In honor of Compliance Officer Professional Day, we’re recognizing the Wellabe Compliance team and the important work they do to support and inform customers, business teams, agents, and regulators.

Every day at Wellabe, we show we care through our shared values and doing what’s right. That commitment comes to life in many ways across the organization, including through the work of the Compliance team.

While their work often happens behind the scenes, the impact reaches nearly every part of the business, from product development and regulatory filings to marketing reviews and guidance for teams navigating complex rules and requirements.

For Ryan Cole, VP, Deputy General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer, the team’s work helps Wellabe live one of its most important promises: Be trustworthy.

“The team works hard every day to support our business teams, be a trusted advisor, and help manage risk for the organization,” he says. “Compliance helps the organization achieve our objective of being trustworthy, including with our regulators, customers, and agents.”

That trust matters in an industry where almost everything is federally or state regulated, says Megan Knapp Smith, Compliance Lead.

“We’re here to help our company adhere to those rules,” she says. “Additionally, we help provide consumer protection, prevent fraud, and preserve operational integrity.” 

Helping business teams find a way forward

Compliance is sometimes misunderstood as the team that says “no.” But at Wellabe, the team sees its role differently. Compliance helps business teams understand risk, find solutions, and move forward responsibly.

Jamie Mueller, Corporate Compliance Lead and Privacy Officer, says compliance is involved in many parts of the business, including processing claims and navigating regulatory requirements.

“Compliance isn’t here to say ‘no,’” she says. “We’re here to help the business achieve its goals in a compliant and responsible way.”

For Compliance Analyst Nate Lair, collaboration is one of the most rewarding parts of the work. He helps research, interpret, and share laws and regulations that affect the company; supports product filings with states; and assists with Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA) compliance.

“The most rewarding part is the collaboration with colleagues and enabling all of us to be the best we all can be for our customers,” he says.

No two days are the same

If there’s one thing the Compliance team agrees on, it’s that there is no typical day.

Jana Hirth, Senior Compliance Analyst, supports policy form filings, marketing reviews, legislation research, tracking, and more. She says variety is part of what makes her work meaningful.   

Jamie, who has been with the company for more than 25 years, shared a similar perspective.

“No two days are ever the same,” she says, “And you never know exactly what challenge will land on your desk next.”

Megan says the variety and challenge are among the best parts of her role. As a subject matter expert for life insurance, she works on specialized projects, helps create and file products, reviews advertising materials, and conducts research on a variety of topics.

“I love a good challenge,” she says.

A team built on integrity, agility, and care

Each member of the Compliance team brings a different background and perspective to the work. Nate spent more than 17 years as a nurse before joining Wellabe nearly 5 years ago, and he continues to maintain his RN license. Megan joined Wellabe after college and has grown through many roles over 28 years.

Together, the team shares a commitment to helping Wellabe protect customers, support business partners, and make thoughtful decisions. Jana says she was drawn to Wellabe’s collaborative culture, emphasis on doing what’s right, and the opportunity to use her compliance experience to help protect both the company and its customers.

Ryan says the most rewarding part of his work is “the opportunity to work with great people to help the organization unlock innovation in the Wellabe way.” He also says he is proud of the team for being a model of agility, continuous improvement, and teamwork.

Doing what matters, together

Compliance work requires attention to detail and the ability to guide teams through complex questions. But at its heart, the work is also about people. It’s about:

• Ensuring customers receive clear, responsible communications
• Helping teams bring ideas to life in a way that protects the business and the people it serves
• Being a trusted partner, preserving integrity, and fulfilling its promises

Because at Wellabe, doing what’s right is more than a value. It’s how we help people be well today and prepare for tomorrow.