Celebrating Success: Meet Our 2025 Broker of the Year, Kristen Harder
At The Difference Card, we are proud to recognize brokers who lead with innovation, discipline, and a true commitment to improving healthcare outcomes. This year, we are thrilled to honor Kristen Harder of HUB International San Antonio as our 2025 Broker of the Year.
Kristen’s journey with The Difference Card has been nothing short of extraordinary. After being introduced to The Difference Card in late 2024, she made her first sale in just two weeks and quickly went on to build one of the most successful adoption stories we’ve seen.
In this recent conversation with our team, Kristen shared what drove her rapid success, how she integrates The Difference Card into her advisory approach, and why it continues to resonate so strongly with employers across Texas.
A Solution That Changed the Conversation
Like many brokers, Kristen was accustomed to walking into employer meetings with difficult conversations – rising claims, increasing loss ratios, and the ongoing challenge of delivering more value with fewer resources.
What immediately resonated with her about The Difference Card was its ability to address a core market frustration: employers feeling like they are constantly paying more while offering less to their employees.
Rather than continuing the cycle of difficult renewal conversations, The Difference Card gave Kristen a way to shift the narrative – introducing a solution that restores balance, supports employees, and gives employers a renewed sense of confidence in their benefits strategy.
From First Sale to Broker of the Year
Kristen’s rapid success wasn’t by chance. She approached The Difference Card with consistency and intentionality, making it part of her broader advisory strategy rather than treating it as a one-off solution.
“We don’t lead with product or pricing, it became part of our overall advisory approach.”
-Kristen Harder
By integrating The Difference Card into conversations, she positioned it as a practical tool to bridge the gap between employer financial pressures and employee needs. Employers quickly understood it. HR teams, who are often hesitant to change, embraced it. And it became a natural part of her client strategy moving forward.
Delivering Results When It Matters Most
One of Kristen’s early success stories highlights the real impact of The Difference Card.
Faced with a 65% rate increase for a mid-sized employer, she needed to find a solution that wouldn’t disrupt employees or strain the company’s budget.
By working with The Difference Card team, she designed a plan that:
- Maintained the existing deductible and copays
- Lowered overall plan costs
- Enhanced employee benefits
- Delivered a surplus after year one
“We were able to look employees in the eye and say, ‘We’re not going up on your deductible – we’re structuring the plan differently.’ And people just understood it.”
-Kristen Harder
This approach turned a challenging renewal into a long-term success.
Building Trust and Driving Adoption
Kristen’s success is rooted in strong relationships and a commitment to guiding clients through change with confidence.
Many employers are exploring alternatives like self-funding but aren’t quite ready to make a full transition. The Difference Card provides a balanced approach – offering savings and flexibility without major disruption. With no changes to networks or employee experience, clients feel comfortable adopting the strategy, knowing they have ongoing support. After implementation, Kristen and her team stay closely engaged -checking in early and often to ensure everything is running smoothly.
“Give it about 30 days, and clients are telling us it’s going really well. By year two, they don’t want to get rid of it.”
-Kristen Harder
Learn more About: Self-Funding vs Fully Insured
A Solution Built for a Changing Workforce
Kristen highlighted that as workforce expectations evolve, employers are being pushed to think differently about how benefits are delivered. Younger employees, in particular, expect simplicity, accessibility, and real value – not just coverage on paper.
She sees The Difference Card as a natural fit for this shift, helping employers offer meaningful benefits without added complexity or cost.
Learn More About: what Millennials and Gen Z employees value most in their benefits
A Long-Term Approach to Success
With nearly 20 years in the industry, Kristen attributes her success to discipline, relationships, and a long-term mindset.
“It’s not a short game…it’s about staying in front of your clients, building trust, and being consistent.”
-Kristen Harder
She emphasizes that today’s brokers must do more than shop for benefits. They must act as advisors, educators, and strategic partners, helping employers navigate an increasingly complex landscape.
Looking Ahead
Kristen’s ability to quickly drive results, build trust with clients, and embrace innovative strategies makes her a standout in today’s market.
We’d also like to recognize Amy Calderon, Sales Consultant at The Difference Card, for her partnership and collaboration in supporting Kristen’s success and bringing impactful solutions to her clients.
The Difference Card is proud to name Kristen our 2025 Broker of the Year, and we look forward to seeing her continued success in helping employers deliver better benefits at a lower cost.
To explore how The Difference Card can help your business save on healthcare costs while improving benefits, request a proposal today.
