Melissa A. Winn

Panelists at EBA’s Workplace Benefits Renaissance in March will share success stories and tips for growing your agency faster than you thought possible.

The IRS has expanded preferential tax treatment for identity theft benefits, further incenting employers to offer this in-demand voluntary benefit.

Employer clients using an ACA compliance solution vendor may have already received, or will be soon receiving, surveys or questionnaires requesting information about the employer’s workforce. Industry experts say the surveys often use technical jargon or request data that some employers are unsure of where to find, highlighting a real need for adviser help with the process.

Employers and employees should be considering the benefits of health savings accounts as a retiree benefit, industry experts say. HSAs offer cost-shifting benefits for employers and employees that advisers should be educating clients about.

The ACA allows states, beginning in January 2017, to ask the federal government to waive almost every major coverage requirement of the health care reform law, including the employer mandate. Employers and other benefit industry stakeholders hoping to be relieved from ACA requirements may consider state waivers the elixir they’ve been waiting for, but are they?

The business of benefits continues to shift, with industry mergers and acquisitions filling news feeds this year. Meanwhile, brokerages remain committed to meeting clients’ needs through innovative ideas that also stole headlines in 2015.

The IRS on Monday extended the deadline for 2015 ACA information reporting, giving employers subject to the requirements some highly-sought after relief.

The popularity of voluntary benefit offerings continued to grow this year as employers seek solutions for employees strapped by rising healthcare costs and, especially this year, increased financial burdens.

Regulatory clarifications about wellness incentives lifted a “big cloud” of confusion for employers this year, while new technologies have increased engagement and opportunity. Here's what happened this year in wellness, and what to expect in 2016.

The future of a brokerage lies in its up-and-coming talent. Top firms know it, and are investing heavily in grooming young advisers who show fortitude. EBA knows it as well, and for the 6th year in a row, we are looking for rising stars who are making a difference in the employee benefit industry.

As employers continue to shift from pay raises toward creative benefit rewards to compensate employees, industry experts say it’s increasingly imperative advisers work with clients to take a holistic approach to benefit package design.

As LIMRA celebrates 100 years in the industry in 2016, the association will renew its focus on retirement research, education and training and continue to evaluate the impact of the DOL’s pending fiduciary rule.

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.

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.

Implementing top-tier plans poses unique obstacles for advisers and their employer clients.

Digital Insurance announces investment in tech company GoCo it hopes will transform not only the way the firm does business with small and mid-size employers, but will also raise client expectations of the benefit industry as a whole.

Dental plans are innovating with new technologies, and boosting participation in the process.From mobile apps to virtual ID cards to gamification and even Bluetooth smart brushes, it’s not your father’s dental plan anymore. Brokers seeking innovative plan designs for employers should take note. The future is here.

The Supreme Court of the United States Friday agreed to hear another challenge to the ACA's birth control mandate. It’s the fourth time the Affordable Care Act will be considered by the Supreme Court and follows the controversial ruling in last year’s closely watched Hobby Lobby case.

As private exchanges continue to evolve, industry insiders say the integration of accountable care organizations could be the ‘next big thing' in the exchange world; one that could be a big win for employers.

In today’s increasingly technology-focused benefits industry, brokers need to compete on a new level in a new playing field. How can brokers reposition themselves as trusted advisers and use technology to their advantage?