Advisor strategies

Bring many of the industry’ leading minds together with brokers and advisers from across the country who are eager to learn and share insights on the latest market trends and best practices, and you’ve got some of the year’s most thought-provoking conversations. For those who missed out, here are the highlights from EBA’s 2015 conferences.

Commentary: To avoid turning employers off, focus on the “1%,” the essence of the client’s message, says John Graham.

ACA reporting becomes mandatory in 2016. Preparing employers to be compliant with reporting requirements is a core service that advisers should be offering, industry experts say.

Commentary: Rookie adviser Brian Murphy makes the connection between carriers’ package proposals and the opportunity to market multiple lines of coverage to the client.

Internship and mentoring programs are popular among some of the nation’s leading advisory firms, as is maintaining strong relationships with universities. But brokerages must also work to dispel misconceptions many people have about the industry if they want to ensure they can develop enough home-grown talent.

The provider of benefit outsourcing solutions adds new tools to its private benefit exchange in collaboration with ConnectedHealth.

Zenefits is back in the spotlight with news of slower than expected revenue growth. The company also this week announced it will offer a free payroll option. The announcement follows a months-long public dispute with payroll giant ADP.

Brokers have been largely an afterthought on the public health care exchanges, industry insiders say, and one company says it is trying to change that at no cost to the broker.

Commentary: More than empty theories, columnist Nelson Griswold shares business-building and growth strategies that work.

NAIFA has launched a new initiative aimed at reinventing its role as an advocate for advisers. Its five-year strategic plan, dubbed NAIFA 20/20, aims to make the association a more effective resource for an increasingly diverse membership facing some challenging regulatory burdens.