Brian Murphy

Not all brokers naturally gravitate toward peer connections, but making the investment will produce dividends for years to come, says Willis Towers Watson’s Brian Murphy.

When hiring a benefits broker or adviser, check if they’ve completed programs such as the Certified Employee Benefits Specialist offered by the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans.

Professional certifications help make it clear to clients that you know what you are talking about.

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

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

Commentary: Rookie adviser Brian Murphy embraces “the complexity, the challenge and the intellectual stimulation” of onboarding a new client for the first time.

Commentary: Being surrounded by experienced underwriters and “Excel wizards” is just enough to make one’s head spin, but it is right where Brian Murphy needs to be as he enters the world of benefit advising.