Benefits Think

Commentary: Smartphone apps improve adherence and plan member health, and brokers can serve as catalyst for change in this new environment.

While 401(k) plans may not be the perfect retirement plan vehicle, they do have a number of important attributes that most probably take for granted.

This Thanksgiving, before you enjoy a few days off with family, friends, and a mountain of turkey, make sure you show one group of people just how thankful you are for them: your employees.

Commentary: From the client perspective, brokers look the same, which makes you a commodity purchasing decision in their eyes. Q4intelligence’s Wendy Keneipp explains how to break away from this view and make yourself relevant and attractive to buyers.

Applying the appropriate technology to boost benefits engagement may also require managers considering that technology in light of consumerism, compliance, cost and culture.

Tailoring a voluntary benefits plan to better suit the very different needs of workers with entirely different generational goals and objectives can be challenging, but the payoff is better participation.

Sound investment advice is hard to come by. Here are four ways to tell if you and your investment committee are getting good investment advice from your adviser.

Commentary: Private exchanges are not the one-size-fits-all solution some in the benefit industry think they are, says broker Judy Miller. The veteran adviser shares her opinion about the promises and pitfalls of the private exchange solution.

Any benefits technology employers adopt should always engage and educate employees throughout the entire benefit experience. Don’t offer access to technology simply for technology’s sake.

Commentary: Columnist Mel Schlesinger shares the secrets of selling your knowledge rather than relying on value-add services to close the sale.