Practice and client management

Washington, Virginia and Indiana have new carriers signed on for next year, evidence that competition is growing stiffer in the government-run marketplaces.

Everyone understands that advertising helps sell products and that was the top way to sell health plans through the public exchanges. But looking back on the first open enrollment, which advertising techniques worked and what lessons were learned to raise the number of enrollees further for 2015?

Supplemental benefit SurgeryPlus is a new product offering for advisers, especially those who work with self-funded clients.

EBA's first-ever wellness survey finds out what advisers really think about programs, vendors and plan implementations.

The breakdown of states running their own health insurance exchanges versus those using the federally facilitated marketplace will change in due time – but exactly how it will change is still up in the air, said a speaker at Wednesday’s National Health Insurance Exchange Summit, held in Washington, D.C.

High first quarter profitability means benefit agents and brokers could see a record-breaking year in 2014, including bigger bonuses from carriers.

Commentary: Blogger Jeff Hyman says creating this culture is challenging but he has suggestions you can bring to your clients, or your own work environment.

Commentary: Columnist Nelson Griswold talks about how the ACA is a massive employer subsidy and why you need to be ahead of other small-group brokers on renewals this year.

Commentary: Columnist Mel Schlesinger reveals his sales techniques including only meeting with prospects who also want to meet with you.

The do-it-yourself approach may be all the rage for home renovations but when it comes to benefits, employees still need guidance from their employers.

The Supreme Court’s 2013 ruling striking down part of the Defense of Marriage Act has lasting implications on employee benefits that employers may be asking advisers about soon if they haven’t already.

Females are more empowered than ever to steer families financially, but there’s still catch-up work for advisers to do in getting them to save for their later years.

Commentary: Blogger John Graham says we are our presentations because we're the ones up there getting judged. Here's seven steps to putting your best foot forward.

American workers are increasingly satisfied with their retirement plans and interested in investing in them, a trend advisers and employers use in their favor.

A new app has hit the streets of New York, looking to maximize the gym reimbursements that are available but underutilized on many insurance plans.

Commentary: Blogger Mark Gaunya discusses a niche way some smaller employers might find appealing as a self-funding strategy to control health care costs. It’s called a captive solution.

Commentary: Guest blogger Rich Fahn, a small business-focused benefit broker, gives advice for the challenging conversations brokers will have to have with many small groups as premium hikes are mounting.

Helping employers with benefits education is often cited as a key advantage of private health care exchanges, and while educating employees on their benefit choices was noted as a top challenge in a recent employer survey, only 2% of those surveyed have opted for a private exchange.

While many in the industry think voluntary sales is a no-brainer for benefit advisers and employees alike, there's one type of product that hasn't seen a boost thanks to the ACA.

The self-insurance option for small businesses doesn’t seem to be as popular for managing ACA costs and mandates as some in the industry once thought.