Empyrean CEO Rich Wolfe Named 2019 EY Entrepreneur of the Year Finalist

Empyrean CEO Rich Wolfe Named 2019 EY Entrepreneur of the Year Finalist

03 May, 2019

This marks the fifth consecutive year that Empyrean’s CEO and Co-Founder has received this prestigious honor.

Over nearly 12 years, Rich Wolfe has grown Empyrean to serve over 3 million participants across more than 400 clients, with tens of millions of visits to its online solutions. Today, the benefits administration technology firm serves all major industries, including energy, manufacturing, retail, healthcare, education, and professional services – across a wide spectrum of client sizes and complexity levels.

Mr. Wolfe’s company has experienced year-over-year record growth in new business and client retention since the company’s founding in 2006. Empyrean has been named one of the fastest growing businesses in the Greater Houston area for the past three years, and has been recognized on the Inc. 5000 list for six consecutive years. In 2018, Mr. Wolfe was named one of the most admired CEOs in Houston.  As a 2019 Entrepreneur of the Year finalist, Mr. Wolfe earns yet another distinction for his work connecting benefits and enriching lives through technology and service.

In its 33rd year, the EY Entrepreneur of the Year recognizes entrepreneurs who excel in areas such as innovation, financial performance and personal commitment to their businesses and communities. Finalists are selected by a panel of independent judges. Winners will be announced at a special gala event at the Marriot Marquis Houston on June 21, 2019.

2019 Benefit Trends Report: Comprehensive coverage and education are top priorities

2019 Benefit Trends Report: Comprehensive coverage and education are top priorities

25 April, 2019

Benefits are a fast-evolving business, and findings from Empyrean’s 2019 Benefit Trends Report demonstrate that this evolution continues as quickly as ever.

Among this year’s findings: employers are focused on delivering coverage choice in addition to managing costs, offering competitive and comprehensive options that expand beyond the basics, and helping families make the most of their benefit packages by leveraging the right tools, technology solutions, and services to educate and engage their employees.

The report looks at a host of employee benefit trends and analyzes data across a wide variety of Empyrean clients. As benefits increase in complexity and the workforce becomes more diverse, organizations can expect these growing employee (and consumer) demands to make an even bigger impact on how businesses attract and retain top talent – as well as companies’ bottom-line expectations.

Below is just a small selection of findings from the report. For more, download your free copy of the full report here.

  • PPOs and HDHPs remain the most popular health care coverage options. 97% of employers offer at least one of these two types of health insurance plans, and 64% of employers offer both.
  • Of employers offering HDHPs, only 8% utilize a full-replacement (HDHP-only) strategy. This is down from 14% in 2018 – suggesting employers are looking to offer coverage choice over pure cost-savings.
  • 78% of employers offer voluntary benefits to their employees. Voluntary benefits include accident coverage, critical illness coverage, and pet insurance.
  • Over one-third of organizations have decision support tools available to employees during open enrollment. The most popular decision support tool is the recommendation engine. Decision support is emerging as a critical resource that empowers employees to identify the benefit plans that are right for them and their families.

Among this year’s trends are indications that education, benefit technology, interconnectivity, and a holistic, people-centric approach are critical to driving benefits success. Want to know how your benefits strategy compares? Download your free copy of the 2019 Benefit Trends Report now.

You’ll discover how human resource leaders are navigating today’s evolving benefits landscape, adapting to new challenges and demands, and making employee benefits work for their business.

As you read, we’d love to get your thoughts. Feel free to contact us with questions or comments at info@goempyrean.com.

Introducing Pilot: Your Benefits Recommendation Engine to Guide Employees’ Smart Decisions

Introducing Pilot: Your Benefits Recommendation Engine to Guide Employees’ Smart Decisions

13 March, 2019

By Jim Priebe, Executive Vice President, Product

After completing more than 1,500 hours of training to navigate the skies, it’s not surprising that pilots are among the most trusted professionals in America. Similarly, Empyrean’s recommendation engine helps employees navigate their benefit choices and determine their best coverage “destinations” – so it’s fitting that we’ve launched the major new release of our recommendation engine with enhanced capabilities and a new name: Empyrean PilotSM.

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Help Employees Give Flowers, Not the Flu, with Telehealth

Help Employees Give Flowers, Not the Flu, with Telehealth

05 February, 2019

By Jill Hernandez, Director of Specialty Insurance Solutions

It’s February, which means love is in the air…and unfortunately, so are germs.

You don’t have to be a medical professional to know that doctor’s offices are especially crowded this time of year, with low temperatures bringing lower immune systems. Employers no doubt are struggling to find effective ways to remain productive as employees take higher rates of sick days and navigate the healthcare system. And if you have tiny petri dishes – ahem, children – like me, you’re on high alert this time of year for the first sign of illness in your home.

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Drive Smart Enrollment with Decision-Support Tools: The 4 Crucial Elements of an Effective Recommendation Engine

Drive Smart Enrollment with Decision-Support Tools: The 4 Crucial Elements of an Effective Recommendation Engine

11 January, 2019

Benefits administration technology is reshaping the way employees engage with their benefits—and decision-support tools are a significant factor driving this change. To accommodate the needs of a diverse workforce, however, HR leaders must consider the quality and context of the tools and technology they leverage.

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Top Tips to Create a Successful Benefits Administration Request for Proposal (RFP)

Top Tips to Create a Successful Benefits Administration Request for Proposal (RFP)

19 November, 2018

The request for proposal (RFP) is a key element when evaluating benefit administration providers. RFP responses can provide a look under the hood of a potential partner’s solution and services, but in order to get the most value from the RFP process, it’s crucial that your questionnaire goes beyond a simple “check-the-box” exercise.

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The Value of Voluntary: How to Engage Your Employees with Supplemental Coverage

The Value of Voluntary: How to Engage Your Employees with Supplemental Coverage

27 September, 2018

Voluntary benefits are increasingly essential to employee peace of mind and financial wellbeing, but many employees still struggle to understand how their supplemental plans work. This confusion results in coverage gaps and limited job satisfaction – but a tailored enrollment and benefits experience can help.

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3 Tips to Get Ahead of Annual Enrollment

3 Tips to Get Ahead of Annual Enrollment

23 August, 2018

As employers enter the second-half of the year, many HR professionals are also rapidly approaching their company’s Annual Enrollment (AE) period. AE is the busiest time of the year for most benefit teams – but planning a successful AE doesn’t have to be stressful.

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Empyrean Named to the Inc. 5000 List for the Sixth Year in a Row

Empyrean Named to the Inc. 5000 List for the Sixth Year in a Row

15 August, 2018

Empyrean has been recognized by Inc. Magazine as one of the fastest-growing private companies in America for the sixth consecutive year.

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HR in the C-Suite: How to Gain Influence as an HR Leader

HR in the C-Suite: How to Gain Influence as an HR Leader

26 July, 2018

HR is a central pillar of every employer’s success, but many organizations struggle to leverage the full impact that Human Resources can have on their businesses. How can you demonstrate value as a strategic leader and increase C-suite support for your initiatives?

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Empyrean Ranks on the HBJ Fast 100 List and is Named an Enterprise Champion Finalist

Empyrean Ranks on the HBJ Fast 100 List and is Named an Enterprise Champion Finalist

23 July, 2018

2018 marks Empyrean’s third consecutive year on the Houston Business Journal’s list of the 100 fastest growing private businesses in the Greater Houston area. Empyrean has also been honored as an Enterprise Champion finalist.

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Rich Wolfe Wins the Houston Business Journal’s Most Admired CEO Award

Rich Wolfe Wins the Houston Business Journal’s Most Admired CEO Award

19 July, 2018

Rich Wolfe has been selected as one of the leading CEOs in Houston by the Houston Business Journal.

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2018 Benefit Trends: How Trends are Shaping the Benefits Landscape

2018 Benefit Trends: How Trends are Shaping the Benefits Landscape

25 May, 2018

In today’s tight talent market, benefits are an increasingly important factor in determining employee satisfaction and company success. Proactive HR leaders are staying ahead of the curve by empowering participants with personalized resources to meet their diverse needs. How does your approach compare?

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Empyrean CEO Rich Wolfe Named a 2018 EY Entrepreneur of the Year Finalist

Empyrean CEO Rich Wolfe Named a 2018 EY Entrepreneur of the Year Finalist

01 May, 2018

The 2018 award marks the fourth year in a row that Empyrean’s CEO and Co-Founder has been the recipient of EY’s prestigious honor.

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Affordable Care Act Update 2018: ACA Requirements for Employers

Affordable Care Act Update 2018: ACA Requirements for Employers

05 April, 2018

Over a year into the Trump presidency and the fate of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is still as unclear as ever, at least for employers. The Internal Revenue Service has made no move to alter companies’ ACA compliance and reporting requirements – even as the Individual Mandate becomes obsolete in 2019. And after years of promising penalties, the IRS is now actively pursuing fines for ACA non-compliance, which could end up impacting companies in a very big way.

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