Help an employer reach a responsive independent benefits partner
If you know an employer who could use a thoughtful, independent benefits advisor — one who listens first and lets the employer choose the next step — this page explains how to make a warm introduction. There is no timeline, no quote, no sale, and no relationship promised here. Just a quiet, permission-based way to connect an employer with SSGI.
This is a static editorial page. It collects no information, sends nothing on your behalf, and implies no confirmation that an email or introduction was sent. The two email starters below are text you may select and review before sending from your own email client.
Who might refer an employer — or be referred
A warm introduction can come from anyone who knows an employer well enough to confirm they're open to a conversation. Here are the audiences this center is built for.
- Current clients and employees
- Employers and employees already working with SSGI who know a peer organization that could benefit from a responsive independent benefits partner.
- CPAs, payroll firms, HR consultants, and attorneys
- Professional advisers who see employer benefits questions in the course of their own work and want a responsive independent advisor to hand an employer off to.
- Carriers, general agents, and brokers
- Carriers, general agents, and fellow brokers who encounter an employer whose needs align with SSGI's independent, year-round advisory model.
- Appropriate strategic partners
- Other organizations whose services complement employer benefits — introduced thoughtfully and only when there is a genuine, permission-based fit.
Signals that an employer may benefit from a conversation
These are the situations that most often prompt a warm introduction. None of them implies a problem with the employer's current setup — only that an independent second look could help.
Renewal or cost pressure
An employer facing a renewal that feels too costly, too opaque, or too rushed, and who wants an independent second look before deciding.
Administration or service gaps
An employer whose current setup leaves too much administrative burden on a small team, or whose service feels distant when questions come up.
First benefits program
A growing employer offering benefits for the first time and wanting an independent advisor to help shape the design before any carrier work begins.
Maryland FAMLI
A Maryland employer preparing for the FAMLI program and weighing the State Plan against a private-plan option for the 2027 program year.
ICHRA
An employer exploring an Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangement as a flexible alternative to a traditional group plan.
Broker transition
An employer considering a change of broker — looking for independent guidance, direct accountability, and a year-round relationship.
Growth or acquisition
An employer growing through hiring or acquisition whose benefits are becoming more complex across locations, classes, or states.
Multi-location or multi-state
An employer operating across multiple locations or states and needing benefits guidance that holds across jurisdictions.
Employee-support problems
An employer whose employees struggle to understand or use their benefits, and who wants clearer communication and support.
For context on how SSGI approaches these situations, see our small business employee benefits and mid-market employee benefits pages, or our Why SSGI overview.
A four-step flow — at the employer's pace
This is a warm-introduction flow, not a sales funnel. Each step is described truthfully; no timeline, outcome, quote, sale, or relationship is promised. The employer stays in control the whole way through.
Ask permission
Before making any introduction, confirm the employer is open to a conversation with an independent benefits advisor. Permission comes first — always.
Introduce
Make a warm introduction by email, copying SSGI. Share only non-sensitive context — contact name, business email, organization, and a general reason.
SSGI listens and reviews
SSGI listens to the employer's situation and reviews what's relevant at a business level — without pressuring a timeline, a quote, a sale, or any particular relationship.
The employer chooses the next step
The employer decides whether and how to continue. There is no obligation, no implied outcome, and no commitment until the employer chooses to take one.
Where SSGI's role begins and ends
A referral connects an employer with an independent advisor — nothing more. Here's how the responsibilities divide, so expectations stay clear from the first conversation.
- SSGI
- An independent benefits agency and advisor. SSGI listens, reviews, and advises on benefits strategy and coordination. SSGI is not a carrier, third-party administrator, fiduciary, legal adviser, payroll provider, enrollment system, referral marketplace, or system of record.
- The employer
- Owns the decision to be introduced, grants permission, shares only non-sensitive context, and chooses whether and how to continue the conversation.
- Carriers, vendors, and legal advisers
- Carriers, payroll vendors, TPAs, and legal advisers remain responsible for their own systems, products, deliverables, and advice. SSGI coordinates and advises; it does not perform their functions or replace them.
SSGI is an independent benefits agency and advisor. SSGI is not a carrier, third-party administrator, fiduciary, legal adviser, payroll provider, enrollment system, referral marketplace, or system of record. Carriers, payroll vendors, TPAs, and legal advisers remain responsible for their own systems, products, deliverables, and advice; SSGI coordinates and advises.
What to gather before a warm introduction
A referral needs very little — and must never include sensitive employee or health information. Use this offline checklist to prepare, then share only the allowed items.
You may share
- Contact name (the person at the employer you are referring)
- Business email for that contact
- Organization name
- A general, non-sensitive reason for the referral
- Confirmation that you have the employer's permission to make the introduction
Never include
- Employee or dependent names
- Member, policy, or account IDs
- Dates of birth
- Health, claims, or Medicare information
- Social Security numbers
- Payroll or banking details
- Underwriting or census information
- Credentials, eligibility files, or plan documents
A warm introduction must never include employee or dependent names, member IDs, dates of birth, health, claims, or Medicare information, Social Security numbers, payroll or banking details, underwriting or census information, or credentials, eligibility files, or plan documents. Share only the allowed items above. If sensitive information is genuinely needed later, SSGI can provide an appropriate secure channel at that point — no such channel is built or linked on this page today.
Two starters you can review and send yourself
These are static text with obvious placeholders. Select the text, review every field, replace the placeholders with your own non-sensitive information, and send from your own email client. There is no copy button and no clipboard automation on this page.
Employer introduction starter
Use this when you are introducing an employer to SSGI.
- To:
- VIP@ssgibenefits.com
- Subject:
- Employer referral introduction
Hello SSGI, I would like to introduce an employer who may benefit from a conversation with an independent benefits advisor. I have the employer's permission to make this introduction. Please reply to coordinate a warm introduction. I will share only non-sensitive context (contact name, business email, organization, and a general reason) and will not include any employee, dependent, health, claims, Medicare, Social Security, payroll, banking, underwriting, credential, census, eligibility, or plan-document information. Employer contact name: [Replace with the contact's name] Employer business email: [Replace with a business email address] Organization: [Replace with the organization name] General reason for the referral: [Replace with a short, non-sensitive reason] Confirmation of permission: [Confirm you have the employer's permission] Thank you, [Replace with your name] [Replace with your organization] [Replace with your business email]
Review every placeholder before sending. Replace each [Replace with …] field with your own non-sensitive information, and remove anything you are unsure about. This page does not send the email for you — opening the link below launches your email client with this text pre-filled.
Professional-partner conversation starter
Use this when you are a professional partner opening a partnership or referral conversation with SSGI.
- To:
- adecker@ssgibenefits.com
- Subject:
- Professional referral or partnership inquiry
Hello Andrew, I would like to discuss a professional partnership or referral arrangement with SSGI. I have the relevant party's permission to open this conversation where one is required. Please reply to coordinate a conversation. I will share only non-sensitive context and will not include any employee, dependent, health, claims, Medicare, Social Security, payroll, banking, underwriting, credential, census, eligibility, or plan-document information. Your name: [Replace with your name] Your organization: [Replace with your organization] Your business email: [Replace with your business email] Partnership or referral context: [Replace with a short, non-sensitive note] Thank you, [Replace with your name]
Review every placeholder before sending. Replace each [Replace with …] field with your own non-sensitive information, and remove anything you are unsure about. This page does not send the email for you — opening the link below launches your email client with this text pre-filled.
Opening either mailto link below launches your email client with the subject and body pre-filled. Review every placeholder before sending. This page does not send the email for you and does not imply that an email or introduction was sent.
About referring an employer
The basics on who may refer, permission, prohibited information, next steps, and compensation.
Want to understand how SSGI works before referring?
A few existing pages give the full picture — how SSGI implements a new benefits program, and how the Maryland FAMLI and ICHRA conversations tend to run. They're here for context, not as a call to action.