Navigating Alternative Funding: Insights from Sam Burns

If persistent inflation and renewal pressures are straining your benefits budget, this episode reveals how captive programs and alternative funding can deliver control and savings without shifting costs to employees. Resources Mentioned: 2026 On the Pulse Report⁠: Insights on Employee Benefits Trends – Download this free report for forward-looking trends in employee benefits, including data-driven funding shifts, healthcare costs, and mid-market strategies. Visit imacorp.com to connect with the IMA team and learn more about building smarter employee benefits. Listen and Subscribe: Share this episode with a fellow HR leader and subscribe to On the Pulse with IMA on your favorite podcast platform for more practical insights. Have questions or topics you'd like covered? Reach out via imacorp.com. Episode Description: Kelly Bowman sits down with Sam Burns, Vice President and Captive Practice Leader at IMA Financial Group, to discuss the shift toward alternative funding models in employee benefits. Sam explains how captives, level-funding, and consortiums help mid-sized employers gain financial control amid rising healthcare costs. He shares strategies for evaluating funding options, managing volatility, and using data to optimize plans. From client success stories to addressing common implementation challenges, this conversation provides actionable guidance for HR leaders looking to improve renewals and plan performance. Whether you're exploring self-funding for the first time or refining existing arrangements, Sam's insights offer a practical roadmap to sustainable benefits. Guest Bio: Sam Burns serves as Vice President and Captive Practice Leader in Employee Benefits at IMA Financial Group. Based in Denver, he specializes in helping organizations implement alternative funding solutions like captives to achieve cost savings and risk management. With extensive experience in the insurance industry, Sam focuses on tailoring strategies that provide predictability and control for employers facing healthcare inflation. Host: Kelly Bowman Key Timestamps: 00:00: Introduction to funding challenges and inflation impacts 01:20: Show intro and welcome 02:05: Sam introduces himself, his role at IMA, and a fun fact 03:15: Personal chit-chat on industry changes 04:10: Defining alternative funding models and their evolution 06:00: Shift to captive and level-funded strategies 07:00: Impact on budgets, renewals, and company sizes 08:30: Common pitfalls: Misunderstanding captives, with examples 10:50: Client story on successful captive implementation 13:15: Measuring success: Savings metrics, ROI, and data analysis 15:55: Designing programs for multi-state or diverse operations 19:25: Communication trends and tools for funding education 21:25: Misconceptions about self-funding risks 22:30: Bridging HR and finance perspectives, with consortium examples 24:00: Evaluating options and setting goals 26:00: Mindsets holding employers back: Resistance to change 28:30: Upcoming trends: Hybrid models and stop-loss innovations 29:45: Rethinking volatility management through captives 31:55: Building a funding culture from leadership down 33:30: Role of data, analytics, and customization in funding 34:40: Branding alternative funding for employee understanding 34:55: Must-have strategy for 2026: Data-informed transitions 35:40: Advice for organizations: Assess readiness, partner strategically, and monitor progress 37:55: Closing thanks and show outro