Andy Nunemaker

With renewal season nearly upon us, brokers are beginning to build out plan options for their clients. This time of year usually results in frustration for agency staff and customers, as the traditional renewal process does not focus on customer experience or operational efficiency. Historically, the broker used a static spreadsheet to show the client several plan options with different benefi­ts, including the total cost of each plan.

As the employee benefits market grows even more commoditized, brokers are constantly looking for ways to differentiate. One of the best ways a broker can stand out from the crowd and build long-lasting client relationships is to become an advisor or partner in the employer's business. One important aspect to becoming a trusted advisor is helping clients create a big-picture employee benefits strategy which will attract and retain top talent.

Founder Collective has reloaded its stock of dry powder to fuel young startups. The venture firm today announced it has raised $75 million for its third fund, roughly the same aggregate size as its second. The firm was founded by a group of entrepreneurs in 2009, and launched with a $40 million seed-stage fund. Founder Collective is worth highlighting for a few reasons.