Greater Philadelphia Area
About Us
In the Philadelphia area, we have brought together six outstanding firms as Alera Group Philadelphia. This includes Pentra, HealthFirst, Somerset Capital, Vantage Point, Perspective Financial Group and HR inTune. Recently, Lamb Benefits – Employee Benefits Division joined our team. Every owner of each firm remains an equity partner in Alera Group. Our mission is to enhance our clients’ experience in tangible and measurable ways by building on the foundation of each firm. We strive to deliver the best possible outcomes—positively impacting our employees, clients, communities and the lives of people we serve.
There is a level of excitement at Alera that our clients experience through daily interactions with our team. We care about our people, our clients, our client relationships and making a difference.
Meet Our Team
People you can count on. People you can trust.
Samantha Brower
Marketing Director
Samantha serves as the Marketing Director. Samantha is responsible for providing strategic direction for all marketing initiatives and major events.
She supports the marketing department through the development of content for the firm’s social media platforms, constant data upkeep, and she also serves as the Event Coordinator for internal and external events.
Samantha holds a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing and International Studies, both of which are from the University of Alabama.
Rules to live by? Choose joy.
If they made a movie about your life, who would you want to play you? Mila Kunis
Most interesting place you have been? Shanghai, China.
What did you want to be when you grew up? A princess.
Alexis Bruni
Senior Benefits Consultant
With nearly 20 years in the business already, Alexis joined Alera Group in the summer of 2024 as a Senior Benefits Consultant. She works closely with her clients to create strategies to expand their benefits value while working with their unique populations to help control costs. She specializes in self-funded clients and has a special interest in compliance. She has worked in many facets of the business, including the carrier side, enrollment services, and on the consulting side.
Alexis considers herself a lifelong learner and has recently completed her Masters Degree in Law from from Pitt Law, with a graduate certificate in Healthcare Compliance Law. Alexis also volunteers for our state professional organization, PA-NABIP, where she sits on the board with several other Alera teammates and is the Chairperson of the association’s Legislative Committee. In this capacity she is privileged to be able to share her clients’ needs and challenges directly with lawmakers working on health insurance policy.
Words to Live By? Always lift while you climb!
Favorite City? Venice, I visited there in the off season, and it was magical.
Silliest thing I’ve done? Every year I dress up in a themed Halloween costume with my dog. We have been Han Solo and Princess Laia, Scooby Doo and Velma, and skeletons.
Bryan Buchanan
Communication Consultant, Graphic Design
Bryan serves as a Communication Consultant. He focuses on design and execution of employee directed communications for clients facing various challenges in improving the perceived value of their benefit program.
He is enthusiastic about educating and engaging employees, helping them to understand their benefit options and make smart healthcare decisions.
Bryan holds a Bachelor of Science in Graphic Design from the Art Institute of Philadelphia.
Most adventurous experience? A two-week RV trip hiking six National parks in Arizona and Utah.
Favorite sports team? The Philadelphia Eagles
Favorite movie quote? “May the wind always be at your back and the sun upon your face. And may the winds of destiny carry you aloft to dance with the stars.” – Johnny Depp
Danielle Buchanan
Senior Vice President, Employee Benefits
Danielle joined in 2003, and serves as the Senior Vice President, Employee Benefits. She is responsible for leading continuous improvement of the firm’s operational elements impacting client service and delivery and ensuring consistency in the Alera Group client experience.
She works closely with her clients to establish strong, active relationships, and to provide proactive and consultative expertise based on each client’s unique challenges.
Favorite Book? Spring by R.H Blyth- a book of haiku
Favorite superhero? My Dad. He is brave and strong willed, family focused, and his work ethic is unmatched.
First thing you would buy if you won the lottery? A fancy new boat for my husband, Josh
Most adventurous experience? Parenting my two sons, John and Gardner
Best advice you’ve ever received? You only get to keep what you give away -T. Will
Resources
Success Stories (downloads)
Captive Refesability Study for Fortune 500 Company
THE CHALLENGE Alera Group was requested to undertake a captive refeasibility study for an U.S. based multinational manufacturer of appliances with...
Enhancing a Healthcare Captive
THE CHALLENGE A non-profit multi-state health system with 35,000 employees wanted to conduct a feasibility study to determine if captive funding...
Quarry Faces Environmental Liability Query
THE CHALLENGE A large quarry operation owned a dig site that had been filled with a profusion of waste material following a mineral extraction....
An Alera Group member company based in Southern California was asked by the board of directors of a 400-unit condominium building to provide a bid...
Complicated Commercial Real Estate Portfolio
An Alera Group member company based in Southern California was retained by a commercial real estate property manager to review the insurance policies...
Persistence Secures an Infant’s Life Sustaining Treatment
An Alera Group member company that provides services focused on customized, comprehensive employee benefits, HR technology solutions, and wellness...
Start Up Benefits for a Start Up Company
Alera Group was contracted by a start-up national credit counseling company to assist with maintaining employee health benefits offerings while...
An Alera Group company that serves as a multidisciplinary employee benefits and risk management consultancy was approached by a company in the...
THE CHALLENGE Alera Group was the benefits broker for an employer that was working with two affiliated health insurance companies, “Company A”...
Our Community
Big Brothers Big Sisters Independence Region
For over 100 years, Big Brothers Big Sisters Independence Region has been positively impacting children and communities in Philadelphia, Montgomery, Chester, Delaware, Burlington, Camden, and Gloucester counties in PA and NJ. They don’t create potential in a child, they just foster and protect it.
Buck County Children’s Advocacy Center
The Bucks County Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC) provides a safe and child-friendly environment in which CAC staff, law enforcement, child welfare, prosecution, victim advocacy, medical and mental health professionals collaborate to implement effective, coordinated investigations of suspected child abuse.
With more than 2,500 reports of child abuse in Bucks County each year, the Bucks County Children’s Advocacy Center provides a setting in which children can receive timely, collaborative services from agencies mandated by law to investigate reports of child abuse. The predominant approach to child abuse investigations at the Children’s Advocacy Center is the multidisciplinary team model. This approach supports enhanced communications between the various agencies that respond to allegations of child abuse.
The Bucks County Children’s Advocacy Center strives to transform the system by providing a child-friendly setting where a skilled team of professionals come together under one roof to investigate serious child abuse allegations, conduct forensic interviews to aid in the prosecution of offenders and connect children and families with therapy and victim assistance services — always keeping the best interest of the child in mind.
Eluna Network
The mission of Eluna is to support children and families impacted by grief or addiction. Their innovative resources and programs address the critical needs of children experiencing powerful, overwhelming and often confusing emotions associated with the death of someone close to them or substance abuse in their family. No child should have to face these struggles alone, and our unique programs bring kids together to ease their pain and provide the tools to help restore hope.
Children affected by grief or addiction can feel isolated and alone. Circumstance puts them at increased risk for depression, suicide, poverty, anxiety and behavior problems. Children living in a home with addiction are also at four times the risk of developing an addiction of their own. Eluna’s programs come alongside children and their families to provide vital support helping to prevent complications that arise from unaddressed childhood bereavement and to help break the cycle of addiction in the next generation.
Eluna is dedicated to energizing new research and inspiring political advocacy that will lead to higher standards of care and positive outcomes for children in the fields of bereavement and addiction prevention. By raising awareness for these issues, Eluna reduces stigmas, improves understanding, and makes healing possible for children in need.
Alfred I. du Pont Hospital / Nemours Foundation
A gift of toys, games, books, or crafts can do wonders to brighten a child’s life while they are in the hospital or clinic waiting room. The Child Life programs at Nemours offer activities designed to help children cope with their hospital stay.
Child Life specialists in the hospitals are trained to work with children who have serious illness or are recovering from surgery — often using toys, games, and crafts to allow them to express their fears and hopes and regain a sense of mastery and control.
New, cuddly stuffed animals, hand-held video games, books, and music CDs can help to pass the time and provide a distraction from the hospital routine or clinic visit.
Manna
Manna uses nutrition to improve health for people with serious illnesses who need nourishment to heal. By providing medically tailored meals and nutrition education, we empower people to improve their health and quality of life.
EXPERT EDUCATION
Events and Webinars
Employee Benefits
Benchmarking That Drives Decisions: Why Averages Mislead — and What Best-in-Class Data Reveals
A clear, data-driven view of the 2026 employee benefits landscape grounded in benchmarking results.
June 16, 2026 at 01:00 pm CT | Virtual
Register Here
Employee Benefits
GLP-1s at Scale: Why Weight-Loss Drug Decisions Are Now a Financial Strategy
A GLP-1 decision framework plus scenarios.
July 21, 2026 at 01:00 pm CT | Virtual
Register Here
Employee Benefits
Open Enrollment That Works: Why Employees Do Not Engage — and How Modern Communications Drive Better Choices
Practical communication strategies to strengthen open enrollment effectiveness and employee decision-making.
August 18, 2026 at 01:00 pm CT | Virtual
Register Here
THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
Insights
Employee Benefits
What the 2026 Benchmarking Data Reveals — and Why It Matters Now
On Tuesday, June 16, 2026, at 2:00 PM ET, Alera Group will host Benchmarking That Drives Decisions: Why Averages Mislead — and What Best-in-Class Data Reveals, a live webinar designed for HR, finance and executive leaders involved in benefits planning, budgeting and long-term strategy.
June 11, 2026
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Employee Benefits
Legal Alert: IRS Releases 2027 HSA Contribution Limits and Other Limits
In Rev. Proc. 2026-24, the IRS released the inflation adjusted amounts for 2027 relevant to Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and high deductible health plans (HDHPs). The table below summarizes those adjustments and other applicable limits.
June 3, 2026
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Legal Alert: PBM Transparency Coming Soon
Two recent movements on the federal level have paved the way for greater pharmacy benefit manager (“PBM”) transparency for group health plans.
May 22, 2026
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Legal Alert: RxDC Reporting Due June 1st
Reminder: RxDC Reporting Due June 1st
February 26, 2026
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