Hightstown, NJ

    About Us

    At CBSI we are uniquely equipped to help you unlock the engaged employee, because we’ve helped companies just like yours solve this problem without creating more cost.  Unlike other insurance brokers, CBSI engages in a multi-step process throughout the year to listen, learn and clarify your employee concerns, creating solutions that align your company’s benefits with their wants and needs.  But our approach goes beyond benefit solutions.  Through experience, we have come to understand that educating your employees on their benefits is often more important than the actual benefits themselves. Better solutions together with communication unlocks the engaged employee.

    For some this seems counter-intuitive, but it is a conversation you should not avoid. 96% of employees who are satisfied with their benefits are satisfied with their jobs, making tailored benefits and increased communication the best methods to shore up your bottom line.   Attacking and solving the ‘unhappy employee syndrome’ that many companies experience will give you an advantage over competitors while slashing your investments in recruiting, hiring and training.

    Great leaders see opportunity where others don’t. Real progress and real change for your company can only come with your vision. From your vantage point you are constantly looking for the next advantage, always understanding that there is always more to learn.

    Let us show you how to make your business better, in unexpected ways.

    Meet Our Team

    Vladimir St. Phard

    President & CEO
    Vladimir St. Phard

    Favorite Food: Buffalo Wings!

    Favorite Places & Flavors: Jughandle Inn, Silk City Diner, Skelly’s High Point Pub, St. Martin, Hot Blue Ranch, Garlic & Asian Chili, and Thai. Honorable mention goes to pizza, burgers, and my special brisket.

    Favorite Musician: Jonathan Butler

    Other Loves: I love simple fun things like spending time with my friends and family, watching sports, and, of course, consuming Buffalo wings.

    Why CBSI: My passion is to help businesses truly connect with their employees. Health insurance and other benefits play big roles in doing just that. By using your employee benefits as a tool and not a cost center, you can reduce employee stress and increase productivity and retention…. Plus, it just feels right!

    Rachelle St. Phard

    Chief Administrative Officer
    Rachelle St. Phard

    Favorite Food: Lobster

    Favorite Vacation Spot: St. Martin

    Favorite Song: Oceans by Hillsong

    Other Loves: I am passionate about volunteering and doing what I can to help others. I coordinate the CBSI sponsored annual charity Christmas party each year for The Word In Action International Ministries, and I am working year-round to make that event something really special for the kids.

    Why CBSI: I love problem-solving and helping people find the best solutions to their challenges. Whether it’s working with our employment benefit specialists to solve a client’s problem or juggling vendors and budgets for our charity events, taking the pieces apart and finding more effective alternative paths to resolution is my specialty.

    Donna Herrman

    Vice President
    Donna Herrman

    Favorite Vacation Spot: Any beach anywhere!

    Favorite Food: Sushi

    Favorite Song: This is amazing Grace by Phil Wickham

    Why CBSI: I am passionate about helping people navigate the healthcare maze during some of the most difficult times of their lives, and I specialize in the appeals process. Did you know that insurance companies don’t always make the final decision on your benefits claims? Every member has the right to file a complaint with the NJ Department of Banking and Insurance, and it’s my job to ensure employees are covered, healthy, and engaged to the process and value of their benefits.

    Alexis Swart

    Bookkeeper & Account Manager
    Alexis Swart

    Favorite Color: Purple

    Favorite Movie: Grease

    Favorite Vacay Spot: Surf City, NJ!

    Why CBSI: For the past 10 years I have enjoyed working at CBSI, not only because it’s such a short commute from my home, but because I work with such amazing people – in the office and with our clients. Our teamwork is outstanding at CBSI. We collaborate and elevate each other in the name of finding the best resolutions for our clients, and because of it, our customers know they can count on us.

    EXPERT EDUCATION

    Events and Webinars

    Employee Benefits

    Setting Your Strategy for the New Year: Alera Group's 2025 Employee Benefits Market Outlook

    Our experts will highlight key results from Alera Group’s "2025 Employee Benefits Market Outlook" and explain how these trends can impact your benefits program this year.

    January 16, 2025 at 01:00 pm CT | Virtual

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    Employee Benefits

    The Value of Voluntary Benefits

    In this session, our experts will showcase the value of voluntary benefits, from financial savings to improved retention to addressing the specific needs of their employees.

    March 20, 2025 at 01:00 pm CT | Virtual

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    Employee Benefits

    Balancing Cost and Care: Could Captive Insurance Be the Solution?

    In this session, our experts will discuss how Captive Insurance works and what you need to consider for your own group’s needs.

    April 17, 2025 at 01:00 pm CT | Virtual

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    THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

    Insights

    Employee Benefits

    Don’t Forget About Your Gag Clause Attestations

    When the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (CAA) was enacted on December 27, 2020, it included a provision that prohibits group health plans and health insurance carriers from entering into certain agreements that, either directly or indirectly, restrict the release of certain information related to provider networks and de-identified encounter data, among other things. Such restrictions are commonly referred to as “gag clauses.” The CAA also requires plans and carriers to attest annually that their agreements do not include such impermissible gag clauses.

    November 20, 2024

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    Employee Benefits

    Avoiding an Employee Lawsuit Over a Tobacco Surcharge Claim

    Tobacco surcharges on health insurance premiums for employees who use tobacco products are attractive options for employers looking to keep their workforce healthy while lowering their organization’s healthcare costs. But surcharges can go too far, and many employers may be unaware of the limitations. Alera Group's new whitepaper on tobacco surcharges is designed to assist employers in complying with federal regulations.

    November 19, 2024

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    Employee Benefits

    Q4 Considerations: New HIPAA Privacy Considerations

    Earlier this year, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued a Final Rule titled HIPAA Privacy Rule to Support Reproductive Health Care Privacy.

    November 15, 2024

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    Employee Benefits

    Spotlight on 2025 Benefit Limits

    The IRS has released the 2025 benefit plan limits. The following chart shows some of the key limits for the 2023, 2024 and 2025 tax years.

    November 15, 2024

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