Benefits ‘Shark Tank’ hedges bets on next big innovator
At the upcoming You Powered Symposium, vendors compete for $50,000 and investment in their benefit solution.
Practice management
Web Seminar New year, new view: 2026 ICHRA trends reshaping the benefits market
After a year defined by rising premiums, policy uncertainty, and growing compliance complexity, the benefits landscape is entering 2026 with a clearer sense of what's working—and what isn't.
Benefits Think Block strategy lays foundation for a successful book
Savvy brokers are building scalable, strategic momentum with coordinated, high-performing blocks that feature the right employers.
Jeb Dunkelberger
ClearPoint Health
401(k) loans act as lifeline for savers facing health and housing shocks
Most borrowers use defined contribution plan loans for essential health and housing costs rather than discretionary spending, new EBRI research found.
Report suggests need to improve advisers’ AI experiences
Nearly half of brokers say their clients are actively requesting insights on AI tools, but most lack the infrastructure to adopt them.
This adviser wants insurance plans to cover the therapy that saved her life
Cally Ideus's nonprofit aims to bring an alternative treatment that helped her recover after military tours of duty into the medical mainstream.
Family feuds: Advisers navigate beneficiary designation disputes
Mindful of cumbersome rules and the potential for blended-family feuds, advisers can help take the lead on keeping the peace for benefit plan participants.
Strategies to retain employees in a high turnover industry
Better benefits, training and a supportive work environment can manage employees and reduce turnover.
Expanding HSA eligibility could pay for GLP-1s
With about 7 million additional Americans expected to sign up for HSAs, these vehicles can help finance costly GLP-1s.
Beyond health benefits: Growing need seen for estate planning services
As many as 70% of Americans don't have a will, trust, health or funeral directive as the nation gears up for its largest wealth transfer ever.
Personalized benefits drive retention amid ‘Silver Tsunami’
Advisers can help employers compete for C-suite talent amid major demographic shifts by highlighting nonqualified plans to supplement core benefits.
Preparing for open enrollment: Growing demands give rise to fiduciary advising
Pressure continues to mount on producers to deliver more customized benefit packages and consultative services to satisfy the needs of more demanding clients.
Benefits Think How to develop the courage to confront discomfort
Confrontation isn't about conflict. It's about courage. It's the decision to stop avoiding the uncomfortable and to move toward honesty, clarity and respect.
Danielle Gibson
The Confrontationalist Podcast
Benefits Think 5 steps to seeding employee-first communication
When employees feel valued, heard and understood, they're more engaged, productive and less likely to seek other job opportunities.
Biljana Rakic
CAKE.com
Preparing for open enrollment: This adviser backs hyper-personalized messaging
Brown & Brown's Erika Illiano suggests finding the right decision-support tool and constructing a compelling narrative around various coverage options.
The hurdle dampening FIRE goals
Even with the money to retire early, FIRE clients often face unexpected challenges around mindset, more than finances.
Benefits Think Time to transcend the comfortable and conventional
Self-funding, network steerage and gap funding require advisers willing to step out of cruise control and into a more consultative, engaged role.
Brian Lacher
Mammoth Insurance Solutions
Preparing for open enrollment: Benefits literacy a linchpin for success
Advisers can do a better job equipping employees with the knowledge they need to make better benefit choices.
Preparing for open enrollment: Generational tipping point shaping adviser strategies
Communication challenges will include personalizing benefit messaging to five generations working side by side, and designing affordable healthcare coverage.
Preparing for open enrollment: Advisers face significant headwinds in Q4
More thoughtful communication can help sell benefit plan participants on equitably sharing responsibilities, as the need for hyper-personalized messaging grows.
