Healthcare

Retiring baby boomers and health care reform law contribute to increased mergers and acquisitions activity.

Commentary: Advisers are selling more voluntary benefits than in previous years, but as the number of employers considering these benefits in 2015 increases, ask yourself, are you prepared to sell these products and meet client needs?

The costs of complying with the Family and Medical Leave Act are already large enough, but small employers must be vigilant of huge legal costs associated with inappropriate terminations.

Brokers and assisters will need to work closer together to help consumers during the 2015 ACA open enrollment, but most agree that will involve overcoming some underlying issues.

Vermont has cut ties with the vendor of their health insurance exchange, CGI, after continued complaints and errors with the online portal — a 'debacle' further exacerbated by the fact benefit brokers and advisers have mostly been left out of the loop.

From fees and features to funds and fiduciaries, there's lots to consider when reviewing your 401(k) plan.

Voluntary benefits are creeping more and more into the everyday dialogue of benefit managers and advisers, but for those just getting involved, partnering with voluntary carriers and other vendors can sometimes be a difficult field to navigate.

Commentary: Benefit advisers should help educate 403(b) plan sponsors about appropriate Form 5500 compliance before the DOL takes enforcement action, the Principal Financial Group's Aaron Friedman says.

As the country’s demographics continue to shift, employers are facing changes in the makeup of their workforce, according to a report from the Council of Economic Advisers. With those changes come new benefits needs for working families. Brokers can help their clients keep up with these evolving requirements and expectations.

It appears that slackers, not hackers, are mostly responsible for the invasion of health care records - and the overly curious (or bored) employees who are the culprits can cost employers millions in HIPPA fines.