I build benefit plans the same way I once built kitchens.
I'm Chuck Zimmerman. Before I ever sat across from a business owner, I was a carpenter.
Let's Have a Conversation →Same idea. Different materials.
I grew up as a carpenter. I built kitchens, libraries, homes. Places where people felt safe and comfortable.
You learn fast on a job site. If the foundation's off, nothing you build on top of it sits right. Nobody cares how nice the cabinets look if the floor sags.
I'll be honest. When I was first offered a job in insurance, I walked away.
It took a few unexpected turns before I gave it a real shot. And it turned out to be the best thing that ever happened to my career.
I started in voluntary benefits in 2017. Accident, critical illness, life, disability. It was good work. I was helping families when something bad happened.
But I was always showing up after the damage was done.
Then I found the wellness plan. The first time I watched a family see what they got, I knew this was different. Doctors any time. Prescriptions at $0. Real help for mental health. Right away, not after something went wrong.
That feeling is what gets me up every morning.
Foundation first. Then the frame. Then you protect what's inside.
That's exactly how I build a benefit plan.
The foundation is wellness. It keeps your people healthy so the big stuff happens less.
The frame is the health plan. It holds when life throws a curve ball.
The roof is protection. Cash for the family after a big event, so one bad day doesn't wreck their year.
Most brokers start with the roof and never check the foundation. I start at the ground. And my team handles the heavy lifting: setup, paperwork, payroll, all of it. Most owners are surprised how little it changes their day.
Most brokers stand across the table.
We sit at it.
Three seats at the table: your people, the owner, and us right in the middle. That's the "us" in Obviously Us. I'm not a vendor standing outside. I'm in the seat between you and your people.
"There are ways to take care of your people besides throwing more money at them. I build them."
Five things we don't bend on.
Working with owners across the country.
We're Chicagoland at heart and work with businesses in all 50 states. Member of the St. Charles, Batavia, and Rockford chambers.
19 minutes. Real numbers. No obligation.
- A real look at your team
- What you and your people gain
- Straight answers on fit
- No pressure