Greater Philadelphia Area
About Us
In the Philadelphia area, we have brought together six outstanding firms as Alera Group Philadelphia. This includes Pentra, HealthFirst, Somerset Capital, Vantage Point, Perspective Financial Group and HR inTune. Recently, Lamb Benefits – Employee Benefits Division joined our team. Every owner of each firm remains an equity partner in Alera Group. Our mission is to enhance our clients’ experience in tangible and measurable ways by building on the foundation of each firm. We strive to deliver the best possible outcomes—positively impacting our employees, clients, communities and the lives of people we serve.
There is a level of excitement at Alera that our clients experience through daily interactions with our team. We care about our people, our clients, our client relationships and making a difference.
Meet Our Team
People you can count on. People you can trust.
Shane Johnson
Senior Partner
Shane M. Johnson joined J.R. Burke and Perspective Financial Group, An Alera Group Company, in January 2011. In the early part of his career, he was a regional insurance broker, where he designed and facilitated the implementation of insurance and annuity solutions for clients of the financial professionals with whom he partnered. This experience, coupled with a passion to serve the unique needs of clients, led him to join Perspective Financial Group. Shane became a partner of the firm in 2018. Clients appreciate his broad knowledge and genuine concern for their interests and goals.
Shane graduated from Shippensburg University with a BSBA, and dual major in finance and economics. He is an alumnus of Alpha Kappa Psi Professional Business Fraternity. He had the opportunity to study international business finance and economics while living abroad, at the Aarhus School of Business in Denmark. Shane holds the Chartered Life Underwriter® (CLU®) and Chartered Financial Consultant® (ChFC®) designations from The American College. He is a member of the Chester County and Philadelphia Estate Planning Councils and is a former Board Member for the Society of Financial Service Professionals (SFSP). He is a member of the Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT). In 2022, he qualified for the Top of the Table. The MDRT’s Top of the Table is an exclusive forum for the world's most successful life insurance and financial services professionals. Those who qualify demonstrate a commitment to providing exemplary client service, while displaying the highest standards of ethics and professional knowledge.
A resident of Chester Springs, Shane enjoys the quiet suburban lifestyle and quick access to the many parks and trails he frequents. In addition to spending time with his wife, Olivia, and their three children, he is actively involved in numerous non-profit organizations; one devoted to serving the needs of Veterans and others focused on Multiple Sclerosis and Autism. He, and his family, are active supporters of The Mann Center for the Performing Arts where he serves as part of their Ambassador Program, and also on their Chairman's Council. The Council is to be comprised of former board members and major donors who are willing to be ambassadors for The Mann—individuals with a passion for furthering its mission and who bring skills and knowledge that will complement those of the formal governing Board of Directors.
Where is your favorite place to eat? At my mother’s dining room table, with - as many family members packed around it as we can fit, food everywhere, spontaneous toasts, bad jokes, lots of eye contact, and no cell phones.
If they made a movie about your life, who would you want to play you? Mark Wahlberg. I’ve been told he looks like me, to which I replied “minus the six pack abdominals”.
First thing you would do if you won the lottery? Buy back all my time and spend every second of it teaching my son all the things schools can’t or won’t.
What is something that’s on your bucket list? Learn to play an instrument well enough to perform in front of people while singing.
Favorite movie quote? Dear Jesse, as the moon lingers a moment over the bitterroots, before its descent into the invisible, my mind is filled with song. I find I am humming softly; not to the music, but something else; someplace else; a place remembered; a field of grass where no one seemed to have been; except a deer; and the memory is strengthened by the feeling of you, dancing in my awkward arms.
Griffin Kelley
Financial Analyst
Griffin serves as a Financial Analyst at Alera Group. He prepares comprehensive financial reports and collaborates with account teams to evaluate financial modeling outcomes, ensuring effective strategies for clients.
He plays a key role in developing strategic recommendations and offering alternative solutions, as well as supporting vendor evaluations and renewals to meet client needs effectively.
Griffin holds dual Bachelor’s degrees in Finance and Financial Planning from Temple University, bringing valuable insight and expertise to his work at Alera Group.
Where is your favorite place to eat?
Pierozek, Greenpoint Brooklyn
Favorite movie?
Shawshank Redemption
If they made a movie about your life, who would you want to play you?
Miles Teller
If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?
Amalfi, Italy
Best advice you’ve ever received?
"Be a leader, not a follower." - Dad
Theresa Kirchner
Senior Consulting Analyst
Theresa serves as a Senior Consulting Analyst. Theresa supports Consultants in delivering comprehensive financial renewal evaluations by analyzing claim vs. funding history, forecasting plan costs and monitoring large claim exposure.
She further assists Consultants in managing the administrative complexities of their clients’ benefit programs and works toward developing seamless integration among their carriers and outside vendors.
Her project engagement approach is centered around building strong client partner relationships to deliver high quality, cost-effective and time-sensitive business outcomes.
Theresa has over 20 years of experience in funding, administration and compliance of group health and welfare employee benefits plans.
If you were stranded on an island and could only bring one item, what would you bring? Faith and a sense of humor
Most adventurous experience? Horseback riding and camping in the high elk country of Jackson Hole, WY
First thing you do when you go home from work? Play with my 2 dogs
What is something that’s on your bucket list? Dog Sled
Favorite movie quote? No matter what anybody tells you, words and ideas can change the world - Dead Poets Society
Dave Knies
Senior Partner
Dave serves as a Senior Partner. Dave’s role on client teams include initial and ongoing client relations on all matters impacting their Health & Welfare plans.
His responsibilities include strategic planning, benefit analysis, cost reduction review, contract negotiation, impact evaluation, provider network feasibility and enrollment facilitation.
Dave holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Western Maryland College, and he has many years of experience in the industry that provide him the knowledge he needs to excel in every aspect of his career.
Where did you grow up? Rockville, Maryland
What did you want to be when you grew up? Major league baseball player
Most adventurous experience? Hiking Mt. Mansfield in Vermont
If you could have lived through any event in history, what would it have been? Game 3 of the 1932 World Series
Best advice you’ve ever received? Don’t over complicate things.
Resources
Success Stories (downloads)
Captive Refesability Study for Fortune 500 Company
THE CHALLENGE Alera Group was requested to undertake a captive refeasibility study for an U.S. based multinational manufacturer of appliances with...
Enhancing a Healthcare Captive
THE CHALLENGE A non-profit multi-state health system with 35,000 employees wanted to conduct a feasibility study to determine if captive funding...
Quarry Faces Environmental Liability Query
THE CHALLENGE A large quarry operation owned a dig site that had been filled with a profusion of waste material following a mineral extraction....
An Alera Group member company based in Southern California was asked by the board of directors of a 400-unit condominium building to provide a bid...
Complicated Commercial Real Estate Portfolio
An Alera Group member company based in Southern California was retained by a commercial real estate property manager to review the insurance policies...
Persistence Secures an Infant’s Life Sustaining Treatment
An Alera Group member company that provides services focused on customized, comprehensive employee benefits, HR technology solutions, and wellness...
Start Up Benefits for a Start Up Company
Alera Group was contracted by a start-up national credit counseling company to assist with maintaining employee health benefits offerings while...
An Alera Group company that serves as a multidisciplinary employee benefits and risk management consultancy was approached by a company in the...
THE CHALLENGE Alera Group was the benefits broker for an employer that was working with two affiliated health insurance companies, “Company A”...
Our Community
Big Brothers Big Sisters Independence Region
For over 100 years, Big Brothers Big Sisters Independence Region has been positively impacting children and communities in Philadelphia, Montgomery, Chester, Delaware, Burlington, Camden, and Gloucester counties in PA and NJ. They don’t create potential in a child, they just foster and protect it.
Buck County Children’s Advocacy Center
The Bucks County Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC) provides a safe and child-friendly environment in which CAC staff, law enforcement, child welfare, prosecution, victim advocacy, medical and mental health professionals collaborate to implement effective, coordinated investigations of suspected child abuse.
With more than 2,500 reports of child abuse in Bucks County each year, the Bucks County Children’s Advocacy Center provides a setting in which children can receive timely, collaborative services from agencies mandated by law to investigate reports of child abuse. The predominant approach to child abuse investigations at the Children’s Advocacy Center is the multidisciplinary team model. This approach supports enhanced communications between the various agencies that respond to allegations of child abuse.
The Bucks County Children’s Advocacy Center strives to transform the system by providing a child-friendly setting where a skilled team of professionals come together under one roof to investigate serious child abuse allegations, conduct forensic interviews to aid in the prosecution of offenders and connect children and families with therapy and victim assistance services — always keeping the best interest of the child in mind.
Eluna Network
The mission of Eluna is to support children and families impacted by grief or addiction. Their innovative resources and programs address the critical needs of children experiencing powerful, overwhelming and often confusing emotions associated with the death of someone close to them or substance abuse in their family. No child should have to face these struggles alone, and our unique programs bring kids together to ease their pain and provide the tools to help restore hope.
Children affected by grief or addiction can feel isolated and alone. Circumstance puts them at increased risk for depression, suicide, poverty, anxiety and behavior problems. Children living in a home with addiction are also at four times the risk of developing an addiction of their own. Eluna’s programs come alongside children and their families to provide vital support helping to prevent complications that arise from unaddressed childhood bereavement and to help break the cycle of addiction in the next generation.
Eluna is dedicated to energizing new research and inspiring political advocacy that will lead to higher standards of care and positive outcomes for children in the fields of bereavement and addiction prevention. By raising awareness for these issues, Eluna reduces stigmas, improves understanding, and makes healing possible for children in need.
Alfred I. du Pont Hospital / Nemours Foundation
A gift of toys, games, books, or crafts can do wonders to brighten a child’s life while they are in the hospital or clinic waiting room. The Child Life programs at Nemours offer activities designed to help children cope with their hospital stay.
Child Life specialists in the hospitals are trained to work with children who have serious illness or are recovering from surgery — often using toys, games, and crafts to allow them to express their fears and hopes and regain a sense of mastery and control.
New, cuddly stuffed animals, hand-held video games, books, and music CDs can help to pass the time and provide a distraction from the hospital routine or clinic visit.
Manna
Manna uses nutrition to improve health for people with serious illnesses who need nourishment to heal. By providing medically tailored meals and nutrition education, we empower people to improve their health and quality of life.
EXPERT EDUCATION
Events and Webinars
Employee Benefits
Dynamic Data: Strategies for Success
Join us for this session, as our experts will share how to utilize your organization’s data to create advanced and innovative strategies for success.
July 17, 2025 at 01:00 pm CT | Virtual
Sign Up
Employee Benefits
Preparing for Open Enrollment: How to Engage and Educate Your Employees on Their Total Benefits Package
In this session, our experts will share guidance on setting yourself up for success during Open Enrollment.
August 21, 2025 at 01:00 pm CT | Virtual
Sign Up
Employee Benefits
Q3 2025 Quarterly Compliance Webinar
Alera Group's quarterly employee benefits compliance roundup will help you stay current on the latest national regulatory developments impacting employers.
September 9, 2025 at 01:00 pm CT | Virtual
Sign Up
THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
Insights
Employee Benefits
Legal Alert: Employee Benefits Provisions in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act
On July 3, 2025, Congress passed a reconciliation bill (the “Reconciliation Act”) previously named the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, but subsequently redesignated “An Act to provide for reconciliation pursuant to title II of H. Con. Res. 14.”
July 8, 2025
Find out more
Employee Benefits
Benchmarking: How Do Your Organization’s Employee Benefits Offerings Stack Up?
For the sixth consecutive year, Alera Group is offering a valuable piece of market intelligence: our Healthcare and Employee Benefits Benchmarking Report. We’ll introduce the 2025 edition on its release date, June 26, with a one-hour webinar beginning at 1 p.m. CT.
June 5, 2025
Find out more Employee Benefits
Reminder: PCORI Fees Due By July 31, 2025
Employers that sponsor self-insured group health plans, including health reimbursement arrangements (HRAs) should keep in mind the upcoming July 31, 2025 deadline for paying fees that fund the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) via Form 720, which was recently updated and released by the IRS.
June 3, 2025
Find out more Employee Benefits
Benefits Captives: Your Business and What Your Competitors Are Doing
In one form or another, Captive Insurance has existed as a risk management solution for many decades — originally for property and casualty coverage and primarily for large employers. But its viability as a solution for employee benefits and for midsized businesses has increased dramatically in recent years, fueled by volatility in the insurance market in general and by the skyrocketing cost of health insurance in particular.
May 29, 2025
Find out more