In many states, just one-tenth of brokers are involved with state and national politics, leaving the heavy lifting to a small group who enjoy the time-consuming and challenging work. But, they agree, the rest of the agent community should get involved.

The Affordable Care Act’s reporting requirements topped the list of regulatory issues for 2015. This year also saw two major Supreme Court decisions, a four-day hearing about the DOL fiduciary rule and debate surrounding the impending Cadillac tax.

Commentary: We’ve all heard the discussion of transparency. Imagine if you could type in a condition, even multiple conditions, and up pops the physicians who have the greatest success and do it at the lowest cost.

Commentary: New ACA regulations, increasing employer demands and shorter workweeks due to holiday schedules make for difficult work. But the broker who rallies rather than wanes in this environment will be set apart.

Between our Advisers of the Year, Rising Stars in Advising and Most Influential Women in Benefit Advising, EBA highlighted five dozen individuals in 2015 who are bringing meaningful advancements to the field of benefit advising and elevating expectations of what it means to be an exceptional broker.

It’s been 20 years since the National Association of Health Underwriters provided Registered Employee Benefits Consultant and Chartered Healthcare Consultant credentials — but thanks to a new deal announced earlier this month with The American College of Financial Services, it will do so again.

Commentary: As most salespeople know, moving forward is tough, but changing behavior can help knock down obstacles. Here are eight ideas to get the wheels moving in the right direction.

It was another banner year for technology in the benefits space, with the launch of several new tech companies in the benefit space and a continued look forward with innovative new products.

Large group renewals, small group renewals, ACA reporting, and much much more. A number of events in the benefit calendar year converged to make the fourth quarter of 2015 a season to remember. How can brokers better prepare for Q4 2016?

Private benefit exchanges continued to grow in popularity this year — mostly in the midmarket segment. The exchanges also saw changes to their product offerings on both the employee and supplier side.

As employers continue to outsource HR and benefit admin functions, benefit brokers should prepare to work in an increasingly complicated environment.

Commentary: Many of the newer voluntary products have been strategically designed with a post-ACA lens in mind. When determining their 2016 short list of voluntary product recommendations, brokers should investigate six key areas.

Commentary: Improving the retirement plans that we run and advise will have a positive impact on our participants’ retirement readiness — and ultimately their retirement experience, says adviser John Ludwig.

Commentary: If your New Year’s wish is for the demise of the excise tax, be careful what you wish for, says Mercer’s George Lane.

A set of delays on Affordable Care Act-related taxes in the new federal spending bill will give corporate earnings a modest boost but are unlikely to undo the law or produce significant changes in the healthcare industry.

Commentary: January can be one of the most active times for new clients and increased contribution levels in the education space.

Brokers who partner with Aflac can now offer their large employer clients nationwide another comprehensive open-enrollment option through an agreement with Liazon, which operates the private benefit exchange Bright Choices.

Commentary: We have started telling our over­all retirement story at chapter three or four, instead of setting the foundation of the story first, says adviser Mark Singer.

Commentary: There needs to be a proactive, systematic and consistent business development and prospecting plan in place to successfully sustain your business, says columnist Jack Kwicien.

Commentary: It will be the single most critical contributor to agency success, says columnist Wendy Keneipp.