Employee benefits

For most, the definition of workplace culture is fairly nebulous and subjective. But workplace culture does comprise a few specific elements. How does your workplace incorporate these eight elements?

Republican House members are challenging the DOL’s efforts to require retirement advisers to follow a fiduciary standard, saying it reduces access to options and conflicts with the Dodd-Frank Act.

Two major deals were responsible for the $8.5 billion in total sales, a LIMRA survey finds.

In the past five years, employers have realized just how precarious a position their employees are in when it comes to retirement and they have begun to put plans in place to help get them moving in the right direction.

If your flexible spending account plan had a year-end deadline of Dec. 31, employees could still have more time to use their leftover FSA funds, if you offer a grace period.

Can employees stressed out about their personal finances be as productive as those who are not? Not likely.

Fewer Americans are worried they won't have enough money to be self-sufficient in old age, but healthcare costs concerns still loom large.

HSS should extend these plans to employers with fewer than 100 employees as scheduled, Small Business Majority CEO says.

Commentary: The relationship with a retirement adviser is an important one, but far too many benefits professionals stick it out when they could be getting better help for their plan participants.

A Supreme Court decision in favor of the petitioner in King v. Burwell could trigger the end of the employer mandate, legal experts say, but it’s far from certain how the court will decide.

Commentary: HR professionals must band together to share how we are handling our ACA reporting responsibilities and to pressure our vendor suppliers for better solutions and continued innovation, says Lockton's Matthew Kaiser.

In light of anticipated new fiduciary regulations from the DOL, employers are becoming more aware of potential conflicts of interest and the importance of protecting employees in their 401(k) plans.

Industry analysts praise one-stop shopping tools as a positive reason why many employers are moving to private exchanges. At Xerox’s Buck Consultants, 100% of employees enrolling through the company’s exchange engaged with its technology — and made an average of 11.5 return visits, says Sherri Brockhorst, leader of the RightOpt exchange at Buck.

The Supreme Court today will hear arguments in King v. Burwell, the highly anticipated case challenging the legality of subsidies available for individuals purchasing health insurance on the federal exchange under the Affordable Care Act.

Commentary: As independent health insurance agents, you can help your clients understand how taxes and health insurance intersect, building your credibility as a knowledgeable agent in the process. These guidelines will help you prepare your clients for a smooth tax season.

Commentary: Brokers who can step in and learn the business of voluntary benefits and some of the newer products hitting the market will be well-suited to bring in new clients and keep them protected against financial loss with a combination of relevant and cost-efficient solutions, says AmWINS' Sam Fleet.

Working with a financial adviser doubles the likelihood of outlining a plan and boosts confidence about saving for retirement, LIMRA says.

Commentary: There’s a lot for your clients to consider when carefully managing intermittent leaves. The Standard's Lincoln Dirks goes in-depth on the paperwork that outlines the parameters for an absence — certifications and recertifications.

Managing small retirement accounts for employees who no longer work for you can be time consuming, and labor intensive, but there are some employer benefits to keeping past employees’ 401(k) accounts on your books or having new employees roll their past retirement accounts into yours.

Critical illness insurance is among the fastest growing voluntary benefits, but it’s also among the most difficult to grasp for employees. In developing its new CI insurance line, Trustmark did research to better understand the market.