Advisor strategies

Employee productivity, absenteeism and retention rates are among the larger business concerns that advisers need to address, according to the Integrated Benefits Institute.

Knowing where to focus is the key to successful selling in the benefits business, according to John Graham.

From the effect of interest rates on plan liabilities to lump-sum windows and more, here are seven ways employers can get the most out of their DB plans.

Advisers should understand the impact of interest rates and other investment principles to help make these plans more effective, says Mike Clark of Principal Financial Group.

Everything has a price. As fiduciaries, plan sponsors are tasked by the DOL to ascertain reasonableness on the payments they make to third-parties, says John Ludwig.

Everything has a price. As fiduciaries, plan sponsors are tasked by the DOL to ascertain reasonableness on the payments they make to third-parties, says John Ludwig.

Employer demand for simple to use solutions for complicated ACA reporting requirements has only helped to fuel these companies’ drive to meet an industry need.

Advisers looking to maximize the impact of their client- and prospect-facing material should take these factors into account, says Selden Beattie’s Beverly Beattie.

Understanding ACA compliance is critical, but it mustn’t come at the expense of fundamental employee education.

Ensuring clients understand ACA compliance is critical, but doing so at the expense of fundamental education is negligent.

A modern consultant needs a firm command of new enrollment options and other tools, with a fresh perspective on how to use them.

To strengthen relationships, proactive brokers are implementing innovative options such as onsite clinics.

A brokerage’s most valuable asset is not prouducts, but the quality of its relationship with clients, says Bottom Line Solutions’ Nelson Griswold.

The companies will pay accompanying babysitter expenses for employees with infants on business trips — a signal to advisers that the ante is upped for firms looking to attract parents.

Leslie Straus leads a fast-growing division of The Benefit Companies that focuses solely on helping clients and fellow advisers tackle the problem of tracking, monitoring and analyzing employee data.

This move sends a signal to advisers that things are no longer business as usual, says Joe Markland.

Whether just starting out, or expanding an existing marketing plan, Amy Evans says social media can be an engaging way to promote your agency.

The Affordable Care Act, new ways to fill the sales pipeline and Zenefits dominated EBA’s BeAdvised blog commentary this year. The top 10 most-read blogs of 2015 detail the growing number of ACA regulations and reporting requirements, explain why advisers don’t accurately understand the threat behind a tech-focused brokerage and highlight simple-yet-effective ways producers can increase existing client revenue and get prospects to open the door.

Commentary: What we can do to support them, make them feel more welcome in our company culture and help strengthen our own company in the process.

The work ahead can seem daunting for those running a private exchange. Nonetheless, they have big visions for the future that come with a fair amount of patience as the employer-sponsored benefit system adjusts.