Employer Benefits Optimization

Make confident, coordinated benefits elections by aligning medical coverage, tax-advantaged accounts, retirement contributions, and protection benefits with your financial goals.

Fixed Fee: $1,500

What's Covered

Medical Plan Selection

  • HDHP vs PPO comparison
  • Total cost analysis (premiums + expected usage)
  • Spouse/dependent coverage decisions
  • Provider and prescription continuity

HSA / FSA / HRA Strategy

  • Contribution targets and employer match capture
  • Fund ordering rules (HRA vs FSA)
  • HSA as long-term savings vs spending account
  • Investment strategy for HSA funds

Retirement Plan Optimization

  • 401(k)/403(b) contribution elections (pre-tax vs Roth)
  • Employer match capture and vesting
  • Investment allocation and fee assessment
  • Mega Backdoor Roth feasibility (if applicable)

Life & Disability Insurance

  • Coverage adequacy assessment
  • Portability and re-insurability considerations
  • Employer vs personal policy comparison
  • Definition of disability evaluation

The Process

1

Pre-Work (48 Hours Before First Meeting)

You'll provide your benefits guide, open enrollment summary, medical plan comparison, retirement plan details, and insurance coverage information.

Required documents:

  • Benefits guide / open enrollment summary
  • Medical plan comparison (premiums, deductibles, out-of-pocket max)
  • HSA/HRA/FSA details and employer contributions
  • Retirement plan Summary Plan Description (SPD)
  • Life and disability plan details
2

First Meeting: Discovery & Benefits Education (60 minutes)

This meeting confirms the enrollment deadline, reviews available options, and identifies the highest-impact decisions based on household needs, health expectations, and cash flow.

Topics covered:

  • Household context and coverage needs
  • Medical plan options and cost analysis
  • HSA/FSA/HRA strategy and fund ordering rules
  • Retirement plan investment options and contribution types
  • Life and disability coverage gaps

Outcome: A clear understanding of available options and the key decisions to be made.

3

Second Meeting: Recommendations & Implementation (60-75 minutes)

Specific recommendations are delivered for each benefits decision, along with an implementation checklist that includes enrollment deadlines, payroll changes, and follow-up checkpoints.

You'll receive:

  • Medical plan recommendation or decision framework
  • HSA/FSA contribution targets
  • Retirement plan optimization (allocation, contributions, match capture)
  • Life and disability coverage recommendations
  • Implementation checklist with owners and dates

Important: Enrollment and implementation are your responsibility. If you want hands on help, Hourly-based Planning is available at $275/hour.

Who This Is For

This engagement is ideal for professionals facing open enrollment or a new job transition who want expert guidance on benefits decisions.

This works well if you:

  • Have multiple benefits options and aren't sure which to choose
  • Want to maximize employer contributions and tax advantages
  • Need to coordinate benefits with a spouse or partner
  • Are overwhelmed by the complexity of open enrollment

Common Scenarios

Open Enrollment Season

You have 2-3 weeks to make benefits elections and want to ensure you're optimizing medical coverage, retirement contributions, and tax-advantaged accounts.

New Job Transition

You're starting a new role and need to make initial benefits elections within 30 days. You want to understand the full benefits package and make informed decisions.

Dual-Income Household Coordination

You and your spouse both have employer benefits. You want to coordinate coverage to maximize value and minimize redundancy.

What Happens After?

After the second meeting, you'll have clear recommendations and an implementation checklist. A 30-60 day follow-up checkpoint can be scheduled to verify deductions, confirm match capture, and ensure everything is set up correctly.

If you want additional support:

Hourly-based Planning ($275/hour): Help with enrollment, payroll changes, account setup, and implementation

Comprehensive Plan ($3,500): If you realize you need broader financial planning beyond benefits optimization

Ready to Optimize Your Benefits?

Schedule a mutual fit conversation to discuss your open enrollment situation and get started.

Schedule a Conversation →

Advisory services are offered through La Vida Financial LLC, an investment adviser registered with the state of Texas. Services are only offered where La Vida Financial LLC and its representatives are properly registered or exempt from registration. This information is not tax, accounting, or legal advice, nor is it an offer or solicitation to buy or sell any security. Investments involve risk, including the potential for complete loss. Information is provided "AS IS," and your use of it is at your sole risk.

Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. owns and licenses the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER®, and CFP® (with plaque design) in the United States to Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc., which authorizes individuals who successfully complete the organization's initial and ongoing certification requirements to use the certification marks.