Things I Believed in 1995 That Don’t Hold Water in 2025

Sunday morning coffee and looking back on the "Things I Believed in 1995 That Don’t Hold Water in 2025"

 

In 1995, I thought I had it all figured out. Newly out of college and fresh and ready to hit the market.

 

I believed a strong PPO network was all a client really needed.

I believed quoting three carriers side-by-side was good strategy.

I believed rate increases were just part of doing business.

I believed employees actually read their benefit packets.

 

And I believed that if you took care of people, the system would take care of them too.

 

Three decades later? That list makes me smile.

 

Because now I know:

 

A network doesn’t guarantee access—or affordability.

A quote without a strategy is just noise.

A renewal is more than math—it’s often a warning sign.

Employees don’t read packets. They remember how they felt when they needed help.

And the system? It doesn’t take care of people unless someone’s fighting for them.

 

One more thing I’ve learned:

 

Trust is still everything—but it has to be earned over time, not just with a handshake.

 

We’ve come a long way since '95. Some things needed to go. Some just needed to evolve. And some—like showing up for your people and picking up the phone and calling people back—never go out of style.

 

If you're still handling benefits like it’s the ‘90s, give me a call. I promise, there's a better way. Celebrating my work anniversary. Feeling thankful for this #workmilestone