle to set up group insurance that works for their team and their budget. Some plans feel too rigid, too expensive, or just too complicated.

In this special Vita Talks HR & Benefits takeover episode, Dominic lafigliola turns the mic on Gianna Ricciardi, Co-Founder and Practice Leader at Vita Assure. Gianna shares a real-life case study of a small software business that struggled with setting up benefits—and how they finally found the right solution.

Whether you’re an HR professional or a small business owner, this episode will help you navigate the group insurance process with confidence.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

• The #1 mistake small businesses make when setting up group insurance
• The difference between an insurance broker and an advisor (and why it matters)
• Flexible benefits vs. traditional benefits: Which is right for your company?
• How to compare insurance quotes without getting overwhelmed
• Top employee benefits trends in 2025 (Health Spending Accounts, Mental Health, & More)
• The step-by-step process to setting up a benefits plan with minimal hassle

This episode is packed with practical insights to help HR teams, business owners, and decision-makers create a benefits plan that actually works for their employees.

Who Should Listen?

🎯 Small business owners setting up benefits for the first time
🎯 HR professionals struggling to choose the right insurance provider
🎯 Employers looking for more flexible, cost-effective benefits solutions

If you’re exploring employee benefits and want a clear, strategic approach, this episode is packed with practical insights to help you make the best decision.

🎧 Press play now to learn how to create an employee benefits plan that actually works!

Stay Connected to Vita Assure, Insurance and Workplace Benefits

• Website
• Vita Talks Podcast
• Vita Assure LinkedIn Page
  

Ways to Support This Podcast:
💡 Share this episode with colleagues and friends
⭐ Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify
🔔 Subscribe for future episodes

Joining Gianna in this episode is Farzeen Foda, Founder of PeopleStrategy.ca, a Human Resources and Organizational Development consultancy focused on partnering with organizations to design work that inspires performance and effectiveness. Farzeen is also an instructor for the Essentials of People Analytics and Analytics Project Design at York University, a program to help HR Professionals confidently apply concepts and practices in various organizations.

Farzeen discusses the re-design of an Early Talent Program within the technology department of a large financial institution. While the program welcomed almost a thousand undergraduate students annually, most did not return to the organization to continue their careers post-graduation.

Learn how the organization utilized technology, in conjunction with a communication campaign, to encourage students to share key information. Armed with meaningful and reliable data, they were better equipped to pipeline students by matching skill sets with skill gaps, as well as to deploy educational programs to help students identify career opportunities within the organization.

Farzeen advocates for all organizations, whether small or big, to take advantage of people analytics to mobilize teams and foster them internally.

Mentioned Links

• PeopleStrategy’s website
• PeopleStrategy LinkedIn
• Connect with Farzeen on LinkedIn

Stay Connected to Vita Assure, Insurance and Workplace Benefits

• Vita Talks Podcast
• LinkedIn
• Employee Benefits

Happy New Year! On today’s episode, Gianna sits down with Coralia Raducea, founder of Elentia Consulting, a recruitment and human resources consulting firm that offers personalized services, while taking your organizational needs to heart.

Coralia explains why companies would choose to use an external HR expert over attempting to tackle issues in-house, and shares an example of a high-growth SAAS company that she worked with to optimize their HR infrastructure.

We learn how her initial audit revealed bottlenecks in onboarding, uneven management practices across departments, and declining employee morale; and discuss best practices for scaling HR practices to keep up with an organization’s growth.

Join us as Coralia walks us through the process of adapting onboarding to accommodate new types of roles, developing leadership training and co-development programs, and implementing employee feedback mechanisms to capture progress and evaluate morale.

Mentioned Links

• Coralia’s LinkedIn
• Elentia Consulting LinkedIn
• Coralia's Website

Stay Connected to Vita Assure, Insurance, and Workplace Benefits

• Vita Talks Podcast
• LinkedIn
• Employee Benefits

Today, Gianna sits down with Barbara Gobetti, HR Manager at Estateably. Barbara shares her journey within the company, starting as a Financial Analyst, and explains how her path led her to a role in HR. She took on various responsibilities alongside HR, such as payroll, hiring, and screening, which ultimately caught the attention of leadership and earned her the position of Human Resources Manager.

Barbara discusses her core priorities in HR, including compliance, legal considerations, management support, employee experience, and delegating responsibilities effectively. She also explores the differences between how startups and established companies approach HR, emphasizing how these differences can complement each other.

Barbara defines her guiding principle in HR as creating positive change and fostering a thoughtful workplace. She stresses the importance of asking questions, seeking additional support, and taking ownership of one’s need for knowledge and experience—key elements in building a strong foundation for effective HR practices.

Mentioned Links

• Estateably’s website

• Estateably’s LinkedIn

• Connect with Barbara on LinkedIn

Stay Connected to Vita Assure, Insurance and Workplace Benefits

• Vita Talks Podcast

• LinkedIn

• Employee Benefits

Joining Gianna today is Adriana Arian, HR Director at Brain Box AI. Brain Box AI is Great Place to Work certified which Adriana credits to her team’s HR strategies and inclusive work environment.

Adriana shares her values of organically recruiting team members via diversity, providing everyone with shared opportunities, and highlighting an individual's skills and talents as the most important quality as opposed to the accent of one’s voice.

Adriana emphasizes adopting empathy when working with team members, akin to therapy as HR sometimes deals with emotional difficulties or suffering amongst staff. Adriana breaks down her strategies for advancing a team’s diversity and offers her advice to other employers.

Mentioned Links

• Great Place To Work Certificate for BrainBox AI
• BrainBox Ai website
• Adriana on BrainBox Ai
• Adriana’s LinkedIn

Connect With Us

• Vita Assure
• Subscribe to the Vita Talks Newsletter
• Group Employee Benefits