‘Ethos’ represents the guiding principle, character, or spirit of a person or organization. It’s the ‘why’ that drives decision-making and fuel’s purpose.
Our Ethos is deeply rooted in the story of our Founder, Donovan Ryckis.
Over a decade ago, Donovan, a fiduciary Series 65 securities advisor specializing in retirement and pension planning, was approached by a client facing a dire situation. The client’s publicly traded broker claimed there was no solution for a staggering 37.5% health insurance renewal increase—a cost that threatened the business and its employees.
With no prior experience in health insurance markets but guided by his unwavering fiduciary principles, Donovan took on the challenge. The result? He mitigated the risk entirely, delivering a solution 12% below the current rate. This allowed the business to thrive and ensured hundreds of employees wouldn’t have to choose between basic necessities and skyrocketing health premiums.
That moment sparked a revelation. The fraud, waste, and abuse Donovan had fought in retirement planning paled in comparison to the challenges in healthcare. He saw an opportunity to bring transparency and fiduciary principles to an industry in desperate need of change.
Donovan pivoted his career, becoming one of the first fee-based health insurance advisors in the nation. By removing all conflicts of interest in broker compensation, he laid the foundation for what is now the leading innovative employee benefits agency in the country, delivering higher quality care at a significantly lower cost to employers nationwide.
In this 3-minute video excerpt from the documentary, “It’s Not Personal, It’s Just Healthcare,” learn about Donovan and Chelsea Ryckis’ dynamic journey to the world of healthcare benefits and why it is a part of their mission to bring transparency to the field.
At Ethos Benefits, our customer service philosophy is grounded in doing what’s right-regardless of the cost. Many of our team members have come from large agencies where the primary focus is on shareholders, often at the expense of genuinely serving clients. These environments typically limit the time spent addressing individual employee issues.
We take a different approach. Our philosophy is straightforward: if something can be done better, it should be. Healthcare delivery and financing are among the most complex systems in the world, and expecting employees to navigate them alone-often through impersonal 1-800 numbers is unrealistic. This is especially true for those juggling caregiving, single parenting, or simply trying to get by.
At Ethos Benefits, we empower our customer service team to go above and beyond. Whether it’s contacting providers on behalf of employees, disputing bills, or assisting with setting up appointments, there’s no time limit on doing things right. We also prioritize making communication easy, meeting employees where they are with options like text messaging to provide timely, accessible support.
We’re here to ensure employees receive the highest quality care they need at the lowest cost-plain and simple.
• Strategy
• Contracts
• Benefits Business Plan
• Escalations
• Onboarding
• Weekly or Biweekly Ethos Experience Calls
• Claims Reviews
• Communication Strategy
• Technology & Integrations
• Employee Liaison
• Eligibility Management
• Claims Support
• Employee Healthcare Navigation
• Manage Mobile Communications Platform
• Fiduciary Committee Consulting
• Custom Compliance Calendar
• All Annual Benefits Compliance Items
• Access to HR Hotline, Handbooks, Document Review & Training
• Build Benefits Administration Technology
• Audit of Plan Builds
• Carrier & Payroll Integrations, including 834 EDI setup
• File Feed Discrepancy Reports
• Assess your HR health
• Expert advice on HR & Legal
• Create handbooks
• Anonymous reporting
• Customizable documents
Donovan Ryckis is the award winning founder and CEO of Ethos Benefits, a firm dedicated to advancing fiduciary-driven health insurance strategies for employers nationwide. Donovan and his wife and business partner Chelsea, have pioneered a revolutionary approach that effectively eliminates fraud, waste and abuse from employer healthcare plans while increasing savings for both employers and their employees.
A seasoned entrepreneur, who has created and exited numerous successful companies in a multitude of industries, Donovan has always looked for ways to improve existing standards. With over a decade of experience as a fiduciary, I bring transparency, common sense, and alignment of interests into the benefits marketplace.
His desire to have a greater impact on families and hard-working individuals led to the creation of Ethos. Donovan’s unconventional work in the health insurance industry helps place the power back into the hands of business owners and employees.
Donovan is the co-host of the Ethos Effect Podcast and producer of the documentary “It’s Not Personal, It’s Just Healthcare,” which will premiere in late 2024. He is a renowned speaker, regularly appearing on the industry’s most coveted stages including; ALM Benefits Pro Expo, SHRM HR Florida, and the ISCEBS Symposium.
He is a member of NABIP, National Association of Benefits and Insurance Professionals, as well as the Q4i Intelligence and Exit Planning Institute. Donovan is an avid sportsman and enjoys spending time with his wife and their beloved dog.
Chelsea Ryckis is the founder and president of Ethos Benefits, a firm dedicated to advancing fiduciary-driven health insurance strategies for employers nationwide. Chelsea and her husband Donovan are revolutionizing the current system, eliminating fraud, waste and abuse from employer healthcare plans while increasing savings for both employers and their employees.
Originally from Canada, Chelsea had her first interaction with the American healthcare system when she sustained a traumatic brain injury during her college sports career that stopped her from attending medical school. Using the lessons learned during that time, Chelsea discovered her ethos; if something can be done better, it should be. As a trailblazer in her industry, Chelsea speaks on national stages and educates advisors in her industry to bring the highest quality care at the most affordable price. She has been a featured presenter at ALM Benefits Pro Expo, SHRM HR Florida, and ISCEBS.
Chelsea produced a documentary It’s Not Personal, It’s Just Healthcare, which interviews CEOs, human resource professionals, hospital executives, insurance industry experts, doctors and nurses, who blow the whistle on insurance companies’ propaganda and corruption. Chelsea also cohosts the Ethos Effect podcast with her husband, Donovan, where they interview entrepreneurs who are using their own ethos to transform their industries. She was awarded the Most Innovative Healthcare Consultant in the United States for 2024, and received the industry’s most prestigious award, Advisor of the Year by Benefits Pro. Chelsea proudly became an American citizen in 2024. As part of Chelsea’s personal ethos, she enjoys traveling, paddleboarding, and being active with Donovan and her service dog, Copious.
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