Benefits Think

Commentary: Benefit advisers hoping to maintain satisfied clients after the first open enrollment period should avoid these common bad behaviors that could cost accounts in the long run.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission recently adopted amendments to the rules that govern money market mutual funds. Two of the changes could affect how you manage your 401(k) plan.

Commentary: When the discussion about retirement plan costs focuses too heavily on fees, Blogger Aaron Friedman says it's up to advisers to demonstrate the value employers receive in return for the price they pay.

Commentary: Blogger Rich Williams discusses how voluntary benefits can pay back big returns for your small employer clients in terms of employee retention and recruitment.

Commentary: How obesity is secretly hurting your employer clients’ bottom lines and what strategies you can help implement to combat it.

Commentary: Retirement specialist John Ludwig reviews the consequences of an employer’s failure to make timely deposits to a participant’s retirement account.

Commentary: Columnist and management consultant Craig Davidson discusses what your prospect wants from you now, and in the near future, in return for an agent-of-record letter.

We all know how markets have traded most of the time since the 2008 crash. One day everything is moving up in value, the next everything is falling. But things are changing.

Commentary: Employer prospects often view a benefit broker's LinkedIn profile early in the sales process to learn more about them. Benefit advisers hoping to use LinkedIn as a powerful sales tool should optimize their profile to make themselves stand out — as opposed to looking like everyone else.

In this time of increased competition, razor thin margins, and the pressure to out-innovate the next guy, companies would do well to look at the power of their company culture as the unique advantage that it is.