Clear, consistent communication around employee benefits is essential—especially when it comes to understanding changes, updates, and cost considerations. Without it, employees are often left guessing how plan adjustments will affect their coverage, contributions, or out-of-pocket expenses. This uncertainty can lead to confusion, disengagement, and costly mistakes during open enrollment.
Proactive communication that walks through benefit changes, explains plan updates, and breaks down costs empowers employees to make informed decisions that support their financial well-being. I t also reduces the volume of questions during enrollment while building trust, confidence, and long-term engagement in the benefits offered.
This approach was highlighted during a recent The Plan Sponsor University (TPSU) program at Southern Methodist University, held at the George W. Bush Presidential Center. TPSU founder Fred Barstein spoke with Christine Luttrell of Advancial Federal Credit Union about her organization’s commitment to supporting employees through clear communication.
Christine shared that Advancial requires all employees to attend a live open enrollment session each year, about a month before enrollment begins. Led by HR and the training team, these sessions review benefit changes, plan updates, and cost considerations. This upfront communication not only reduces confusion and questions but also encourages employees to research their options in advance. Christine noted how much she values working for an organization that invests in its people’s understanding of their benefits and prioritizes their financial well-being.
Read the Full Transcript Here:
Fred Barstein:
Greetings. This is Fred Barstein, founder and CEO of TPSU and 401kTV. Just completed a program on the campus of SMU at the George Bush Presidential Center. Very wonderful place. And I’m here with Christine. Welcome, Christine.
Christine Luttrell:
Thank you.
Fred Barstein:
Okay if we ask you a few questions?
Christine Luttrell:
Absolutely.
Fred Barstein:
Before we do, tell our audience a little bit about yourself and your organization.
Christine Luttrell:
So I’m Christine Luttrell. I work for Advancial Federal Credit Union. Very fortunate to be working for this organization, have been in business since 1937. I have a business development role there. So my primary focus is finding organizations that take pride in their employees and want their employees to do better financially. So we’re there to let them have a way for their employees to join the credit union, as well as to receive some education from us. That kind of real world education, budgeting 101, that kind of thing. We leave the other stuff to the experts like you.
Fred Barstein:
So one of the things you said that your credit union has mandatory education. Can you explain what that is?
Christine Luttrell:
Absolutely. So every year prior to our open enrollment, usually about a month, a month and a half prior to that, every employee within the company, so we have about 320 of us, we are all assigned this mandatory open enrollment education. Basically what it does is it goes through any of the plans that have changed, anything that we’ve got upcoming, goes over the ones that are still in place and really talks about costs, talks about benefits, that sort of thing for us. I find that every year there’s always a little tweak, something new, something that I don’t understand. So having that short, 30 minute overview, if you want to call it that, that just really helps me make the decisions that are going to best benefit me financially in the end.
Fred Barstein:
Is it a video that you’re watching?
Christine Luttrell:
It’s not a video. It’s actually done by our HR group, our training group. And they set out several different times, you sign up for what time, and they actually go through it live.
Fred Barstein:
They go through it with you. So what’s the benefit of that? Why do you think your organization keep doing it?
Christine Luttrell:
I feel like Advancial recognizes that the more that we can educate that employee population, number one, the less questions they’re going to have when it actually comes to open enrollment. Number two, I think that we’re going to make much more informed decisions and it’s going to give us some time to be able to research it prior to the open enrollment and that kind of thing, if we know what’s coming down.
Fred Barstein:
You also appreciate the organization?
Christine Luttrell:
Very much.
Fred Barstein:
Yeah. Final question. TPSU, is this your first time here?
Christine Luttrell:
It is.
Fred Barstein:
Maybe one or two things that you learned and would you recommend it?
Christine Luttrell:
Absolutely would recommend it. I found the format was wonderful. The engagement from the participants was just top-notch. I think everybody had wonderful ideas. Hearing what each organization that participated today did that maybe was a little different gave us all some takeaways. For me, I know one of the things that the automatic enrollment, I think is incredible. We don’t do that at this time. I’m definitely taking that back to my HR team, talking to them about that. And the facilitators, you guys were great.
Fred Barstein:
Great. Well, thank you for coming.
Christine Luttrell:
You’re so welcome. I enjoyed it.
Fred Barstein:
Thank you. And thank you for watching 401kTV. Please stay tuned.
