Fast Break

Breaking Barriers, Building Futures

Celebrate Women’s HERstory Month with this special Fast Break takeover featuring three powerhouse nonprofit leaders who are shaping communities in real time. Get a candid look at women’s leadership, financial empowerment, mentorship, and community impact. Hear how these leaders are breaking barriers, protecting organizational culture, and championing the next generation of women.

From Perk to Performance: Integrating Leadership, Wellness, and Results

Organizations invest heavily in leadership development and employee benefits, but rarely design them to work together. In this episode of Fast Break, Matt Cranney and Alex Simmons unpack why that disconnect is limiting performance and how a more integrated approach is reshaping engagement, culture, and retention outcomes.
Whether you're running a 20-person team or a 2,000-person organization, the principles they unpack here apply, and the cost of ignoring them is getting harder to justify. If you're invested in the people who count on you to lead, this one is worth your time.

Your Why, Your Wallet, Your Future

Today’s “tap-to-buy” world has made has made spending almost effortless and saving feel harder than ever. Many people don’t know where to start, don’t know who to trust, and often feel intimidated asking financial questions. That’s why education and having a trusted advisor matter now more than ever.
Join host Matt Cranney and M3 Wealth Advisor Nick Natsky as they explore the real barriers to financial wellness today. They explain why it matters, how it impacts employee wellbeing, and the practical steps individuals and organizations can take to build long-term financial confidence.
Whether you’re an employer trying to support your team, a new saver unsure where to begin, or someone planning for retirement, this episode gives you practical, judgment-free guidance you can actually use.

Turning Cyber Awareness into Action

Cyber threats aren’t just an IT problem, they’re a business reality. In this episode of Fast Break, Matt Cranney sits down with M3’s Cyber Liability team —Matt Thomson, Megan Peyton, and Alex Friedl—to discuss how the threat landscape has evolved and what every organization can do today to stay ahead.
From AI-driven scams and deepfakes to supply chain breaches and class action lawsuits, the conversation covers what’s really at stake for businesses of all sizes—and the practical steps you can take to protect your people, clients, and reputation.
Whether you lead a small business, manage risk for a large organization, or simply want to better protect your data, this episode will help you turn cybersecurity awareness into everyday action.
Tune in to strengthen your defenses and your peace of mind.

Big Beautiful Bill, Big Questions: The State of Individual Marketplace

For growing companies, health benefits remain a top tool for recruitment and retention, yet traditional group plans can be costly or out of reach for startups and small employers. That’s where the individual market and ICHRAs come in, offering flexibility and controlled costs, provided employees have the right support to make confident choices.  
Uncertainty around the Big Beautiful Bill is creating real questions for the individual health insurance marketplace. Host Matt Cranney sits down with M3 Elevate’s Natalie Damro dig into what you need to know as shifting rules could impact both affordability and access.
This landscape is changing by the day, don’t try to sort through it alone. M3 is monitoring these developments closely and will keep you informed every step of the way. If you need guidance now, or as new rules take effect, connect with us. We’re here to help you navigate today’s options and prepare for tomorrow’s changes.

Weathering the Risks: Why Proactivity Matters in Personal Lines

The personal insurance landscape is changing, with rising premiums, severe weather events, and evolving underwriting guidelines. Being proactive has never been more important. Fast Break host Matt Cranney sits down with Amy Schroeder and Tim Hoel from M3 Elevate’s Personal Lines team to unpack why the “set it and forget it” mindset no longer works.
The conversation outlines the drivers behind increasing rates, from catastrophic weather and rebuilding costs to the ripple effects of global reinsurance markets. These factors impact everyone, even those with no claims, making it critical to understand policy changes before they affect you.
Personal lines insurance is no longer static. By partnering with M3 Elevate you can stay ahead of risks, protect what you have built, and avoid costly surprises when disaster strikes.

Culture of Commitment: The Building Blocks of Workplace Safety

Safety isn’t just a compliance issue; it’s a strategic business decision. In this episode of Fast Break, host Matt Cranney is joined by Chris Halverson of M3 Insurance and Kyle Ricely of The Employer Group to explore the critical role of risk management and safety for small and growing businesses.
Workplace safety isn’t just about preventing accidents—it’s about protecting employees, reducing insurance costs, and driving long-term business sustainability. Chris and Kyle share real-world stories and practical strategies from their deep experience in the field, offering guidance on building proactive safety cultures, understanding key metrics like experience modification rates, and preparing defensible positions against OSHA citations.
Whether you're a solopreneur or lead a 500-person company, this conversation provides essential takeaways for employers looking to strengthen their operations, improve employee wellbeing, and gain a competitive edge.

Investing in Impact: How Businesses Can Support Nonprofits

Nonprofits are essential to our communities, yet they face increasing challenges from funding cuts to shifting engagement trends. In this episode of Fast Break, host Matt Cranney welcomes Jeff Burkhart, a nonprofit leader and founder of Mission Forward, to explore the state of the sector and how businesses can step up to drive lasting impact.
With insights on collaboration, leadership, and community engagement, this conversation is a must-listen for business owners, leaders, and professionals looking to make a meaningful impact.

Economic Engines: Celebrating Small Businesses

In this episode of Fast Break, we are celebrating Small Business Week by recognizing the critical role small businesses play in our economy. Host Matt Cranney sits down with Sadie Howell, CEO of Envision Greater Fond du Lac, to discuss why small businesses are more important than ever in today’s rapidly evolving landscape. Explore the power of word-of-mouth marketing, the agility of small businesses in adapting to change, and the importance of defining a clear "why" to drive long-term success.
Whether you're an entrepreneur, a small business leader, or simply someone who values local businesses, this conversation is packed with insights on how to stay future-focused, adapt to change, and harness the power of customer trust.

Mental Health: What Employers Can Do That Actually Helps

Nearly one in five workers are leaving jobs due to mental health concerns, and this latest Fast Break episode is more relevant than ever. Matt Cranney is joined by Celie Valentin, Director of the Employee Assistance Program at Family Service Madison, and M3’s Jodi Riley, Senior Director of HR, to break down the impact of mental health on today’s workforce.
Mental well-being isn’t just about offering a day off and hoping for the best, it’s about creating psychological safety in the workplace. Dive into what mental well-being truly means, going beyond the buzzwords to tackle the real challenges employees face: stress, anxiety, burnout. From the role of mindfulness to meaningful workplace changes, gain insights, practical strategies, and leadership advice on creating a workplace where employees feel valued, heard, and empowered to thrive.