About Us
TRUEbenefits is embracing our Alera Group brand to reflect our national capabilities, industry expertise and expanded resources in all areas of our business.
In 2017, TRUEbenefits and 23 firms across the nation joined to form Alera Group. Six years later, we are 180 firms strong, working together to leverage powerful relationships, industry experience and resources with the goal of supporting our clients’ business strategies and elevating the experience of working with us. By embracing our new branding of Alera Group, we will continue to bring our clients a personalized set of solutions while reflecting our expanded capabilities. What remains consistent is holding our clients at the core of our business.
We are excited about this next step in our evolution as we continue to build a great company with clients at our center. Through collaboration and teamwork, we will continue to offer you the resources of a national firm along with the personalized experience of a local partner.
As Alera Group, we are stronger together!
Beyond Benefits as Usual
We ask questions you haven’t heard before. Digging deeper gives us the understanding to customize cost-effective solutions that advance our clients’ business goals, see them through times of rapid change, and help recruit and retain the best people in their industries. Our clients know they can count on us for total transparency and an independent point of view. Our firm attracts passionate, industry-experienced people who value the time we give them to go above and beyond for our clients. It’s not enough to be reactive around renewal time. Together, we bring the strategic thinking, attention to detail and proactive perspective that employee benefits need all year round.
By delivering measurable results and client satisfaction, we have earned a Net Promoter Score of 88 —much higher than those of leading Fortune 500 companies. Most important, it earns our clients’ confidence that they’re getting higher value from every benefit dollar.
Meet Our Team
Meet our Team
Cherise Reese
Managing Partner
Cherise Reese, Managing Partner, has over twenty years of experience in the benefits consulting industry after first developing her business skills in retail management and human resources. As Managing Partner, Cherise focuses on developing and growing the Alera Group team, creating new avenues for success as they serve clients with excellence. With patience, integrity, and optimism, she works tirelessly to implement strategies that further the goals of the Alera Group team and their clients. Cherise is a member of the Alera Group Inclusions & Diversity Steering committee as well as an active member in our Women’s Mentorship program. Cherise has been with Alera Group Seattle for 14 years and plans to continue to serve her team with dedication for many years to come. She is a graduate of the University of Washington, and enjoys boating around the San Juans, collecting sea glass, watching football, and reading.
Brent Schlosstein
Founder & Senior Partner
Brent Schlosstein, Founder & Senior Partner, is an entrepreneur and recognized employee benefits expert focused on building high performance health plans for progressive and employee-focused organizations. Passionate about transforming healthcare in an environment of transparency, collaboration, and professionalism, Brent’s responsible for driving growth and building a world-class consulting organization. Brent holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Washington and is one of just 250 healthcare consultants in the U.S. to be accredited by Health Rosetta. He’s Past President of the Lake Washington Human Resources Association and a member of numerous insurance Advisory Councils in Washington state. In his spare time, Brent continues to work on his golf game where, one day, he plans to shoot his age.
Astrea Arguello
Senior Employee Benefits Executive
Astrea Arguello, Senior Employee Benefit Executive, has worked as a mid-market employee benefits Producer and Consultant for fifteen years. She loves helping employers attract and retain a quality workforce through offering creative, well-balanced, cost effective employee benefit solutions. Driven by a desire to exceed her client’s expectations, her honesty, integrity, knowledge, and energy truly differentiate her within the industry. Astrea joined Alera Group in January 2018. Outside the office, Astrea enjoys spending time with her family, reading, camping, watching football, and travelling.
Amber Oldham
Director of Client Services
Amber Oldham, Director of Client Services, has eighteen years of experience with employee benefits, working with clients of all sizes. Amber is passionate about ensuring our Client Service Team is well-equipped to provide an excellent service experience for our clients and their employees. She has oversight for team training, new client assignments, team workflow, and development. She currently serves as the compliance liaison between the Seattle office and the regional & national Alera Group compliance division. Amber enjoys doing home improvement projects with her husband, camping with their two dogs, and cheering for the Seahawks in her spare time.
EXPERT EDUCATION
Events and Webinars
Latest Updates on the Maryland Paid Family and Medical Leave Act
We invite you to join our interactive webinar to review the newly proposed Maryland Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FAMLI) regulations.
November 19, 2024 at 10:00 am ET | Virtual
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Employee Benefits
When Captive Insurance Makes Sense
In this session, our experts will talk about how captives work, the advantages and disadvantages and what you need to know to determine whether they make sense for your organization.
November 21, 2024 at 01:00 pm CT | Virtual
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Employee Benefits
Q4 Compliance Update
Alera Group's quarterly employee benefits compliance roundup will help you stay current on the latest national regulatory developments impacting employers.
December 3, 2024 at 01:00 pm CT | Virtual
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THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
Insights
Employee Benefits
Are You Prepared to Comply With the New Mental Health Parity Final Rule in 2025?
On September 9, 2024, the DOL, IRS and HHS released a final rule for the Requirements Related to the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA Final Rule). The MHPAEA Final Rule is similar to the proposed rule released on July 25, 2023, with some marked differences. While the MHPAEA Final Rule is effective as of November 22, 2024, the requirements become enforceable at different times. Most apply to plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2025, with other requirements becoming enforceable for plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2026.
October 25, 2024
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Employee Benefits
Legal Alert: IRS Adjusts Health Flexible Spending Account and Other Benefit Limits for 2025
On October 22, 2024, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) released Revenue Procedure 2024-40, which increases the health flexible spending account (FSA) salary reduction contribution limit to $3,300 for plan years beginning in 2025, an increase of $100 from 2024.
October 23, 2024
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Webinar: Meeting the Needs of an Aging Workforce
Why is recognizing and addressing the priorities of older workers an imperative? Because, as Bain’s analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data determined, workers 55 and older will exceed a quarter of the workforce among G7 nations, including the United States, by 2031. Older workers typically have different priorities and needs compared to their younger colleagues, as Alera Group will examine and discuss on October 17 during the next event in our Engage series of employee benefits webinars, “Meeting the Needs of an Aging Workforce.”
October 3, 2024
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Wellbeing Fair Sessions — When and Where You Like
Themed “Live for Tomorrow,” Alera Group's 2024 Employee Wellbeing Fair is now available online, where you can access all eight sessions, select which ones you want to view and watch them at your convenience.
October 2, 2024
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