See our TPG colleagues engage in spirited, sometimes feisty discussions of topics in employee benefits headlines. Fashioned after The McLaughlin Group talk show (1982–2016), these benefits experts break down complex topics in a way that is both informative and thought-provoking. Not only will you learn something new but you may get a laugh or two out of it.
Episode 4 – 2026 Trends & Predictions
In this episode of The TPG Difference, our team unpacks the most significant trends shaping the 2026 employee benefits landscape. From mounting cost pressures and the toughest renewal season in decades to the disruptive rise of AI‑driven care and direct‑to‑consumer healthcare models, we explore what employers need to know now and how to prepare for what’s ahead.
Recorded on 1/7/26
Panel
Moderator
Sarah Friend
TPG President
Panelist
Jane Perlas
Benefits Consultant
Panelist
Zach Fritz
EVP of Employer Services
Panelist
Chad Kjemhus
Benefits Consultant
Panelist
Case Escher
Employer Services Consultant
Note: Our panel may occasionally feature special guests.
Previous Episodes
Episode 1 – ICHRAs
Our panel gets into a lively pros-and-cons debate over the efficacy ICHRAs – are they the future of employer-sponsored health benefits? Or a shifting of risk from companies onto employees?
Recorded on 9/3/25
Episode 2 – Captives
Should captives be rebranded as “exclusives”? Hmmm… This is just one salient point among many that the panel deliberates regarding this self-insurance model.
Recorded on 10/10/25
Episode 3 – Direct Primary Care
How does direct primary care (DPC) – onsite, nearsite, or virtual – reshape access, costs, and patient relationships in a fragmented healthcare marketplace? Our TPG experts discuss these topics and others.
Recorded on 11/24/25
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