Alliant Insurance Services has hired two senior consultants into its Employee Benefits Group within the span of two days. The back-to-back appointments are part of a broader staffing build-out at the division. Employer healthcare costs are climbing to levels not seen in more than a decade.
Liana Schindler (pictured, left) has joined as senior vice president. She will work with employer clients on workforce strategy, benefits design, and operational efficiency. Schindler brings 15 years of experience across HCM technology consulting, employee benefits, business development, and sales leadership, with particular depth in the technology sector. Prior to Alliant, she served as a business consultant with a national employee benefits consulting firm.
Mike Lundquist (pictured, right) has joined as vice president. The Utah-based consultant will focus on Alliant's Western region client base. He will work with employers to manage healthcare costs, develop benefits programs, and build talent attraction and retention strategies. His background spans employee benefits and risk management, including the outdoor and recreation sector. He was previously a senior benefits consultant at a national insurance and employee benefits firm.
Kevin Overbey, president of Alliant Employee Benefits, said of Schindler that she has "a proven ability to build strong relationships, identify opportunities, and deliver meaningful results to a diverse array of clients." On Lundquist, Overbey said his depth in benefits strategy and cost management would deliver value to the western client base.
Both appointments land at a moment of sharp pressure on employer benefits consultants. Mercer's 2025 National Survey of Employer-Sponsored Health Plans projected total health benefit costs per employee will rise 6.5% in 2026. That is the highest projected increase since 2010.
Aon projected the average employer health cost to surpass $17,000 per employee in 2026, a 9.5% jump from 2025. 59% of employers said they plan cost-cutting changes to their plans in 2026, up from 48% the prior year.
That cost pressure is reshaping what employers want from their benefits advisors. The Hartford's 2026 Future of Benefits Study found 73% of HR professionals said their day-to-day responsibilities had increased. About two-thirds (64%) reported that managing multiple carriers is challenging.
More than half (58%) of small employers rely on brokers for open enrollment guidance. The study concluded that 2026 benefits market success will depend on integrated technology and credible support for overburdened HR teams.
The broader market shows how acute that demand has become. Healthcare costs are projected to rise 6% to 9% in 2026, per Vertafore. That is driving employer demand for benefits brokers who can manage carrier forecasts at renewal.
The employee benefits segment has drawn heavy M&A activity. Inszone, BroadStreet Partners, and World Insurance Associates accounted for nearly 20% of 753 announced US broker transactions in 2025.
