PlanYear

High-Level Overview

Planyear is an AI-powered platform designed for benefits consultants, automating administrative tasks like document processing, data standardization, RFP management, and renewal workflows to free up time for strategic client work.[1][2][3] Founded by industry veterans in Irvine, California, it serves benefits brokers, consultants, employers, general agents, and carriers, addressing the problem of manual data entry and clunky tools that consume up to 70% of consultants' time during benefits lifecycles such as renewals and employee communications.[2][3] With recent $12 million seed funding led by True Ventures, Planyear powers workflows for six of the top 10 brokerage firms and shows strong early traction through its Beacon platform, which handles plan spreading, quote analysis, and personalized microsites.[3]

Origin Story

Planyear was founded by benefits consulting veterans, including CEO Tariq Hilaly, who grew frustrated with repetitive manual processes like mismatched carrier documents, data reformatting, and inefficient tools during renewal seasons.[1][3] These insiders built the platform from their own pain points, transitioning from traditional consulting to AI-driven solutions without waiting for external fixes.[1] Key early traction came from validating the product with top brokerage firms, leading to partnerships with six of the top 10, and securing $12 million in seed funding in 2025 to scale development.[3]

Core Differentiators

• AI-Native Workflow Automation: Processes plan documents, spreads quotes, standardizes census data, and generates personalized communications, turning weeks of RFP chaos into streamlined intelligence via the Beacon platform.[2][3]
• Industry Expertise Integration: Combines deep benefits consulting knowledge with AI, ensuring practical features like real-time collaboration, intelligent proposals, and AI-powered email management that maintain a personal touch.[1][2]
• End-to-End Benefits Lifecycle Coverage: Handles everything from data extraction and analysis to employee microsites with interactive recommenders and digital ID cards, reducing administrative burden across renewals, RFPs, and client interactions.[2]
• Proven Scalability and Adoption: Already serves major brokerage firms with seamless integration, competitive remote work model, and plans for expansion into employer and carrier support.[1][3]

Role in the Broader Tech Landscape

Planyear rides the wave of AI automation in professional services, specifically targeting the $100+ billion employee benefits industry where consultants lose hours to manual tasks amid rising healthcare complexity and compliance demands.[2][3] Its timing aligns with post-pandemic shifts toward efficient remote workflows and AI adoption in B2B SaaS, amplified by seed funding to expand amid growing demand for strategic consulting over admin drudgery.[3] Market forces like labor shortages in benefits brokerage and the push for personalized employee experiences favor Planyear, positioning it to influence the ecosystem by enabling consultants to scale services, deepen client relationships, and integrate with carriers—potentially standardizing AI across the benefits supply chain.[1][2]

Quick Take & Future Outlook

Planyear is poised to dominate AI for benefits consulting by expanding Beacon across workflows, hiring sales talent, and adding employer/carrier features, capitalizing on its top-firm traction and seed capital.[3] Trends like generative AI advancements and regulatory pressures on benefits transparency will accelerate its growth, evolving it from a consultant tool to a full ecosystem platform that reshapes how firms handle renewals and employee engagement. As administrative AI matures, Planyear's insider edge could make it the go-to for giving consultants their time back—transforming industry grind into scalable strategy.