About Us
ABOUT US
For over 30 years, Spire Risk Management (SRM) has made a positive impact by servicing clients across the US, providing consulting, compliance, and administrative services of employee benefit programs at the very highest level. Our mission is to be committed to protecting our client’s human assets through creative insurance solutions.
Since 1986, we have taken full advantage of the flexibility of being privately held. This alone, allows us to be nimble, innovative, and entrepreneurial when it comes to providing the best solutions and experience for our clients.
We invest heavily in our teammates. We empower them to be the best they can be by providing a professional, entrepreneurial, and rewarding workplace. We believe in their professional and personal growth and have created a culture of supporting each other.
On behalf of our entire SRM team, we're grateful for the opportunity to help you navigate through the complex issues of your employee benefit program in an ever-changing landscape.
WHY CHOOSE US?
Culture – The reason SRM is a leading insurance firm in Texas; over 30 years of a proven culture. A culture of serving our clients, our employees, and our community.
Relationships – Relationships create loyalty. For over three decades, we have developed the type of relationships with our clients that has transformed us from being just another broker into a brand they know and trust. We do not take this for granted.
Passion – If you don’t love what you do, you won’t do it with conviction. What distinguishes us at SRM is our passion for putting our clients’ best interest at the forefront of everything we do.
OUR HISTORY
Employee Benefit Services was founded in 1986 by Billie & Art Villemain as an employee brokerage firm. Employee Benefit Services launched its Third Party Administration business in 1999 to serve self-funded clients and introduced its proprietary eligibility management platform, EBSEnroll, in 2013.
In 2019, Spire Risk Management (SRM) acquired an interest in Employee Benefit Services Brokerage and TPA, and rebranded the firm as Spire Risk Management in November of 2019.
In 2020, SRM acquired Texas State Life & Health, a firm specializing in employee benefits and Medicare Insurance Solutions in the San Antonio MSA.
In 2021, SRM acquired Transitional Advisors, a firm focused on small and mid-market employee benefits in the San Antonio MSA.
In 2023, SRM acquired Greer and Associates in Harlingen, TX, specializing in small and mid-market employee benefit plans in the Rio Grande Valley.
In 2024, SRM acquired Benefit Solutions based in Kerrville, TX. Todd Peter and the Benefit Solutions team specialize in small and mid-market employee benefit plans in South Texas.
In 2024, SRM merged with Alera Group, a top national insurance and financial services firm, on December 1, 2024. This merger expanded SRM’s resources and capabilities, including the addition of Property & Casualty, Wealth Services, and Retirement Plan services.
Meet Our Team
L.P. Buddy Morris
Managing Partner, Spire Risk Management, LLC; Managing Director, Morris Asset Management, Ltd.
L. P. Buddy Morris started his career in the healthcare industry in 1989 with Humana, Inc. After a nine-year stint as a large group sales executive, Buddy launched Summit Insurance Group (SIG) in 1998. Specializing in the consulting and brokerage of commercial employee benefit programs, SIG grew to be the largest employee benefits firm in San Antonio with more than 30 employees, 300 clients, and $125 million in annual premium sold.
In 2004, Buddy vertically integrated Summit Administrative Services (SAS) providing COBRA administration and eligibility management services for existing SIG clients.
In September of 2008, both SIG and SAS were acquired by Arthur J. Gallagher (NYSE: AJG) where Buddy assumed the role of Area President.
In 2009, Buddy founded Morris Asset Management, Ltd (MAM), where he serves as Managing Director. MAM is involved in venture capital and private equity investments in the real estate, energy, banking, and healthcare industries. MAM has had several notable dispositions in the past four years. They include the sale of eHealthscreenings to Premise Healthcare, the sale of Cage Water Technology to Integrated Advantage Group, and the sale of Med Centre Plaza to UT Health Science Center.
Buddy resigned from Gallagher on May 31, 2019, subsequently launching Spire Risk Management, LLC (SRM) based in San Antonio, TX. He serves as Executive Chairman. SRM is the fastest-growing employee benefits firm in San Antonio with 63.5% CAGR over the first three years of operation.
Buddy has been an active participant in several charitable, civic, and business boards. The Bank of San Antonio, Texas A&M University (Mays Business School), Witte Museum, and University Health System, to name a few. Buddy earned a Bachelor of Arts from Texas A&M University in 1988. He is the proud father of Katie 22, Ryan 21, and Bradford 17.
Connect on LinkedInPete Villemain
Senior Partner
Pete Villemain began his insurance career by joining his family’s insurance agency, Employee Benefit Services, two days after graduating from Southwestern University in May of 1995. With an early focus on self-insurance, Pete was instrumental in expanding EBS’s services to becoming a licensed TPA in 1999. As a TPA, EBS provided COBRA, FSA, HRA, eligibility management, and self-funded administration services to its clients in addition to the gamut of fully-insured solutions.
In 2004, Pete took over as President of EBS and continued to expand its services to companies throughout South Texas. As EBS grew, so did the need for in-house solutions.
In 2012, Pete made the bold commitment and investment to develop an online benefit platform to provide clients a single resource with online enrollment, COBRA and premium bill auditing…a system that is still unmatched in the market today.
Over the years, Pete has developed a reputation of developing unique solutions for employers to not only save them money today, but set their benefit plans up for long term stability and success.
On November 1, 2019, Pete and Buddy Morris brokered a merger of EBS and Spire Risk Management with the goal of bringing “National Talent” to the South Texas “Boutique Market”. Clients of Spire Risk Management enjoy the benefits of having experienced, veteran counsel with hands-on, personal service.
In his free time, Pete enjoys volunteering with his church and performing as a professional drummer. Married in 1995, Pete and his wife, Kathy (also in the business) have raised two sons: Jacob, a successful, local engine builder and Nathan, a member of the Corps of Cadets at Texas A&M University and future officer in the US Army.
Connect on LinkedInMike Wilson
Vice President, Large Group Administration
Mike Wilson began his insurance career in 1983 with Unilife Insurance Company. In 1987, Mike accepted a role as Manager of Administration for LifeRe Insurance, which changed the course of his career.
Upon leaving LifeRe, Mike founded SBS Administration, where he served as CEO/President. SBS subsequently became one of San Antonio’s most trusted administrators, managing COBRA, Section 125 plans, and HRA’s for Texas based companies.
After selling SBS to a local investor, Mike accepted a role with Employee Benefit Services (EBS). Mike has served in numerous roles at EBS, most recently in a leadership role as CFO. With the merger of SRM and EBS, Mike has moved in to the role as Vice President, Large Group Administration.
Mike earned his bachelor’s degree in Business Science in 2016 and is the proud father of Steven and Caitlin.
Diane Vandersyde
Vice President
Diane started in the insurance industry in 1988 as a Marketing Representative for a third-party administrator specializing in employee benefits. She eventually became the Director of Account Services for Humana Insurance Company managing the Account Management Team that provides daily services to Benefit Managers throughout the Southwest Region. This experience led her to into a sales and marketing position with Aetna Health Care working with Insurance Brokers to provide health care solutions to customers throughout the nation.
In 1999 Diane became the Principal Managing partner of her own Agency focused on Sales and Service of Employee Benefit Programs. She quickly developed a reputation in the industry for providing exceptional service while navigating creative cost saving strategies for her customers.
Evaluating the latest technology and compliance solutions for her clients, Diane recognized that Spire Risk Management provides an exceptional online system and also shares her philosophy for providing exceptional service. On January 1, 2022, she merged her firm with SRM.
She is a Member of the San Antonio Health Underwriters Association having served as Second Vice President, Secretary and Media/Communications Chair. She currently serves as an Executive Board member for the San Antonio Women’s Chamber of Commerce previously co-chairing the “Smart Women’s Series” educational program and is currently the Director for the “Charities of Choice “.
She devotes time volunteering with non-profit organizations such as Relay for Life and the Alzheimer’s Association. She has 2 wonderful sons, Devin, an honors Math Teacher and Coach for NEISD and Diego, a college student pursuing a degree in Physics. In her spare time, you will find her at Iron Fit gym or at various “doodle romps” throughout the city with her 2 Doodle Dogs.
Diane and her family are proud members of the Community Bible Church in San Antonio, TX.
Connect on LinkedInResources
Our approach is predicated on designing employee benefit programs that are both comprehensive and cost effective…maximizing the expected return on investment. Our process will include the following pillars: CONSULTING, BROKERAGE, COMPLIANCE, ADMINISTRATION
CONSULTING
- Develop a strategy to identify goals, assess plan cost, design service and support models, and wrap it all around timelines.
- Assessment of plan funding options: fully insured, partially self-funded, reference-based pricing and direct contracting.
- Assessment of pharmacy cost. Develop and implement PBM RFP’s to secure most competitive pricing and contract language.
- Consistently compare and contrast plan benefits and costs as it relates to peer benchmarking data.
- Assist with the budgeting process; employee/employer contribution strategies.
- Design, develop and produce customized open enrollment communication material to support HR communication initiatives.
- Conduct periodic utilization review and executive summary meetings to evaluate:
– Budget
– Cost Drivers
– Network Access
– Gaps in Care
– Stop-Loss Tracking
– Plan Trends
– PBM Performance
BROKERAGE
- Establish risk profile to assist with managing budgeting process.
- Provide renewal plan and funding alternatives to analyze potential cost impact.
- Develop formal RFP process on an annual basis and manage the renewal process from start to finish…on time.
- Develop renewal analysis report, documenting plan recommendations, cost impact, and carrier service and support programs.
- Develop network access and network disruption reports to validate appropriate in-network penetration levels.
- Conduct finalist interviews to validate RFP responses, confirm alignment with HR related strategies, and facilitate client implementation process.
COMPLIANCE
- Health & Welfare Compliance Education
- Provide legislative and regulatory updates; covering federal, state and local compliance requirements.
- Assistance with DOL audits and similar federal and state regulatory inquiries.
- Evaluation and administration of COBRA, HIPAA, and FMLA plans and administration.
- ERISA compliance and disclosure support.
- PPACA impact analysis evaluation, support, and consulting.
- Periodic educational compliance and regulatory seminars and webinars.
- ERISA required document management; WRAP, SPD, POP, Form 5500.
ADMINISTRATION
- Dedicated account service team to integrate with client HR staff and manage overall benefits program.
- Proprietary cloud-based eligibility management platform to provide enrollment services (new hires, terms, and changes) throughout the course of a plan year.
- Dedicated claims specialist to triage with provider/carrier/employer to solve claim issues and questions for your employees.
- Assist with assessing wellness strategy goals and facilitate a discussion around wellness objectives. Monitor the development of overall plan, tracking engagement and monitoring performance of wellness vendors.
- Devoted call center to work directly with your employees to help them successfully navigate the complicated healthcare delivery system.
EXPERT EDUCATION
Events and Webinars
Wealth Services
State of the Markets
Join us as we unveil the factors that drive the nation's financial pulse and how they may impact your personal finances.
October 22, 2025 at 12:00 pm CT | Virtual
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Employee Benefits
Q4 2025 Quarterly Compliance Webinar
Alera Group's quarterly employee benefits compliance roundup will help you stay current on the latest national regulatory developments impacting employers.
November 4, 2025 at 01:00 pm CT | Virtual
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THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
Insights
Employee Benefits
2025 Leave Report: Insights to Guide 2026 Leave Planning
Explore Alera Group’s 2025 Leave Report. Benchmark PTO, parental leave, and holiday policies to strengthen employee retention and recruitment as you plan for 2026 and beyond.
October 1, 2025
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Employee Benefits
Legal Alert: IRS Issues Affordability Percentage Adjustment for 2026
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has released Rev. Proc. 2025-25, which contains the inflation adjusted amounts for 2026 used to determine whether employer-sponsored coverage is “affordable” for purposes of the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) employer shared responsibility provisions and premium tax credit program.
July 23, 2025
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Legal Alert: Enforcement of the HIPAA Reproductive Health Care Privacy Rule Vacated Nationwide
On June 18, 2025, a federal district court in Texas vacated a significant portion of the HIPAA Privacy Rule to Support Reproductive Health Care Privacy (“Final Rule”), which was implemented on April 24, 2024, on a nationwide basis. The Final Rule, which was implemented in response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization (effectively overturning Roe v. Wade), was intended to protect the ability of individuals to receive reproductive health care when the care is provided lawfully under the circumstances without risk of an individual’s identity or health information being disclosed for purposes of state criminal, civil or administrative investigations (or for imposing liability related to lawfully providing or obtaining reproductive healthcare).
July 21, 2025
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Legal Alert: Employee Benefits Provisions in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act
On July 3, 2025, Congress passed a reconciliation bill (the “Reconciliation Act”) previously named the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, but subsequently redesignated “An Act to provide for reconciliation pursuant to title II of H. Con. Res. 14.”
July 8, 2025
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