Your benefits program should work as hard as your people do.
Most brokers show up at renewal with a spreadsheet. Buffer shows up 90 days early with a strategy. We design, shop, enroll, and manage — so your HR team isn't doing it alone.
Who we help
Business Owner
I want to control benefits costs
See what you're actually spending per employee →
HR Professional
I feel behind at every renewal
Get a month-by-month renewal roadmap →
CFO / Controller
I want to control costs and reduce exposure
Self-funded, level-funded, captive — we know the options →
Free Benefits Assessment
Most employers don't know what their benefits program is missing. This assessment does.
Answer 9 questions. Get a personalized report card — compliance flags, benchmark grades, and a cost analysis — tailored to your role and your company.
Business Owner
"What is this really costing me?"
→ Cost per employee vs. market
→ Section 125 tax savings gap
→ ROI on benefits spend
HR Professional
"How do we compare?"
→ Enrollment rate benchmark
→ Benefits breadth vs. peers
→ Compliance advisory notices
CFO / Controller
"What is our exposure?"
→ Compliance penalty exposure
→ FICA tax savings opportunity
→ Total benefits cost analysis
Step 1 of 9
What is your role?
This personalizes your results — a CFO and an HR director care about different things.
Step 2 of 9
How many full-time employees does your company have?
Use your actual headcount — this determines which compliance rules apply to you.
Step 3 of 9
What state is your business headquartered in?
State laws add requirements on top of federal rules — especially for smaller employers.
Step 4 of 8
Which benefits do you currently offer?
Select all that apply. We'll ask about your medical plan details if you offer it.
Core Health Benefits
Life & Disability
Supplemental / Voluntary
Financial & Retirement
Workplace & Culture
Enterprise Benefits
Typically offered by employers with 100+ employees
Step 5 of 8
Tell us about your medical plan(s).
Add up to 3 plans. Approximate values are fine — we use these to benchmark your plan design and enrollment.
Plan 1
$
$
Plan 2
$
$
Plan 3
$
$
Step 6 of 8
What does your company contribute toward premiums?
Enter the percentage your company pays toward the employee's monthly premium.
%
%
$
Step 7 of 8
A few quick compliance questions.
These determine whether you have the required plan infrastructure in place.
Step 7 of 8
What's your biggest frustration with your current benefits situation?
Select the one that resonates most — or the closest to it.
Want the full version of this report?
We'll put it in a shareable format and email it to you — useful for sharing with your team or reviewing later.
What's your work email?
One more thing — who should we address it to?
We'll send your report and a member of the Buffer team may follow up. No obligation.
✓ Done — check your inbox. If you have questions in the meantime, reach us at info@bufferinsurance.com.
Free Assessment
Take the Employer Benefits Maximizer Assessment
Are your benefits working as hard as your team? The Employer Benefits Maximizer Assessment helps you uncover where your current plan might be falling short — and where you could be getting more value for every dollar you spend on employee benefits.
Enter your renewal month and see exactly what should happen — and when — so nothing falls through the cracks. Buffer starts your renewal process 90 days out, not 30.
Critical action required
Action recommended
Planning phase
Maintenance period
Buffer starts your renewal process 90 days out — not 30. Want us to manage it for you?
Our Services
Everything your benefits program needs.
From plan design to compliance administration — Buffer handles the full lifecycle of your employer benefits program.
Fully-insured, level-funded, and self-funded group health plans from top carriers. We design, shop, and manage the right plan for your team and budget.
For employers with 50+ FTE employees, ACA reporting is mandatory. We coordinate 1094/1095-C filing with your payroll provider and track ALE status year-round.
Affordable ACA compliance for large employers with hourly, seasonal, or variable-hour workforces. MEC and MEC+MVP plans satisfy employer mandate requirements at a fraction of traditional group health costs.
For employers who take investing in their vision and people seriously.
From small teams offering benefits for the first time to mid-market employers evaluating self-funded and captive alternatives. What they have in common: they want a broker who shows up like a partner, not a vendor.
Professional Services
Law firms, accounting, consulting, financial services, and other professional practices.
Healthcare / Medical
Medical practices, dental groups, therapy clinics, and healthcare-adjacent businesses.
Construction & Trades
General contractors, subcontractors, specialty trades, and construction management firms.
Nonprofit / Faith-Based
Nonprofits, churches, faith-based organizations, and mission-driven employers.
Manufacturing
Manufacturers, fabricators, distributors, and industrial businesses across Texas and beyond.
Technology
SaaS companies, IT services, staffing, and tech-enabled businesses competing for top talent.
Fully-insured & level-funded
Self-funded with stop-loss
Captive arrangements
Licensed across 41 states
Client Testimonials
Don't take our word for it.
4.9 · 297 Google Reviews
"His team at Buffer has consistently differentiated themselves in ways that make me feel seen, understood, and supported as a business owner. Every time I speak with Sean, he adds value to my life and I leave feeling more fulfilled and equipped than I did before our conversation."
All outcomes below are from actual Buffer clients. Names and identifying details have been changed to protect confidentiality.
Cost Reduction
$115K+
in surplus reimbursements negotiated over two consecutive plan years
Texas manufacturer, 86 employees. Started as a Buffer client with just 8 employees. As the organization grew, we restructured their benefit program to access mid-market plan tiers. In year one, we negotiated a below-market renewal, secured a $3,000 wellness fund, and locked in a $54,000 surplus reimbursement. The following year, we held the increase below market again, negotiated $61,390 in surplus reimbursement with an 8% guarantee, retained the wellness fund, and secured a 100% surplus share for the following year.
Identifying details removed. Outcomes verified by client. Results vary based on claims experience and plan design.
Plan Design Rescue
$17,000
premium credit negotiated at implementation, plus a 12% reduction at the following renewal
Texas technology firm, self-funded plan. A catastrophic medical event revealed a critical stop-loss gap their previous broker had never caught. Buffer restructured the plan design and secured appropriate stop-loss coverage while ensuring the employee retained access to needed medications. Separately, a healthcare employer had their plan redesigned at implementation: full hospital network access restored, specialty pharmacy mandate eliminated, a $17,000 premium credit secured on day one, and a 12% reduction negotiated at the following renewal.
Identifying details removed. Outcomes verified by clients. Results vary based on plan design and claims history.
Enrollment Turnaround
275%
increase in enrolled employees in the first plan year after benefits redesign
Multi-state contractor, Texas-based. Had an outdated benefit structure with poor employee participation — only 12 enrolled out of a much larger workforce. After Buffer redesigned the program around modernized major medical plans, participation jumped to 45 in the first year and 58 the year after. The surge in enrollment stabilized the premium-to-claims ratio and produced year-over-year rate stability. Buffer managed the program across three states through an integrated online enrollment platform.
Identifying details removed. Outcomes verified by client. Results vary based on workforce composition and plan design.
How We Work
We don't just sell benefits. We manage them.
Most brokers disappear after renewal. Buffer is involved year-round — design, enrollment, compliance, renewals, and everything in between.
01
We design
We start with your goals — budget, talent strategy, compliance obligations — and design a benefits program around them. Not around what's easiest to sell.
02
We strategize & shop
As an independent broker, we access multiple carriers — including fully-insured, level-funded, self-funded with stop-loss, and captive structures. We benchmark your current rates against the market, build a strategy around your goals and budget, and show you what you're actually paying for.
03
We educate & enroll
We conduct employee education meetings, handle open enrollment communications, and make sure every eligible employee understands and uses their benefits.
04
We manage
Mid-year changes, billing questions, claims issues, compliance notices — we handle it. Your HR team shouldn't be an insurance call center.
05
We renew
We start 90 days before renewal — not 30. Market analysis, claims review, strategy session, employee communication. No surprises.
Your Team
Real advisors. Not a call center.
When you work with Buffer, you get a dedicated team that knows your account.
Shelly Langham
Senior Account Manager
15+ years in group health and employee benefits. Shelly has managed benefits programs for employers from 5 to 500 employees across Texas and beyond.
Whitney Workman
Account Manager
Known for responsiveness and attention to detail. Whitney manages renewals, employee questions, and mid-year changes so your HR team doesn't have to.
Tonya Falzett
Insurance Advisor
Tonya takes a consultative approach — starting with your goals and building a strategy that delivers real value to both employers and their employees.
Get Started
Ready to build a benefits program your employees actually value?
Start with a free benefits review. No pressure, no obligation — just a clear picture of where you stand and what's possible.
Whether you're fully-insured, level-funded, self-funded, or evaluating a captive — we've been there.
