Every spring, the nation is captivated by March Madness,watching over a two-week period as the field of 64 is steadilywhittled down to the Final Four and, eventually, a single championis left standing. Over the past few months, our editorial staff hasundertaken a winnowing process of our own while selecting the fivefinalists for Benefits Selling's 2016 Broker of the Year.

Now, I'm not saying that anyone would be glued to their screenif we televised the process—a group of editors debating over a pileof nomination forms is hardly must-see TV. Still, it's something wetake very seriously, and we've spent hours poring over hundreds ofapplications, talking with potential candidates, and going back andforth about the respective strengths of our favorites.

I'm not going to lie, it's an exhausting experience. But it'salso a rewarding one.

I've said it before, but it's one thing to report on thebenefits world—tracking trends, writing about regulations, readingthe latest studies. But it's another to talk to the people who makeup the industry. They always offer a fresh perspective and theirstories add a human side to the business—it's myfavorite part about the job.

This year's finalists hail from all over the country andrepresent a wide range of backgrounds, strengths, andphilosophies.

• Bradley Davis learned firsthand the importanceof financial preparation when he filed for bankruptcy a decade ago.As he worked to make sure it never happened again, Davis decided toalways be “one of the smartest guys in the room.” Ten years later,he spends much of his time teaching others what he has learned.

• After nearly 40 years in the industry, FredGarfield hasn't lost an ounce of the passion that made himsuccessful in the first place. It comes through as he sharesanecdotes about finding solutions for clients and helping themmanage health care costs. In a time when many brokers woulddescribe themselves as burned out or disillusioned, he's stillusing words like “hungry” and “growing” to describe his practice.

• Nathaniel Garfield prides himself on doing theright thing, even when it isn't easy. Whether telling a clientsomething they don't want to hear or leaving a high-paying job tostart his own shop, his actions throughout his career show thisphilosophy is more than a talking point. Oh, and you'll never guesswho he's related to…

• Sallie Giblin doesn't give up when she sees anobstacle in her path. In a male-dominated industry, she describesherself as “a hard-charging female who doesn't pick up my toys andgo home when I don't get my way.” After years of working to build asuccessful career of her own, Giblin created a mentorship program where she helpsteach and inspire young female producers to take their careersto the next level while making a positive impact.

• When Reed Smith talks about change, you can'thelp but listen. He views the turmoil currently taking place in theindustry as a positive. Because when consumers are expectingchange, he says, “that provides a great opportunity.” Smith startedhis career as a sales rep for several carriers, which has given hima larger perspective and helped him build strong relationships withclients.

Look for more on the finalists in the pages of our April issueand on BenefitsPro.com in the coming days. I hope you enjoy gettingto know these five brokers as much as I have. One final toughdecision is coming, and we will announce the Broker of the Yearonstage at Benefits Selling Expo on April 19 (we hope to see you there) and in the May issueof Benefits Selling. Cutting down the net will be optional.