Seeking an alternative to the DOL's controversial proposed fiduciary rule, some members of Congress are drafting their own proposal that would establish rules for advisers working with savers and plans without the regulatory burdens and litigation risks that critics see in the DOL's plan.

The U.S. Senate voted Thursday to repeal the core of the Affordable Care Act, bringing Congress closer to sending legislation to President Barack Obama for the first time that would dismantle his signature domestic achievement.

Commentary: An employer’s argument that their classification of a 1099 employee should be respected because it’s how the employee is classified will go over like a lead balloon. The risk of misclassification under the ACA could be significant, says lawyer Peter Marathas.

Commentary: There are a lot of misconceptions about retirement plans that may keep employees from enrolling. Chad Parks shares are some ways to help businesses navigate these often jargon-heavy waters.

Commentary: What we can do to support them, make them feel more welcome in our company culture and help strengthen our own company in the process.

Commentary: This week, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Gobeille v. Liberty Mutual Insurance Co., which has vital implications for employee benefit plans — and for future attempts to impose state-specific regimes to gather health data from those plans.

Commentary: Adviser David C. Smith says he’s seen “a handful of imaginative approaches that all fail to satisfy the IRS’s prohibition” on standalone Health Reimbursement Arrangements.

EBA Advisers of the Year, as well as other industry insiders, share their insight on some of the major issues employee benefit brokers face. Take a look as these experts reflect on everything from the Cadillac tax to benefits technology to voluntary products.

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.

The work ahead can seem daunting for those running a private exchange. Nonetheless, they have big visions for the future that come with a fair amount of patience as the employer-sponsored benefit system adjusts.

Bring many of the industry’ leading minds together with brokers and advisers from across the country who are eager to learn and share insights on the latest market trends and best practices, and you’ve got some of the year’s most thought-provoking conversations. For those who missed out, here are the highlights from EBA’s 2015 conferences.

Commentary: The consequences of moving away from simpler, less sophisticated mortality improvement scales that change infrequently in favor of scales that depend heavily on recent data.

Commentary: Everyone expects to hear from you at open enrollment, but what about the other 11¾ months of the year?

Employees’ financial circumstances are unique, and an employer’s retirement plan must prepare to meet those different needs. Here are five questions that employers and their advisers must have strong answers to in order to help employees save for the future.

Commentary: For the employer, the need to retain employees is strong and absorbing additional cost in the benefit plan will have strong short-term consideration.

Internship and mentoring programs are popular among some of the nation’s top advisory firms, but they also know it takes more than a cursory relationship with universities to recruit and retain talented producers. See how brokerages such as Arthur J. Gallagher, Lockton, Willis and USI Insurance Services are securing the loyalty of the nation’s up-and-coming elite advisers.

Commentary: Be on the lookout for NextAgency, an enrollment and administration firm with benefit adviser interests in mind.