Press & Interviews
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Employers’ work not done by just lining up employee benefits
By Arrow advisors Rosario Avila & Andrew McNeil, North Bay Business Journal Columnists
For most workers, benefits are an expected part of their total compensation package and are a key factor in attracting and retaining talent. Benefits provide financial and personal value to employees and are a key factor in attracting and retaining talent. But should an employer stop there with their benefits program? Once a program is in place, is it set it and forget it?The short answer is, no!
North Bay Business Journal – March 2023
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The Superpower of Surveys
By Mariah ShieldsFielding useful employee feedback can help you stay connected to your team. Throughout my career, employers have consistently voiced a similar concern—the struggle to recruit and retain employees. Today, this issue is more prevalent than ever. How do you compete with other employers to attract and retain a skilled workforce in a tight labor market?
Read the entire article here…
NorthBayBiz Magazine – March 2023
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How your business can survive, avoid Labor Department benefits-compliance audits
By ABG advisors Rosario Avila & Andrew McNeil, North Bay Business Journal Columnists
“Compliance” and “audits” — two words that strike fear in most business leaders.
In addition to the more well-known rules surrounding financial disclosures and human resources practices, employers have compliance requirements related to their employee benefits programs as well. Being non-compliant can cost you significant pain financially and cause you and your team the major inconvenience of spending precious time and resources to meet requirements after-the-fact.North Bay Business Journal – February 2023
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Preparing for Hospitalization: What to Expect
by Matthew SohnIt’s difficult to predict when and even how a person might end up in the hospital. However, you can take steps to plan so that your health insurance policy takes care of the bills, and your focus can be on recovery.
Read the entire article here…
NorthBayBiz Magazine – February 2023
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Where employer-sponsored benefits plans are headed in 2023
From Rosario Avila & Andrew McNeil, North Bay Business Journal Columnists
As the costs of offering benefits to employees continues to outpace inflation, many employers often have these questions: Why are we offering these to employees? Why are we expected to pick up the tab, when employees can buy things like health insurance on their own? Why do we need to offer benefits when governments around the world take care of it and leave the employer out of it?
All valid questions.North Bay Business Journal – January 2023
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Strategic business growth: You may be happy at holiday time, but are your employees?
From Rosario Avila & Andrew McNeil, North Bay Business Journal Columnists
December is traditionally a time of reflection for us all. Leaders in the business world know that strategic reflection is a valuable tool to up-level a company. But one piece often overlooked when assessing productivity and success is the focus on employee happiness. We know even the very notion of thinking — are our employees happy — is traditionally not examined in the business world. It should be.Photo credit: Maslowski Marcin / Shutterstock
North Bay Business Journal – December 2022
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Benefit packages: Think outside the box
From Rosario Avila & Andrew McNeil, North Bay Business Journal Columnists
Traditional benefits have become expected. Taking your benefits program “outside the box” to develop a program tailor-made to employees’ unique situation is what leading organizations do to catapult themselves above competitors in the talent war. It’s common for an employer to offer a traditional employee benefits package. That’s just not enough anymore.Photo credit: One Photo / Shutterstock
North Bay Business Journal – November 2022
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Why employee benefits benchmarking drives change
By North Bay Business Journal columnists Rosario Avila & Andrew McNeil
Ever ponder what your competitors are doing to attract and retain employees? How your company benefits compare alongside others of similar size or demographics? Benefits benchmarking is an in-depth analysis of how your employee benefits offerings compare to those of others in your industry, similar industries, geographic region.Photo credit: Garagestock / Shutterstock
North Bay Business Journal – October 2022
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Where technology fails the employee benefits industry
By North Bay Business Journal columnists Rosario Avila & Andrew McNeil
Technology is sexy. It sells. And, in the benefits industry, it attracts big venture capital investment dollars. Many companies have sprouted up in the last decade, promising a panacea of ease and simplicity in executing benefits, HR and payroll programs. We agree, to an extent, with their intention of making employee benefits easier with software and automation. Where the majority of them fail is in integrating the vital human component.Photo credit: Fizkes / Shutterstock
North Bay Business Journal – September 2022
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New Leadership Roles: Can You Adapt?
Article by Mariah Shields, ABG Benefits ConsultantCoping with the current business climate takes imagination, innovation and no fear of change. These days, when teams don’t have the benefit of being physically together in an office, where mentorship, training and camaraderie would traditionally happen more naturally, it falls on company leaders to establish a more evolved company culture and create meaningful connections between co-workers.
NorthBayBiz Magazine – September 14, 2022
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Beyond the Boardroom featuring Rosario Avila
by Summer YoungSenior benefits advisor Rosario Avila has spent her life in the service industry. She leads the Spanish language division at Arrow Benefits Group, where she finds solutions for small businesses and helps her community to understand the complex language of insurance.
Read the entire article here…
NorthBayBiz Magazine — September 2022
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Health Benefits and Custom-Designed Plans
by Matthew SohnA common conversation I have with both employers and employees sounds something like this: “Health insurance is too expensive. The coverage doesn’t fit. I want the best plan you have available, at the best price. There is a gap between what most people want out of health coverage and understanding how it all comes together. There are solutions.
NorthBayBiz Magazine – August 2022
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Not changing from pre-pandemic times can lose you workers
By North Bay Business Journal columnists Rosario Avila & Andrew McNeil
Companies that have not listened to their employees (or former employees) have been losing people at an alarming rate and, at the same time, have not been able to attract new members to replace the ones they have lost.Photo credit: EamesBot / Shutterstock
North Bay Business Journal – August 2022
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Why you should regularly reevaluate your business vendor relationships
By North Bay Business Journal columnists Rosario Avila & Andrew McNeil
We understand how comfortable and easy it can feel to work with a vendor with whom you have a long-established relationship. So many businesses avoid re-evaluating longstanding associations for this and a variety of other reasons. However, the better you know your vendors — and, more important, the better they know you — the more you will benefit from premier services, special pricing and better terms.Photo credit: One Photo / Shutterstock
North Bay Business Journal – July 2022
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Is your bicultural company communicating effectively?
By North Bay Business Journal columnists Rosario Avila & Andrew McNeil
One employer’s workforce is 50% native Spanish–speaking, yet the 401(k) vendor’s presentation was done to the entire population in English.The art of communication is difficult for most people to master. Clear and concise exchanges are the key to influencing others and creating powerful teams, relationships, and partnerships to achieve successful outcomes in both business and in life.
Photo credit: Garagestock / Shutterstock
North Bay Business Journal – June 24, 2022
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How employees can thrive in a remote or hybrid workplace
By North Bay Business Journal columnists Andrew McNeil and Rosario Avila
The Bay Area leads the nation in the number of days employees want to work from home. According to a recent survey conducted by Stanford economics professor Nicolas Bloom, workers want to cut days they spend in the office by more than 53% — and, after seeing what employees were able to accomplish remotely since March of 2020, this makes sense…employers who have embraced this new way of working are starting to run into some challenges, especially when dealing with junior employees who still need mentoring.Photo credit: Insta_photos / Shutterstock
North Bay Business Journal – June 2022
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Making Space for Me-Time
by Emily Hodges WallaceIn a Zoom call with a group of professional women last week, one of the participants said, “I need to make space for me.” All the women nodded their heads in resounding agreement. As we enter COVID year No. 3, we have been asked to: “get used to the new normal,” “roll with this crisis” and “face this new challenge.” This burden has disproportionately fallen hard on workplace leaders, especially many women.
NorthBayBiz Magazine – May 2022
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Which health insurance is best for my employees? Here are some tips
By Andrew McNeil and Rosario Avila
In short, the main differences between HMOs and PPOs are affordability and flexibility, but which will work best for you really depends on your current situation. Employers often ask us what other companies are offering when it comes to their benefits program…we give a general overview of the trends we see for small businesses (under 100 employees) in 2022.Image credit: (Vitalii Vodolazskyi / Shutterstock)
North Bay Business Journal – April 2022
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Why employee mental health is your concern
By Andrew McNeil and Rosario Avila
According to Glassdoor, “More than four in 10 working adults (44%) say their current job has an impact on their overall health, and 43% report their job has a negative impact on their levels of stress” — and that was in 2018, before COVID-19!Image credit: (Ines Nepo / Shutterstock)
North Bay Business Journal – March 2022
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How employers can build a worker-centric business — and why they must
By Rosario Avila & Andrew McNeil
Normal best practices is a thing of the past. To survive our new reality, a company must make intentional efforts to exceed what its competition is doing. Employees are harder to retain and nearly impossible to hire. What’s equally as troubling is that traditional benefits and compensation programs seem to have less of an impact on an employee’s decision to remain at a company or accept a new job.Image credit: (BearFotos / Shutterstock)
North Bay Business Journal – February 2022
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“A Night in Tuscany” and the North Coast Wine Industry Expo
“A Night in Tuscany,” hosted by Arrow Benefits Group at its 33rd annual event in November for the North Bay Children’s Center, raised more than $420,000. About 160 guests visited the Jacuzzi Family Vineyards in Sonoma to enjoy fine wines and tasty treats. Senator Mike McGuire served as emcee and auctioneer. [Photos by Stuart Lirette]
NorthBayBiz Magazine – January 2022
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Sonoma County-based Arrow Benefits Group receives a North Bay GIVES award
Interview with CEO & Managing Principal Joe GenoveseWe keep our eyes and ears open to all nonprofits because we believe that they are essential part of this community. We know we can’t give to everyone, but our team members have become a resource to bring attention to organizations that need help. We communicate with our people to find out who they want to support and are inspired by their passions for these organizations to assist them.
North Bay Business Journal – December 30 2021
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Growth: Now is the Time to Be Bold
by Joe GenoveseMultiple studies indicate that the U.S. economy is going to experience a strong recovery as we rise out of the pandemic. In a new Forbes.com article, titled “The New Face of Growth in 2021” by Frank Sorrentino, chairman and CEO of ConnectOne Bank, wrote, “Looking ahead, businesses will have to plan for future growth in a much different way than they were accustomed to…one of the biggest trends emerging from the last year has been consolidation.” I couldn’t agree more: The business landscape has indeed changed forever, and now it’s up to us all to adapt and shift.
NorthBayBiz Magazine – December 2021
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Think returning to a pre-pandemic work structure is the answer? Big mistake
By Andrew McNeil & Rosario Avila
The most recent fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic is the struggle to keep and maintain our workforce. Businesses everywhere are closing their doors due to an inability to hire and retain people. This includes local popular restaurants like Crêperie Chez Solange in Larkfield, Bistro 29 in Santa Rosa, and many others that became severely stressed by this situation. Unfortunately, many of our clients are facing the same dilemma. What can an employer do to get out in front of these challenges?Photo credit: Andrew Spear/The New York Times
North Bay Business Journal – December 2021
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The Traditional 9‑to‑5 Workday is Finished—Now What?
by Andrew McNeil & Rosario AvilaThe 9‑to‑5 workday—also commonly known as “the way we’ve always done it”—is how our workforce has behaved since Henry Ford implemented the policy in the 1920s. But since the Industrial Revolution, “work” has changed dramatically…the last 18 months brought the issue completely into focus. A strong argument can now be made that it simply doesn’t make sense to continue with a traditional 9 to 5 workday.
NorthBayBiz Magazine – November 2021
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Petaluma’s Arrow Benefits buys Sebastopol insurance benefits firm Aita and Associates
The North Bay Business Journal
By Susan Wood
Arrow Benefits CEO Joe Genovese told the Business Journal that Aita and Associates served as an ideal fit with Arrow, with its 1,500 clients and 40 employees. He also liked how Aita offered similar employee benefits, a crucial component to retaining and attracting good talent in the age of a coronavirus-spawned labor shortage.North Bay Business Journal – September 2021
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Small and large businesses must deal with employee vaccination issue
North Bay Business Journal Monthly Featured Column
By Andrew McNeil & Rosario Avila
We appreciate that there are people who feel differently about the vaccine, be it for medical, religious or other personal reasons.
So, for employers (no matter the size) that simply want to require that everyone to be vaccinated, we pose the question: Does that decision really make sense for the company?Photo credit: Rohnert Park, Calif — Jim Wilson/The New York Times
North Bay Business Journal – October 2021
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New workplace divide: Remote versus office jobs in San Francisco Bay Area
North Bay Business Journal Monthly Featured Column
By Andrew McNeil & Rosario Avila
Bringing people back to the office post-pandemic will be one of the most challenging decisions a business will face this and next year. Since the beginning of this crisis, we’ve been debating this tough shift in workplace culture.North Bay Business Journal – August 2021
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The struggle to put culture into a neatly defined box
Brokers know all too well that even the best benefits plan can be derailed by ill-fitting company culture.
By Natalie Dolce | BenefitsPro Magazine — August 2021Interview with award-winning Arrow advisors Andrew McNeil and Rosario Avila.
Be intentional on what you are trying to create culture-wise and make sure your people believe in what you believe.
Imagine, if you will, a company that makes culture its top priority instead of, say, revenue generation or product development. What would such an initiative look like? Surely, it would be similar in that it would be measurable with definable goals and ROI. Not necessarily, say the experts at a panel at BenefitsPRO Broker EXPO 2021. Many of the industry’s most recognized benefits leaders tackled the hard questions surrounding the C’s in our not-so “new” normal: culture, communication and creativity. “I see a lot of clients wanting to see immediate ROI on it and that isn’t possible in my opinion,” said Andrew McNeil of Arrow Benefits Group.” If you see things working smoothly, that is the ROI but it doesn’t happen overnight.”BenefitsPro Magazine – August 2021
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Let’s Talk Benefits in English or Español!
Did you know that many employees don’t fully understand their benefit plans? According to a recent study by VOYA Financial, Inc., 66% of employees say they need their employer to help them better understand their employee benefits…54% of Millennials say they don’t understand their benefit offerings.
NorthBayBiz Magazine – June 2021
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Enhancing Company Benefits for a Better Employee Experience
by A. McNeil & R. AvilaLets start with three questions: How did you develop your company benefits program? Was it built with the employee in mind, or was it to mirror what your competitors are offering? And how do you know if your benefits program is truly meeting the needs of your employees and their families? When we ask employers these questions, the answer we most often get is: “I don’t know.”
NorthBayBiz Magazine – April 7, 2021
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Philanthropy: COVID-19’s Silver Lining
by Mariah ShieldsWhile COVID-19 doesn’t conjure positive images, there is something to be said about the constructive ripple effects of this pandemic. With every emergency or natural disaster, there’s always an optimistic side to the distress. This crisis is no exception. The concept of company culture and giving back to the community is stronger than ever before—the pandemic has opened-up an entirely new conversation about what it means to be civic minded.
NorthBayBiz Magazine – February 5, 2021
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Read latest interview with award-winning Arrow advisors Andrew McNeil and Rosario Avila.
Thinking About Diversity
by Michael BarnesAs the current social justice movement and push for progressive policies reshape how society operates, the significance of diversity in the workplace assumes new meaning. Recruiting employees with diversity in mind is a process that is more than simply “checking a box.” It’s a decision informed by a unique cross-section of perspectives, practices and personalities sought by employers and employees alike.
NorthBayBiz Magazine – February 2021
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How to Deal with Open Enrollment During COVID-19
by A. McNeil and R. AvilaThere is no question the pandemic has changed the way we work, interact, and communicate with our colleagues. Some industries no longer operate in the rigid structure once thought to be “the only” way to do business.
NorthBayBiz Magazine – December 2020
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North Bay Community Philanthropy Awards 2020
We’re proud to announce — Mariah Shields and Arrow Benefits Group were just awarded The Business Journal 2020 North Bay Community Philanthropy Award. As an outstanding example of corporate giving and community involvement in Sonoma, Solano, Marin, Napa, Mendocino, and Lake counties.
Click here to watch the video…
North Bay Business Journal – August 2020
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Employee Benefit News exclusive Video interview with Andrew McNeil and Rosario Avila: How technology can make or break client relationships.
“Technology is the most vital issue for benefits brokers today…a lot of people that we see are not embracing technology when clients want it.” In this Lightning Round video, McNeil and Avila — Employee Benefit Adviser’s 2019 Advisers of the Year — also discuss bilingual employee engagement and how they get over differences as business partners.
Click here to watch the video…
Employee Benefit News – January 2020
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The Art of Attracting and Retaining Employees
by Andrew McNeil and Rosario AvilaAs the workforce gets younger and demographics change, companies across all industries are looking for new ways to attract and retain their labor force. In Napa and Sonoma counties, wineries and other businesses are currently competing with the cannabis and construction industries for local workers. Along with competitive wages, many companies now offer new, more meaningful benefits to their employees beyond the traditional, run-of-the-mill medical plans and benefits package.
NorthBayBiz Magazine – March 2020
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Corporate Culture
Interview with Andrew McNeil & Rosario Avila“Every company has one, whether [it’s] good or bad,” says Andrew McNeil, principal and senior benefits advisor at Arrow Benefits Group in Petaluma, which provides benefit programs for more than 1,400 employer clients in California. “If you have two people, you have a culture. How you live and work in it defines it.
NorthBayBiz – February 2020
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Transparency and Health Care Consumerism
by Jordan ShieldsAsk anyone who has suffered a serious injury or illness, or is living with a chronic condition necessitating continual and considerable expense, how they feel about the state of health care in the U.S. The inner workings of our health-care delivery system remain a mystery. Transparency is helpful, but like all such legislation, it spawns additional questions. For example, what does the terminology mean? Does this include any contract or cash discounts? Are there alternative therapies or procedures available, and what do they cost?
NorthBayBiz Magazine – February 2020
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Benefits Influencer Podcast
Community over Competition: Brokers are Better Together w/ Andrew McNeil & Rosario Avila.In this episode, Senior Benefits Advisors who recently won EBA’s Advisor of the Year, the first duo to receive the distinction, discuss how industry collaboration goes well beyond the walls of their agency. Andrew and Rosario candidly share some of the innovations that have helped grow Arrow Benefits.
Click here to listen to the podcast.
Benefits Influencer – January 2020
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Targeting the Future
by Stephanie Derammelaere“Being informed won’t help you design a competitive benefit program. Being advised will.” That’s the mission of Arrow Benefits Group, a rapidly growing employee benefits consulting firm that has won multiple awards and become a thought leader in the industry. More importantly, it helps employers and employees navigate the world of company benefits with a flexible approach.
NorthBayBiz Magazine – October 2019
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The power of two: Advisers of the Year drive innovation at their brokerage and beyond
by Caroline HroncichOn the cover of October’s Employee Benefit Advisor Magazine
A new article and interview with award-winning Arrow advisors Andrew McNeil and Rosario Avila about their groundbreaking collaborative work together – changing the way they approach and work with clients.
Employee Benefit Advisor – October 2019
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Leading the Way
by Bo KearnsRosario Avila & Andrew McNeil interviewed for a feature in NBB Magazine:
“In the wine, construction and manufacturing industries with a high percentage of Latino workers, there’s often cultural stigma surrounding mental health, especially in group workplace settings,” said Rosario Avila, benefits advisor, Alianza Spanish Language Division. HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996) provides data privacy and security provisions for safeguarding medical information. “Though HIPPA ensures employee confidentiality, some Spanish-speaking employees worry about filing claims. They’re afraid their employer might find out.” For employees with those concerns, Arrow offers a hotline where Spanish speakers can call with questions.
NorthBayBiz Magazine – May 2019
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Andrew McNeil & Rosario Avila have just been awarded & interviewed by Employee Benefit News for their innovation in benefits technology.
April 2019
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BenefitsTV
The average U.S. life insurance policyholder is 74 percent underinsured. Are you among the underinsured? Advisors Andrew McNeil and Rosario Avila of Arrow Benefits Group launched BenefitsTV in early January to provide this type of useful and easy-to-consume information to viewers about employee benefits and other insurance-related topics.
McNeil, a principal at Arrow Benefits Group, is the first to admit that insurance and employee benefits are generally not the most exciting topic. “The goal was to provide short snippets of information, and not to be self-serving. We’re trying to provide value, and not looking to just sell insurance,” he says. But the company is working to bring value to the insurance benefits employees carry through their employers to maximize benefits.
View BenefitsTV videos here…
NorthBayBiz Magazine — April 2019
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Our two top innovators in advising: Andrew McNeil & Rosario Avila are highlighted here in two articles in Employee Benefit Adviser Magazine – January & April 2019 issues — for launching the first if its kind YouTube channel — BenefitsTV! The channel brings the public short entertaining & informative videos about all things benefits.
January 2019
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Congratulations Mariah Shields, Principal!!
Winner NBBJ 2018 Non-Profit Leadership Awards
Notable Quote: I am extremely proud to have co-founded 100 Sonoma People Who care, 100Sonoma.org. Without grass roots board, we have engaged well over 500 community members and raised over $50,000 that has gone directly into local nonprofit organizations.
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Congratulations Rosario Avila, Spanish Language Division Lead, on winning two prestigious awards!
We are celebrating her incredible work and advancement winning the EBA 2018 Top Women in Benefit Advising. Additionally, Rosario was awarded The North Bay Business Journal 2018 Latino Business Leadership Award for her innovations in the industry!
Click here to see full award details.
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RECRUITING & RETAINING MILLENNIALS– by Andrew McNeil
The Millennial workforce is no longer something that is far away. It’s here, it’s growing, and it’s impactful. In fact, their strong ethics and values are revolutionizing the way we think about business. It’s true, the youngest of the Millennials are in their early 20s and just getting their foothold in the workforce, but long gone are the days where we can dismiss the entire generation as shiftless, screen-obsessed kids.
NorthBayBiz Magazine — November 2018
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Arrow’s new Spanish Division Alianza serves Spanish-speaking employees
by Cheryl SarfatyArrow Benefits Group in Petaluma has identified a need and taken action. In January, Arrow launched a Spanish language division called Alianza, which means “alliance” in English.
North Bay Business Journal — July 6, 2018
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Arrow Benefits Group, The Personnel Perspective plan to open Napa office
Arrow Benefits Group Managing Partner Stephen McNeil said the combination is an “evolution of our partnership” to offer human resources and benefits under one roof. Arrow now has nine locations in the San Francisco Bay Area and Southern California.
North Bay Business Journal – July 9, 2018
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Arrow’s Spanish Division Lead is interviewed by NBBJ Newspaper.
by Cheryl SarfatyEmployers whose insurance companies offer Spanish-speaking services for Hispanic and Latino employees will not only have better-informed employees, they may see reduced costs, like for workers compensation, according to area insurers.
North Bay Business Journal – July 2018
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Andrew McNeil, Principal interviewed here by Employee Benefit Advisor – June 2018- about finding the right social media platforms to serve your business best. Social media is key to staying current in this day and age and strategy and thought must go into your program to get the most out of it.
June 2018
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Mariah Shields, Principal at Arrow Benefits Group and current President of 100 Sonoma, presents the backstory of her organization and how it helps other local non-profits, where their funding comes from to support all the help they’re providing, and shares the specifics of their upcoming event!
Click here to listen to a recording of the interview.
KSRO interviews Arrow’s Mariah Sheilds on the “100 Sonoma People Who Care” Event that supports other local non-profits
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Our Spanish Division lead Rosario Avila is interviewed here by Employee Benefit Advisor Magazine for the division launch, named Alianza (alliance in English), the interview focuses on her breakthrough work in the industry translating the benefit in benefits to the Hispanic community. Using native language and a familiar vernacular the program allows clients & employees to make the most use of their benefits then previously before.
April 2018
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New health-benefits trends for California employers
by Cynthia SweeneyThe Business Journal asked area insurance experts about changes employers can expect in health insurance coverage in 2018…Jordan Shields: If the association is well-run there could be better rates, but historically, that has not been the case. The problem is the association has to start from zero and build underlying carriers. Also, if the larger market rates start looking better than the association rates, members will start to leave.
North Bay Business Journal — February 7, 2018
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Sonoma, Napa wineries cover employee health costs at high level, report finds
by Cynthia SweeneyWhen it comes to recruiting and retaining talent, one thing employers want to know is what their competition is offering employees by way of benefits.
A recent survey of wineries in Sonoma and Napa counties reveals details about what kind of health benefits wineries are offering their employees.
“It comes down to ‘what are other people doing?’” said Andrew McNeil, principal at Arrow Benefits Group in Petaluma, which conducted the benchmark report. “When we go out and meet with winery clients or prospective clients, they want to know what other wineries are doing. This report shows them where most people are and what they offer so they can compete for talent in a tight labor market, to recruit and retain talent. Then they can figure out if they need to kick it up a notch.”North Bay Business Journal — February 8, 2018
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BEING HEART SAFE – An Arrow team interview — by Bonnie Durrance
Imagine this: You’re in your office working at your desk and a coworker approaches in distress, collapsing in front of you. What would you do? Your mind would probably race: Is this a heart attack? Does anyone know CPR? Isn’t there a defibrillator somewhere? Where is it? Does it still work? Does anybody know how to use it? By now you’re shouting, “Call 9–1‑1!” Every 27 seconds someone, somewhere in the U.S., is suffering a heart attack or a sudden cardiac arrest, according to the American Heart Association (AHA).
NorthBayBiz Magazine — February 2018
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What Works
— Medical Insurance & Language Barriers by Rosario AvilaTengo Seguro medico, pero no se como usarlo! Or as we say in English– I have medical insurance, but don’t know how to use it. The employee benefits world can be confusing, and providing information in an unfamiliar language only adds another obstacle, making it difficult to understand and use. With so many types of medical plans and employer arrangements, it’s no wonder Hispanic employees would rather go to a local clinic or emergency room than use the medical benefits given to them by their employers.
NorthBayBiz Magazine — January 2018
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Balancing Act
— Interview with Arrow Benefits Group Partners & Industry leaders on Balancing life/work by Judith WilsonAndrew McNeil, principal at Arrow Benefits Group, a full-service employee benefits firm in Petaluma, got a picture of what happy, fulfilled employees look like when he visited Zappos, an online shoe and clothing shop based in Las Vegas in 2016. As he walked around the campus, he noticed that everyone got along well, and he learned that Zappos’ 1,500 employees have to be a good cultural fit. The company is open about its culture, purpose and mission, and people don’t necessarily make a lot of money, but they stay, because they love what they do. “It’s about putting a smile on people’s faces,” he says.
NorthBayBiz Magazine — October 2017
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North Bay employers urged to get heart-saving devices
— Interview with team Arrow about the impact of the AED donations to the community by Cynthia SweeneyThe No. 1 health-crisis death in the workplace is by heart attack. But having an automated external defibrillator (AED) on hand can improve the chances for survival of a heart attack victim by about 70 percent. So why don’t all workplaces have one?
North Bay Business Journal — August 2017
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Plan now for possible changes in employee health coverage
by Jordan ShieldsPre-existing conditions. While it’s no doubt this term has been a hot topic in recent months — and notably misconstrued — one thing has not changed: Insurers cannot deny coverage to anyone with a pre-existing condition.
Now that House Resolution 1628 has moved to the Senate floor, what can employers and individuals alike expect?
North Bay Business Journal — July 2017
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Culture is key to retaining, recruiting employees
by Andrew McNeilIf you were asked what the single most-important factor is in attracting and retaining top performers to your company, what would your answer be? Wages? Benefits? Time off?
What about your company culture? Is culture really that important to the success of your business?
The short answer is yes.
North Bay Business Journal — June 2017
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Petaluma company gives $100K for North Bay businesses’ AEDs
The latest effort to reduce Sonoma County deaths from cardiac arrest comes from a Petaluma company that recently pledged $100,000 to purchase automated external defibrillators for North Bay businesses. Stacy Gibbons, executive director of American Heart Association North Bay, called the move by Arrow Benefits Group “unprecedented.”
Arrow Benefits Group’s first foray into reducing cardiac arrest deaths was in late 2014, when the company asked the Petaluma Health Care District to teach its employees hands-only CPR. Read entire article here…
The Press Democrat — June 2017
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Principal Andrew McNeil interviewed by Employee Benefit Advisor in May 2017. The interview examines the work of this young innovator at Arrow and his leadership toward future trends for his industry and company.
May 2017
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Employee Benefit Advisor magazine interviews Arrow Benefits Group around the launch of the Culture Insights Program which develops personalized plans for employers to operate at their highest potential, using six key angles including, corporate purpose, mission, values, culture, HR and employee benefits. The program was inspired by a 2016 tour of Zappos.com by Andrew McNeil, Principal and adviser with Arrow Benefits Group. Another source of motivation was a survey the firm did of millennials, Gen-Xers and baby boomers.
May 2017
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We are honored to announce that our Managing Partner, Stephen McNeil was just awarded the North Bay Business Journal’s 40 under 40 award & interviewed by the paper.
They asked him about:
• Responsibilities with your company: Oversee day-to-day operations, finance, and Shared Services (FSA, Dental, and COBRA department)
• How do you exemplify the spirit of being a top Forty Under 40 professional?: I try and bring energy, fresh ideas, and innovation every day into an industry where these things have historically been deficient.
• Greatest professional challenge: Navigating our clients through a continually tumultuous time in American health care.
Read entire interview here…North Bay Business Journal — May 2017
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Arrow’s Wellness Initiative CPR/First-aid community classes in the News!
Employee Benefit Advisor Magazine highlights, in this article from April 2017, the First aid classes offered on a quarterly basis to the community for free. Interview also talks about the impact of the classes and what it means to the community to have them available.
April 2017
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Arrow Benefits Group wins Community Philanthropy Award!
Giving back to the community where employees live and work is a hallmark of the Arrow Benefits Group. Arrow supported a number of nonprofits by contributing $100,000 in 2016. Many of the company’s 32 employees donate their time as volunteers, and managers and the ownership team have created innovative wellness programs while becoming personally involved. Arrow’s leaders are actively engaged in a variety of local projects in and around Petaluma, including portions of southern Sonoma County and northern Marin County. Read entire article here…
North Bay Business Journal — March 2017
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Top 3 Questions to Make the Most out of your Dental Plan — by Jennifer Wardell & Stephen McNeil
For many dental patients, dental insurance annual maximums replenish on January 1. To make sure you get the most bang for your buck on your dental plan, we recommend you ask these three vital questions before having any upcoming procedures.
NorthBayBiz Magazine — February 2017
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Article about Sonoma chapter co-founder & chair, Principal, Mariah Shields non-profit — 100 Sonoma!
The concept is simple: Gather 100 people and have each one bring $100 to donate to a worthy nonprofit organization; invite three to five eligible nonprofits to present at the meeting; each nonprofit provides a one person, four- to five-minute oral presentation — each attending member of the giving group has one vote and must provide their $100 donation regardless of what organization wins; the nonprofit that secures the most votes is gifted the entire amount raised. Read entire article here…
NorthBayBiz Magazine — January 2017
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NorthBay biz Magazine asked business & community leaders to share their picks for young people making a difference & our Andrew McNeil, principal was chosen…
Andrew has led Arrow in embracing the concept of shifting his own company’s culture and is leading the charge by helping other employers do the same. His efforts resulted in many positive changes and are attracting a lot of promising talent to the employers he serves. Andrew believes that a unique company culture is what will attract and retain the workforce of the future.
Millennials want to feel good about where they work, believe in the purpose and mission of their employer, feel appreciated and have fun at the same time. To many millennials, this is worth more than money and traditional benefits. Companies late in figuring this out will have a hard time competing for the workforce they need. —Karen Alary, the Personnel Perspective
NorthBayBiz Magazine – November 2016
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A Fresh Look at Benefits: What You Need to Know
by Stephen McNeil, GBAYou’re a brand new human resources director and you’ve been reviewing the benefits your company offers its employees. You’re immediately curious about several points: “Why is there no PPO (preferred provider organization) option to offer out-of-network benefits? Why aren’t we offering a vision plan? Should we be outsourcing our benefits administration?” These are great questions that aren’t asked nearly asked enough. Read article here…
NorthBayBiz Magazine – November 2016
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Casual dress becomes the workplace norm — an interview with Keith and Andrew McNeil
We may have Mark Zuckerberg to thank for bringing the hoodie into the workplace, but less formal attire has been creeping past casual Friday to include the rest of the week in even the most formal of offices. According to new research, 50 percent of senior managers said employees wear less formal clothing than they did five years ago. Keith McNeil is a partner at Arrow Benefits, an insurance office in Petaluma with about 30 employees. After 30 years of wearing a suit, he quit wearing one every day two years ago. Read article here…
North Bay Business Journal — October 2016
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This Employee Benefit Advisor article from October 2016 examines workplace culture as a needed new benefit. EBA interviews Andrew McNeil, Principal about the new movement to gain and retain quality team members in an environment that they want to see, a caring workplace culture.
October 2016
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This Employee Benefit Advisor interview from September 2016 discusses our unique Umbrella partnership program that gives a lifeline to small CA brokerages – the interview is with founding partners Keith McNeil & Jordan Shields. The program is a comprehensive system for handling renewals and realistic succession plans for owners, their employees and clients and has expanded ABG’s reach and client base across California.
September 2016
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Promote Employee Strengths: Ask What They Want
By Principal, Mariah Shields
Many look at developing employees from an HR perspective: an employee is doing well, their manager lets HR know and together they create a new job description with increased functions, develop a promotional level, clear a payroll increase with finance and then let the employee know. But in that process, you’ve overlooked two game-changing ideas. Read article here…
NorthBayBiz Magazine — July 2016
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Disability insurance protects a workers most important asset
By Principal, Andrew McNeil
When people think of employee benefits, the first thing they usually think of is health insurance because it protects them and their family from exorbitant medical bills which could deplete their family’s nest egg and possibly force them into bankruptcy. Read article here…
North Bay Business Journal – July 2016
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Arrow Benefits Group — Women in Business in NorthBayBiz Magazine — May 2016 People
The May issue of NorthBayBiz Magazine focuses on successful and influential North Bay women, and our own Karen Alary, Managing Partner at The Personnel Perspective — HR division at Arrow Benefits Group was featured. “My advice: Don’t be deterred when faced with seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Never give up on your dream; even if you have to make adjustments, follow your passion.”
NorthBayBiz Magazine — May 2016
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Telemedicine insurance valuable to employer and employee — by Principal Andrew McNeil
With an ever-increasing appeal for on-demand services and resources, telemedicine fits perfectly in the fast-paced world in which we live. Telemedicine is the latest in technology that brings individuals immediate, on-the-spot access to state-licensed physicians. By using ICT (information and communication technology), telemedicine brings patients and doctors together via video-based resources, for consults and visits anytime, anywhere in the world. Read entire article here….
North Bay Business Journal — May 2016
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Holistic healthcare plans are growing rapidly, and Employee Benefit Advisor interviewed Arrow about this for their May 2016 issue exploring the new types of plans from leading insurers like telemedicine strategy – a great tool to offer especially beneficial for fully insured and self-funded groups, and particularly for rural areas.
May 2016
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Arrow Benefits Group — All in the Family in NorthBayBiz Magazine — April 2016 People
The company is family based, with children from both partners’ sides working at the company together. Keith McNeil says that the younger generation brings fresh ideas, different perspectives and a better understanding of technology issues…Stephen McNeil, the son of Keith McNeil, echoes the sentiment, saying, “We don’t have the normal issues a family business has. It’s brought us closer as a family. Both families interact really well.”
NorthBayBiz Magazine — April 2016
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Arrow Principal Andrew McNeil wins North Bay Business Journal’s Forty Under 40 Professionals.
How do you exemplify the spirit of a top 40 under 40 professional: “It’s all about my long-term outlook and my work in building our company’s brand for the future here locally and outside of Northern California.” Greatest professional accomplishment: Marrying my wife, Lindsey, whose support and encouragement has been a driving force for me for almost 10 years. Best advice received: Save your money and never stop learning. Read more here…
Meet the North Bay Business Journal’s Forty Under 40 Professionals
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Arrow Benefits Group Wins North Bay Business Journal Community Philanthropy Awards. Accepting are principals Andrew McNeil and Mariah Shields.
We are pleased to announce receiving this respected award and humbly accept. We look forward to continuing our legacy of commitment to our community and spirit of always giving back! See all the winners here…
Community Philanthropy Awards Luncheon — March 30, 2016
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North Bay employers learn new language of Affordable Care Act compliance
Interview with Andrew McNeil“We are still getting new clients, people we should have been talking to about this a couple of months ago,” said Andrew McNeil, principal, Arrow Benefits. McNeil’s advice to employers is to track employees on a monthly basis. “Then their records will be in better shape,” he said. Penalties for non-compliance with the mandate are $2,000 per employee. Read Entire Article Here…
North Bay Business Journal – April 2016
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Employee Benefit Advisor explores the concepts of wellness within a company culture. Culture can bond a business to a local community in multiple ways including offering increased health and wellness for everyone.
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Guest Commentary by Andrew McNeil
When considering employee benefits that will appeal to millennials — you need to think like one. A Met Life survey shows millennials are more likely to work for a company based on the offered benefits package, rather than just a higher starting salary. Read entire article here…
North Bay Business Journal – February 2016
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The Benefits of Giving by Mariah Shields
I realize running a successful business means your plate is piled-high with daily priorities but there’s one often-overlooked business act that can fulfill, enrich and reward you if you make time for it: philanthropy. Read full article here
North Bay Biz — January 2016
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North Bay Business Journal – November 2015
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Arrow Benefits Group just featured in North Bay Biz Magazine article – Health Care Check-up
North Bay Biz – September 2015
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Preparation is key for Department of Labor Audit
North Bay Business Journal – July 2015
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North Bay Business Journal – June 2015
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North Bay Biz Magazine – May 2015
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Work Wellness Programs Progressing
North Bay Business Journal – April 2015
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Health Industry Offering Free Wellness Programs
North Bay Business Journal – April 2015
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Petaluma – A Healthy Role Model
North Bay Business Journal – February 2015
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North Bay Brokers Outline Trends in 2015 Health Insurance
North Bay Business Journal – November 2014
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Broker SSM Group Renamed Arrow Benefits
North Bay Business Journal – October 2014
