Partner Profile: Aon

Welcome to our Partner Profile Series. Each month, we feature insights and perspectives from HR professionals and consultants working with various clients to address today's most pressing issues. 

This month, our spotlight is on Aon. Aon's mission is to connect their global capabilities, to address our clients’ top priorities more effectively. Through their global expertise across two key areas of need ― Risk Capital and Human Capital ― their clients are better advised within, and across, their risk and people strategies.

I sat down with Niko Byron, a Health Solutions Specialist at Aon. He works with clients to help them understand entire benefits landscape, create their strategy, design solutions, and execute their plans. His goal is to enhance the expansion and personalization of his clients' benefits plans while helping to provide innovative solutions that fit with his clients' needs. 

Can you share a bit about your role at Aon and what led you to pursue a career in benefits consulting?

I began my journey at Aon in the summer of 2022 as an intern in a 10-week program that introduced me to the fundamentals of benefits consulting. After graduating from UMass Amherst, I joined Aon’s Early Careers program as a Benefits Specialist. In this role, I was assigned a specific group of clients, which involved completing a variety of daily tasks and overall strategic planning. My interest in employee benefits developed unexpectedly, sparked by a conversation with Peter Kilmartin, the Market Leader at Aon New England. He inspired me to appreciate the importance of helping businesses support their employees. As a result, I can see the direct impact of my work in resolving employer challenges through daily engagement with them.

What trends are you currently seeing in employee benefits that are most exciting or impactful for employers?

The most significant trend we are currently observing in the market is the expansion of personalization and flexibility within plans they can offer their employees. With the introduction of various point solutions over the past five years, employers can now offer their employees a range of benefits tailored to fit their lifestyles, including voluntary benefits, lifestyle spending accounts, and customized health plans. Many of my clients are expressing interest in financial well-being and want to improve their paid time off (PTO) policies by reducing large liability balances and returning those funds to employees.

How do you see the role of HR and benefits consultants evolving over the next five years?

I believe there will be an increasing emphasis on data-driven decision-making. Aon conducts numerous surveys with our clients, and we utilize their responses to inform them about trends and practices among other employers. As HR teams and benefits consultants adopt data visualization tools, they will see results that show a significant measurable impact on overall benefits programs. This shift will heighten talent competition and compel employers to adopt a more comprehensive approach to benefits to remain competitive in the market.

What do you find most rewarding about working with clients to design and implement their benefits strategies?

When collaborating and strategizing with clients, it's extremely rewarding when they recognize and appreciate the value of the ideas we present. I learned early on that this business relies heavily on building strong relationships. The sooner we establish ourselves as trusted advisors to HR teams and company leadership, the sooner we can form strong, long-term partnerships with our clients. We know that every company faces unique challenges, whether it's rising healthcare costs, employee retention issues, or the need to provide financial security for their employees. Therefore, designing custom solutions that combine cost-effectiveness with impactful employee value is intellectually challenging and rewarding.

What advice would you give to employers looking to enhance employee engagement through their benefits offerings?

I'd say to keep the communication simple. If the HR team is overwhelmed with their benefits offering, chances are the employees enrolling in these benefits will be twice as confused. Ultimately, it will lead to lower engagement and low utilization of the programs HR teams spend their whole year crafting for the employees.

How has working with PTO Exchange helped you achieve your clients' goals and align with their broader benefits strategies? 

PTO Exchange has opened the eyes of my clients to a benefit they never knew existed. This unique solution has facilitated deeper conversations with clients about various options for providing financial relief to employees. It's a simple yet effective solution for a common need: money!

What’s one piece of advice or insight you’d like to share with employers as they plan for the future of employee benefits?

I recommend they contact our Aon Boston office regarding their challenges and ultimately set up a meeting with our team to discuss how we can prepare their workforce for the future of employee benefits.

Follow Aon on LinkedIn and check out its website.  

Interested in becoming a partner? Learn more about PTO Exchange's partnership program.