Your health plan might be robbing you blind. The fun part? You may be paying someone to let it happen.

Healthcare benefits are one of the biggest expenses for small business owners, and most employers are stuck playing a game where the rules are hidden, the prices move, and somehow the bill always gets worse.

In this episode of The Liquid Lunch Project, hosts Matthew R. Meehan and Luigi Rosabianca sit down with Donovan Ryckis, CEO of Ethos Benefits, to rip the lid off employer-sponsored healthcare. Donovan breaks down why insurance costs keep rising, how brokers can create conflicts of interest, why pharmacy benefit managers deserve a long side-eye, and how small businesses can start asking much better questions before renewal season punches them in the face.

🍸 What you'll hear in this episode:

Why healthcare is usually expense number two or three for a business
How broker compensation can work against employers
Why "the insurance company pays me" is not the cute answer people think it is
The four moving parts of every healthcare plan
Why claims data matters more than carrier logos
How pharmacy benefit managers quietly drive up drug costs
Why direct primary care can cut ER visits and save employees time
The real reason better benefits do not have to mean higher costs
How small business owners can stop picking the "least bad" plan
Why transparency is the first step to taking back control

💡 Notable Takeaway:

"The only way any healthcare plan is going to lower costs for the employer is if it first lowers costs and works better for the employees." - Donovan

👤 About our Guest:

Donovan J. Ryckis is the CEO of Ethos Benefits, an award-winning employee benefits consulting firm helping employers lower healthcare costs through fiduciary-based consulting. He is also the producer of the documentary "It's Not Personal, It's Just Healthcare."

🎧 Why Listen:

Before your next healthcare renewal, listen to this episode and ask your broker one question: "Exactly how are you getting paid?" Then visit EthosBenefits.com to learn more, watch Donovan's documentaries, and see what a smarter healthcare plan could look like for your business.

🔗 Links + Stuff

Website: www.EthosBenefits.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thebusinessofbenefitspodcast

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donovanryckis/

Watch the healthcare documentary: https://ethosbenefits.com/documentary

Watch the PBM documentary, Side Effects May Include: https://ethosbenefits.com/pbm-documentary

🔔 Enjoyed the episode?

Subscribe so you don't miss future conversations on business growth, funding, strategy, and the stuff most people don't explain clearly.

If this episode helped, a quick rating or review goes a long way. It helps the show reach more business owners who actually care about getting this right.

🎧 Listen or watch The Liquid Lunch Project

Available on all major podcast and video platforms:

• Official site: https://theliquidlunchproject.com • Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-liquid-lunch-project/ • Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/12HPEDMmsbfsp8tHt5LiZJ • Audible: https://shorturl.at/6j4vz• YouTube (full episodes + clips): https://www.youtube.com/@Credit_Banc

📬 Want more than just the podcast?

Every Friday, we publish The Weekly. A fast, smart rundown of what actually matters in finance, tech, small business, and the economy…without the noise.

Subscribe here: 👉 https://theweeklyfromshieldadvisory.substack.com/

💼 Need funding or working capital?

If today's conversation raised questions about capital, cash flow, or financing options, you can schedule a conversation with our sponsor, Credit Banc.

Credit Banc helps business owners make sense of their options and move forward with a clear plan, without pressure or guesswork.

👉 Book a free 15-minute call here: https://tinyurl.com/3dh9vy86

📲 Connect with the hosts

Follow along for behind-the-scenes clips, commentary, and things that don't make it into the episode.

• Matt Meehan: https://www.instagram.com/matthew.r.meehan • Luigi Rosabianca: https://www.instagram.com/luigi_rosabianca • The Liquid Lunch Project: https://www.instagram.com/theliquidlunchproject/

💬 One last thing

Know a business owner who would appreciate this conversation? Send them the episode. That's how this show grows.