Weekdays With Bernie

Joel Belding is the President and Founder of Belding Insurance Group, an independent employee benefits and risk advisory firm based in Medina, Ohio. With more than 15 years of experience in the employee benefits industry, Joel specializes in helping small and mid sized employers reduce healthcare costs, improve benefit offerings, and create long term stability in an increasingly volatile insurance market.

Joel began his career in insurance on the operations and service side of the business, gaining a deep understanding of plan design, compliance, and carrier mechanics before moving into sales and advisory roles. After eight years in the industry, he became a partner in a regional brokerage, helping grow and ultimately sell the firm in 2019. Following that transaction, Joel worked closely with private equity backed organizations and launched additional ventures focused on sales, marketing, and consulting before re-establishing Belding Insurance Group after the conclusion of a non compete period.

At Belding Insurance Group, Joel works directly with clients as their primary advisor and advocate. The firm partners with more than 18 medical carriers and over 25 ancillary carriers, allowing for a truly competitive and transparent approach to the market. Joel is known for his hands on style, creative problem solving, and willingness to explore advanced strategies such as level funding, captives, prescription advocacy, gap insurance, PBM optimization, and employer focused wellness and disease management programs.

Joel is a graduate of Northwestern University, where he played football and learned the discipline and teamwork that continue to shape his professional approach. He remains deeply involved in the local community, including youth sports and charitable initiatives, and believes strongly in building long term relationships based on trust, hard work, and results.

Joel lives in Medina County with his wife and children and is passionate about helping employers navigate complex benefit decisions while taking great care of their employees.

Lauren is a Certified Employee Benefits Specialist (CEBS) at BayhaBenefits Insurance Solutions LLC in Fair Oaks, CA. She started her career in benefits in 2004, working for a brokerage agency in Newport Beach, CA and has served numerous clients through the relationships she has built in her roles with brokerage agencies and carriers throughout the years. She possesses a wide range of skills as a strategist, collaborator, and educator for employer health, dental, vision, life, disability, and voluntary worksite insurance. Lauren also advises clients in the area of Medicare and Individual health insurance. Lauren launched her own insurance agency 4 years ago, utilizing the 20 years of refined skills and in-depth benefit knowledge she has built upon. As a business owner and member of several professional organizations, Lauren understands the holistic art of running a business and serves a variety of clients from law firms to pilates studios to those aging gracefully into Medicare.

Lauren also serves as the Executive Director of the Sacramento chapter of the National Association of Benefits and Insurance Professionals (NABIP). She has served on the Board of the Sacramento chapter of the National Association of Benefits and Insurance Professionals (NABIP) for 5 years prior.

Outside of the office, Lauren spends most of her time with her husband and her two kids, ages 11 and 9. She enjoys being outdoors, going on new adventures with the family, exercising, reading and relaxing.

Daris Frencha is the Founder & CEO of The Benefit Boutique, a Fort Worth–based employee benefits consultancy serving small businesses with 2–50 employees across Texas. With over a decade of experience, Daris advises business owners on designing benefit strategies that support retention, engagement, and long-term team stability.

The Benefit Boutique partners with leaders who want clarity, confidence, and a smarter approach to benefits—one that aligns people strategy with business goals. As a fellow entrepreneur, Daris brings a trusted-advisor perspective grounded in real-world experience, helping leaders build workplaces where both the business and its people can thrive.

With 18 years of experience in the health industry, Emily is a dedicated Account Manager.Since transitioning into Employee Benefits in 2015, Emily has worked closely with both small and large clients, offering thoughtful guidance across a wide range of insurance solutions.

Emily’s expertise spans client retention, implementation, and insurance carrier operations, allowing her to support clients throughout the entire benefits cycle. She is deeply committed to ensuring her clients are satisfied and well-supported. She takes pride in helping employees fully understand their benefits so they can confidently make informed decisions.

Known for her strong relationships and detail-oriented approach, Emily serves as a trusted partner to her clients, focused on delivering smooth experiences and long-term value. Outside of work, Emily enjoys spending time with her family, watching sports, and reading.

Courtney Bertrand is the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Bertrand Financial Services (BFS), a family-owned agency headquartered in Fayetteville, Arkansas. With a rare blend of corporate analytics expertise and operational leadership, Courtney plays a vital role in ensuring BFS delivers strategic, organized, and high-performing solutions for clients.

A native of Arkansas, Courtney earned her degree from the University of Arkansas in Logistics and Analytics. Her education and professional background have made her exceptionally skilled in systems, data interpretation, and process improvement—strengths that translate seamlessly into the benefits and healthcare space.

Prior to joining BFS in 2019, Courtney spent 15 years working in data analytics and systems management within the Walmart corporate vendor community. Her experience in fast-paced, high-accountability environments sharpened her ability to manage complex workflows, uncover insights from data, and create efficient operational systems—skills that have elevated BFS in ways the agency never could have predicted.

At BFS, Courtney is known for her precision, reliability, and ability to handle a high workload with ease, often serving as the engine behind the scenes that keeps the agency running smoothly and strategically. Her leadership ensures clients experience not only strong guidance, but also exceptional structure, communication, and follow-through. Simply put, BFS would not be the same without her.

Outside of work, Courtney’s favorite role is being a mom. You’ll often find her cheering on her two daughters as they compete in volleyball and basketball, supporting them with the same energy and dedication she brings to the agency every day.

Brock Bertrand is the owner and lead advisor of Bertrand Financial Services (BFS), a family-founded agency that has served organizations across Arkansas for more than 30 years. Born and raised in Arkansas, Brock’s story is deeply rooted in the communities and values that shaped him—hard work, integrity, and a deep commitment to service.

Brock spent his early years in Marked Tree, Arkansas, where he attended school through the 8th grade, before moving to Heber Springs, Arkansas, where he completed high school. In 1997, he relocated to Fayetteville, Arkansas to pursue a career in finance and insurance, setting the foundation for what would become a lifelong professional focus: helping individuals and businesses make confident, informed decisions with their financial and healthcare resources. Brock joined the family business in 1999 while continuing his education at the University of Arkansas, earning a degree in Finance in 2001. Demonstrating an early commitment to the profession, he became licensed in Life and Health insurance as well as Securities during his sophomore year of college—launching his career with both technical expertise and a strong desire to serve.

After spending years working alongside his parents, Brock purchased Bertrand Financial Services from them in 2017, continuing the legacy they built while modernizing the agency to meet the evolving demands of today’s employee benefits and healthcare environment. Under his leadership, BFS has embraced innovative technology and NextGen benefits strategies designed to help employers maximize their healthcare dollars, control costs, and build competitive benefits plans that support retention, productivity, and long-term stability. Brock works alongside his wife, who serves as BFS’s Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer, and together they lead the firm with a family-first culture and a dedication to long-term client relationships. They are proud parents to two daughters, Emory (15) and Amelia (12). Brock enjoys watching them play youth sports and seeing them grow into beautiful, confident, independent young women.

Outside of work, Brock is passionate about the outdoors. He enjoys hunting and fishing whenever possible—especially deer, turkey, and duck hunting, along with fishing for bass and crappie. Whether in the woods, on the water, or supporting his daughters from the sidelines, Brock values time spent building memories and staying grounded in what matters most. Known for his responsiveness and straightforward approach, Brock believes the true measure of a successful advisory firm is not just expertise, but service—a principle that has been at the heart of BFS for decades and remains the driving force behind every client relationship today.