Benefits Consultant

WEA Member Benefits; Madison (WI); Remote; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

WEA Member Benefits is a Wisconsin-based provider of retirement savings, financial planning and personal insurance programs for educators. The Benefits Consultant will act as the relationship manager for school districts, driving participation and coordinating enrollment activities in a fully remote role.

The successful candidate will have strong sales experience, consultative selling skills, and knowledge of 403(b) plans and related regulations, plus state licenses or the ability to obtain them

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business, marketing, or related field or commensurate experience.
• A minimum of three (3) years of successful sales performance.
• Commitment to excellence in member service and other Member Benefits values.
• Excellent consultative selling skills and the ability to effectively consult with current and prospective members regarding the Member Benefits’ programs.
• Current Wisconsin Property and Casualty license or FINRA Series 6 and 63 (License(s) not held must be attained within six months of appointment).
• Current Wisconsin Life and Health Licenses or willingness to obtain within six months of appointment.
• Knowledge of IRC 403(b) and 408(a), Wisconsin Retirement System, Social Security, and financial planning concepts (or willingness to gain).

Responsibilities

• Identify and recruit school districts for participation in broker agreements and programs.
• Coordinate on-site visits and webinars; arrange enrollment activities with staff.
• Develop relationships with publics to enhance program participation.
• Consult with participants on retirement and investments as they relate to RIS and 403(b) plans.
• Liaise between district administration on 403(b) plans and RIS programs.
• Educate staff on changes in rules and regulations during reviews and communications.

Skills

Sales experience

Consultative selling

Verbal communication

Written communication

Customer service

Account management

Presentation skills

Data entry

Team collaboration

Time management

Education

Bachelor's degree in business or related field

FINRA Series 6 & 63 licenses

Wisconsin Property & Casualty license

Wisconsin Life & Health licenses

Tools

Microsoft Word

PowerPoint

Policy processing software

Job description

At WEA Member Benefits, we are dedicated to serving our members with highly rated retirement savings, financial planning, and personal insurance programs for public school employees. Our employees have a passion for our mission and vision and strive to deliver “A+ Performance” in everything we do. WEA Member Benefits was created by Wisconsin educators for Wisconsin educators over 50 years ago. Our culture, work environment, and team have made our organization a 6-time “Best Places To Work” winner (Madison Magazine) and 3-time Top Workplaces winner (Wisconsin State Journal). We focus heavily on taking care of our employees with competitive pay, generous health/dental/vision insurance coverage, paid time off, and an industry leading 401(k) retirement savings plan.

SUMMARY

The Benefits Consultant provides excellent customer service by representing the WEA Member Benefits’ (WEA Member Benefits) personal insurance and financial service programs to school district officials, union members, and other employees of eligible school districts.

They act as the relationship manager and key accounts contact for their assigned school districts and groups. The incumbent obtains agreements with school districts to provide Member Benefits’ programs, coordinates group meetings and enrollment activities, and increases participation in participating school districts. The WBC also meets with participants and defines their needs for personal insurance and financial services, proposes appropriate products and/or services, and solicits field activity leads. This is a fully remote position.

ACCOUNTABILITIES

70% – WEA Member Benefits Sales:

• Identify potential school districts for participation in business-to-business relationships such as broker agreements, and 403(b) program, WEA Member Benefits’ insurance programs and voluntary worksite benefits The WBC will conduct the initial and follow up meetings with the school district officials, boards or leaders to introduce the program(s), and secure participation agreements from school districts that choose to adopt them.
• Coordinate, promote, and present on-site visits and webinars/virtual group meetings; identify interested individuals; and arrange on-site enrollment activities by working with Member Benefits Consultants (MBCs), Personal Insurance Consultants (PICs) and other staff to help them to schedule individual consultations with interested individuals.
• Develop and build a working relationship with critical publics to serve their program needs and to enhance program participation.
• Consult with RIS program participants and school districts on program administration and retirement and investments.
• Act as Liaison between school district administration on the maintenance and administration of qualified 403(b) plans and RIS (tax-sheltered annuity and individual retirement accounts) programs and services.
• Consult with school districts on employer-sponsored 403(b) plans.
• Educate school district staff on changes in administrative and eligibility rules and regulations in review meetings, through mailings and via phone.

20% – WEA Member Benefits Service:

• Present the WEA Member Benefits programs to school district employees and consult with them about their personal insurance and savings goals and needs.
• Analyze the programs in which school district employees currently participate, inform and educate employees through seminars, determine whether members meet the initial eligibility and underwriting guidelines, assist interested individuals with enrolling in applicable WEA Member Benefits’ programs, and refer participants seeking to make changes to their account(s) to member service staff.
• Create and provide presentations on RIS programs, retirement planning, and investments via webcasts, the website, and other audiovisual communications.

10% – Product Improvements:

• Engage in activities that enhance the relationships between WEA Member Benefits and participating employers and employees.
• Monitor and report enrollments, participants’ needs, and competitive pressures in the industry to the Vice President of Sales and Marketing.
• Develop and carry out marketing plans.
• Special Projects as assigned.

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE

• Bachelor’s degree in business, marketing, or related field or commensurate experience.
• A minimum of three (3) years of successful sales performance.
• Commitment to excellence in member service and other Member Benefits values.
• Excellent consultative selling skills and the ability to effectively consult with current and prospective members regarding the Member Benefits’ programs.
• Current Wisconsin Property and Casualty license or both Current Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Series 6 and 63 (License(s) not held must be attained within six months of appointment to the position.)
• Current Wisconsin Life and Health Licenses or the willingness and the ability to obtain within six (6) months of appointment to the position.
• Knowledge of Internal Revenue Code (IRC) Section 403(b) and 408(a) and the pertinent regulations, Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS), Social Security (SS), and financial planning concepts and techniques or the willingness and the ability to gain.

ABILITIES REQUIRED

• Ability to develop and carry out comprehensive marketing plans.
• High sales aptitude.
• Ability to prospect and sell business-to-business services.
• Ability to prepare and deliver effective sales presentations.
• Excellent verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate sensitively, persuasively, and effectively with individuals and in presentations to groups and the ability to explain difficult and technical insurance issues.
• Ability to simultaneously and effectively listen and respond to members’ questions and comments while quickly and accurately entering member data and locating necessary online information.
• Ability to collect, logically organize, and analyze data (including the ability to interpret insurance policies and guidelines accurately and make appropriate decisions); research and analyze problems objectively from multiple perspectives (including reaching sound conclusions and making appropriate decisions and recommendations).
• Excellent written communication skills, including the ability to compose clear, concise, and persuasive correspondence and narrative reports that communicate messages consistent with WEA Member Benefits’ policies, plans, and provisions using appropriate spelling, tone, grammar, and word usage.
• Ability to analyze and determine an individual’s personal insurance needs and propose the changes necessary to meet those needs.
• Ability to perform basic mathematical calculations.
• Ability to establish, monitor, and achieve goals with minimal supervision and effectively organize, prioritize, and carry out work independently.
• Ability to work cooperatively with others to develop and implement solutions that achieve mutually desired results and to work as a constructive member of a team.
• Ability to use word processing software (Microsoft Word preferred), policy processing software, presentation software (PowerPoint preferred), and similar programs.
• Excellent organizational skills, including the ability to effectively and competently handle multiple priorities simultaneously and the flexibility and ability to quickly adapt to changes.

PREFERRED EXPERIENCE, KNOWLEDGE, AND ABILITIES

• Experience analyzing and determining an individual’s personal insurance and/or financial needs and proposing the changes necessary to meet those needs.
• Wisconsin Property and Casualty license and Wisconsin Life license.
• FINRA 6 and 63 licenses.
• Knowledge of IRC Section 403(b) and 408(a) and the pertinent regulations, WRS, SS, and financial planning concepts and techniques.
• Successful completion of any of the following designations or education exams: Accredited Advisor in Insurance (AAI), Associate in Personal Insurance (API), and Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) Exam #2-Personal Insurance or equivalent technical and theoretical knowledge.
• Successful completion of any of the following designations or education exams: Certified Financial Planner (CFP), Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC), or Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU).
• Willingness to reside within the assigned territory.
• Successful insurance and/or financial sales experience.
• Experience marketing worksite benefits to employers.
• Demonstrated territory management capabilities.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT

Work is primarily performed in an office environment and requires regular use of computers and telephones. The position involves sitting, standing, walking, bending, reaching, and other physical movements, as well as the ability to lift and move up to 55 pounds. Employees must have adequate vision and hearing to perform job duties, work effectively with frequent interruptions, and travel frequently, including overnight stays. A valid Wisconsin driver’s license and satisfactory driving record are required. The work environment has a low to moderate noise level.

WEA Member Benefits is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer committed to fostering a workplace where all individuals are valued, respected, and provided equal access to employment opportunities. We make employment decisions based on qualifications, experience, merit, and organizational needs, and we do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, veteran status, genetic information, or any other status protected by applicable local, state, or federal law.

WEA Member Benefits is committed to providing equal access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals with disabilities in employment, including during the application process. To request an accommodation during the application process, please contact us at [e-mail] .

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