Banco Popular de Puerto Rico

The U.S. ranks 19th out of 150 countries when it comes to global retirement security, a recent report found. How responsible is the government for our retirement situation and should they be tasked with improving it? EBA readers weigh in on this and other topics from this week.

Adoption benefits can be offered as part of a comprehensive benefits package and are gaining in popularity. This year, 56% of employers reported offering a financial adoption benefit, an Aon Hewitt survey found. Here are the top adoption-friendly health care and insurance industry employers in the U.S., according to the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption.

The more competitive a health insurance marketplace is, the more diverse options an adviser has to offer clients — and the more room there is for negotiations with carriers. EBA, in partnership with business intelligence data analytics firm miEdge, reveals in ascending order the most competitive states based on carrier diversity.

The competitiveness of a health insurance marketplace has a direct impact on an adviser's job — affecting everything from the type and amount of plans he or she can offer clients to the adviser's ability to negotiate effectively. EBA, in partnership with business intelligence data analytics firm miEdge, reveals in descending order the least competitive states based on carrier domination.

It’s never too late for a broker to add another selling tool to their arsenal, and handwritten thank you notes can help increase the number of appointments, which can lead to more sales. Here’s what EBA readers had to say on this tactic, as well as other reactions to this week’s news.

Large and small brokerages show some key differences in technology use and spending plans, according to EBA’s second annual technology survey, but most all are holding steady on tech investments.

From the use of minimum essential coverage plans to the CO-OP model to the Cadillac tax, EBA readers share their views on a variety of topics that were in the news this week.

Multinational organizations are all competing for top-notch employees, and benefit packages are one way for companies to attract and retain talent. Here are the top five benefits offered globally, according to new research from Thomsons Online Benefits.

When considering whether or not to implement a new technology, brokers should always weigh the pros and cons of that decision. Prior to deciding to leverage a benefits marketplace platform, here are nine questions brokers should ask themselves, according to Mike Baker, senior vice president and general manager of commercial products at hCentive.

The employer excise tax on high-cost health plans, commonly called the Cadillac tax, is set to take effect in 2018. That may seem three years away, but in reality, employers have one year left to implement changes. Since plan offerings for 2016 are pretty well cemented now for most large employers, and with the 2017 planning season right around the corner, now is the time for employers to execute on strategies to avoid the tax, says Don Garlitz, senior vice president, bswift. So what changes are employers likely to consider?