Weekdays With Bernie 2025

Andy Buckley

Celebrities, They’re Just Like Businesses

Since the beginning of the Golden Era of Movies, Hollywood has tried to create some mystery around actors— that they’re these special magical beings who effortlessly move you and make you laugh and aren’t quite like the rest of us. The reality is that acting is like any other business, and the people who succeed in the acting world have the same qualities as those who succeed in the business world.

After working for 10 years as a Wealth Manager at Merrill Lynch and then making the jump to the silver screen as David Wallace on The Office, Andy Buckley has seen firsthand that being an actor is no different from being a successful advisor.

This year, at Weekdays with Bernie, Andy will share inspiring stories from his time on The Office and beyond, highlighting lessons on resilience, adaptability, and success. You’ll walk away with new strategies to boost your confidence, enhance your leadership skills, and energize your team.

Alex Tolbert

What’s New with BerniePortal?

Alex Tolbert is the founder and CEO of BerniePortal. He began his career as a broker at BerniePortal’s parent company, Bernard Health, where he saw firsthand the challenges small and mid-sized businesses face when it comes to benefits and HR. During Alex’s presentation, he’ll share the latest and greatest updates for the BerniePortal platform, which is designed specifically to help small and mid-sized businesses better manage those many daily benefits and HR challenges. From new product features to service-level enhancements and everything in between, attendees will leave with a fresh perspective on how to make the most of BerniePortal in the coming year.

Austin Sorensen

Scaling Success: How BernieBill Transforms Broker and Employer Relationships

Discover how BernieBill is reshaping the way brokers and employers manage their billing processes. In this interactive session, hear firsthand from one of our Account Managers and a successful broker partner as they share their journey with BernieBill. They’ll discuss how the platform has helped grow their business, streamline client billing, and provide a seamless introduction to employer groups. Learn how and why insurance company bills can be such a headache for HR while gaining insight into how BernieBill can empower you to save time, reduce administrative headaches, and strengthen your broker-employer relationships.

Camryn Koziarski and David Hobbs

How to Save You and Your Clients Time and Compliance Headaches with Alpine COBRA and Pre-Tax Benefits

Managing COBRA and pre-tax benefits can be a compliance minefield for both brokers and their clients. Join us for an insightful session where we’ll explore how Alpine’s COBRA administration and pre-tax benefit solution can simplify these complex processes. Led by our expert team, you’ll discover how to increase efficiency, minimize compliance risks, and enhance the overall benefits experience for your clients.

Bryce Burns

Navigating HR’s Payroll and Benefits Challenges – and How to Position BerniePortal’s Ability to Address Them Against the Competition

HR professionals face significant challenges in managing payroll and benefits effectively together. Join our product expert for a full, in-depth demo of BerniePortal, where you’ll discover how our innovative solutions can streamline these processes and alleviate common pain points. Learn how to position BerniePortal as a superior alternative to other all-in-one HRIS platforms as well as PEOs by highlighting our unique features and tailored approach.

Ashley Caldwell

Gen Z Insights for Capturing Tomorrow’s Clients and Workforce

Understanding Gen Z is crucial for benefits brokers looking to connect with the emerging workforce. Join BerniePortal’s Corporate Recruiter (a fellow Gen-Zer) as she offers practical strategies to engage and sell effectively to this demographic. You’ll learn how to adapt your approach to meet the expectations of Gen Z clients and employees, and equip yourself with the insights needed to bridge the generational gap, building lasting relationships with tomorrow’s clients and workforce.

Sarah Lang

Fortifying Your – and Your Clients’ – Business with MFA and Compliance in the Age of AI

Cyber threats are becoming increasingly more sophisticated in the age of AI, making it essential to implement robust compliance and security measures to protect businesses and their employees. Join us as we explore how BerniePortal’s compliance feature, including MFA, can safeguard your clients against hacking and data breaches. Learn how to effectively communicate these benefits to your employer groups, helping them fortify their operations against potential threats.

Alison Janssen

How to Maximize Time Savings and Revenue with BerniePortal’s New Carrier Exchange, Powered by Ideon

In today’s fast-paced benefits landscape, managing employee benefits eligibility data can be time-consuming and prone to error. Learn how you can leverage BerniePortal’s new solution to automatically, accurately, and securely transmit employee benefit elections from BerniePortal to over 50 major insurance carriers, including Blue Cross Blue Shield, UnitedHealthcare, and CIGNA.

Mary Chauvin

How to Leverage BerniePortal’s New Free Tiers to Solve for the Complete Benefits Lifecycle

The complete Benefits Lifecycle involves far more than just benefits—it includes recruiting, onboarding, compliance, 1095-C, 1095-B and COBRA as well. In this session, Brokers’ Corner Podcast Host, Mary Chauvin, will explore how BerniePortal’s free compliance and recruiting tiers can offer a more comprehensive benefits solution for your employer groups. You’ll learn how to leverage these tools to deliver a complete benefits lifecycle that meets the diverse needs of your clients.

Phil Lopez and Will Cronin

New Service Team Member Trainings

Get ready to revolutionize your benefits service approach at these two training sessions on BerniePortal. This interactive workshop is tailored specifically for benefits service professionals eager to harness the full power of our innovative platform.

Dive deep into BerniePortal’s intuitive features as we guide you through the ins and outs of managing employee benefits with ease and efficiency. You’ll explore streamlined enrollment processes, real-time reporting tools, and customized benefits administration—everything you need to enhance your service delivery and boost client satisfaction.

Engage in hands-on activities and real-life scenarios that will challenge your thinking and elevate your skills. Collaborate with fellow professionals to share insights and strategies, and leave with practical tips that you can implement immediately.

Whether you’re new to BerniePortal or looking to sharpen your expertise, this session will empower you to navigate the platform confidently and maximize its capabilities. Don’t miss this opportunity to transform your benefits service game and connect with a community of like-minded professionals!

New Producer Trainings

Are you new to sales? Or new to sales in the benefits industry? Or maybe an old dog who isn’t opposed to learning some new tricks? Join us for these two sessions, led by professional sales trainer Rob Lime, who has extensive experience training benefits brokers. These dynamic workshops will blend cutting-edge strategies with real-world scenarios, empowering you to engage clients like never before.

Discover innovative techniques for building rapport, overcoming objections, and closing deals with confidence. You’ll leave equipped with actionable insights and practical tools to transform your approach to sales. Don’t miss out on the chance to unlock your full potential and connect with fellow sales enthusiasts—let’s make selling exciting together!

Engage in hands-on activities and real-life scenarios that will challenge your thinking and elevate your skills. Collaborate with fellow professionals to share insights and strategies, and leave with practical tips that you can implement immediately.

Whether you’re new to BerniePortal or looking to sharpen your expertise, this session will empower you to navigate the platform confidently and maximize its capabilities. Don’t miss this opportunity to transform your benefits service game and connect with a community of like-minded professionals!