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The focus of discussions in the defined contribution/401(k) world seems to have shifted overnight from process to outcomes.

PinkPowerLadies.com is an online enrollment platform that helps insurance and financial professionals add cancer and critical illness policies to their portfolio. EBA spoke with the site's Chief Executive Kathy Glover and the site's partner Cary Rentner, president of cancerplans.com.

Last year was one full of health care news, with most of it focused around the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. In 2012, there will be some major decisions and rules announced and decided. Here's a look back and forward at health care news.

The failure of businesses, including brokerages and advisory firms, to plan for succession is an often known - but little talked about in public - topic that research shows can have a drastic effect on a company, especially in the current economy.

My father has owned his own company for as long as I can remember. The name and central product have changed a few times over the years as he's sold one business or another and developed new products, but its always been in the IT field.

Over the course of 15 years of working on all sides of the benefits table - from HR specialist to administrator to carrier account manager - Sher Sparano observed the health care process enough to see the lack of resources that HR departments had in handling their employees' benefits.

In the current broker/client business model local relationships are clearly preferred. However, that does not take into account the new health care landscape.

It’s getting harder and harder to ignore the importance of Twitter in the social media world. With the news that Prince Walid bin Talal of Saudi Arabia has taken a $300 million stake in the social media site, it’s just about impossible.

As 2011 comes to a close, it’s time to plan for 2012. Many of you have already completed your planning. Some of you are in the process of doing your planning and a few of you . . . perhaps more than a few, never have nor will you do any planning. …

Before putting a bow on 2011, advisers and their clients should take the time to nail down these four key aspects of their finances to ensure financial planning success in 2012, according to M&I, a part of the BMO Financial Group.