It is estimated there are more than 100 private exchanges in existence, with each one promoting unique or distinguishing characteristics in a crowded marketplace. Given the enormity of services offered to employers of many shapes and sizes, there are bound to be some conflicting claims that require an asterisk to eliminate any confusion for prospective customers.

Lincoln National Corp. was among U.S. life insurers that declined as bond yields fell after employers added fewer jobs than forecast.

Want proof that advisers need to be engaging with social media? Consider the SEC’s decision last week to let publicly traded companies make material corporate announcements on sites like Facebook and Twitter.

So I came across this article in Wired’s Good Design is Good Business that says: “A mix of factors, ranging from commoditization to evaporating barriers to competition, are conspiring to push design to the fore of business thinking”

A lawsuit between two local hospital systems has come to an end after the Ohio Supreme Court upheld a previous ruling in favor of Mercy Medical Center, the system accusing Aultman Health Foundation of a corrupt insurance broker incentive program.

The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation announced a new proposal that will reverse its 2009 proposal and thereby reform and reduce reporting requirements for more than 90% of companies and pension plans.

As HR/Payroll outsourcers look to continue to attract more and in some cases smaller businesses to their outsourced model they increasingly look to build data integration with third party systems to gain efficiencies and drive down costs. Thus the intersection between Human Resource/ Payroll software and retirement services recordkeeping software (plan administration) is heating up.

Americans continue to hold their purse strings tight and favor cautious choices with their money, according to research from Northwestern Mutual.

The cost of caring for dementia patients has reached $109 billion annually, exceeding that for heart disease and cancer, and will double by the time the youngest Baby Boomers reach their 70s, according to a study.

The U.S. Government Accountability Office released a report Wednesday saying that employees switching jobs often receive guidance by 401(k) companies to roll their accounts into an IRA, even when that might not be the best course of action. But what does this mean for advisers?

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services confirmed yesterday, following the release of proposed rules on Navigators and what they’re calling non-Navigator assistance personnel, that the information is not necessarily intended for brokers

Many are asking about retirement readiness self-analyses.

Humana Inc. led medical insurers higher in trading today after the U.S. government reversed a decision to cut a key Medicare payment rate, offering them an increase instead.

When it comes to the public health exchanges, the broker experience may vary drastically from state to state. For example, while Maryland officials say they plan to communicate certification timing to brokers this month for their state exchange, HHS says it will happen sometime between now and August.

Most participants are not contributing near enough to their 401(k) plans to adequately fund retirement.

A new study shows strong employer objections to state-run plans such as those recently proposed by legislatures in California and Massachusetts.

Small-business employees will have to wait a year before they can choose their own medical plans after the Obama administration delayed a part of PPACA intended to provide them with coverage options.

Your Facebook strategy for your practice should be different from your Twitter and LinkedIn approaches, with a more personal touch.

Consumers and some health insurers, led by Aetna, Inc., say the facility fees charged by many of the new ERs aren’t justified and lack transparency.

Thom Mangan says we need to change the conversation with employers to underscore the value we bring them outside of carrier negotiation. Consider educating prospective clients about your key advantages and packaging (and pricing) your services accordingly with these six ideas.