Practice management

Commentary: A new opportunity has emerged, and we have entered another inflection point in an era of change. What each of us does next could very well determine our long-term destiny, says Digital’s Mike Sullivan.

Commentary: Although in their infancy, private exchanges have not yet met predicted adoption rates. Wells Fargo’s Dan Gowen shares why this may be the case.

Commentary: There’s a fine line between permissible and impermissible comments — and employers shouldn’t make any requests that could discourage employees from exercising FMLA leave.

Commentary: Benefit firms hoping for agency growth must manage their producers or suffer the consequences of relinquishing control of the firm’s future, says EBA columnist Nelson Griswold.

Robo retirement firms entering the small-plan 401(k) market won’t replace human advisers, industry leaders say.

In the first year of open enrollment on its private benefit exchange, brokerage Lovitt & Touché made some mistakes. But the firm won’t be repeating them, says the Phoenix-based brokerage’s senior vice president.

Commentary: Benefit professionals should take advantage of new technology and services to protect employees and help them resolve ID theft situations, says VEBA’s Tinker Kelly.

Commentary: Being surrounded by experienced underwriters and “Excel wizards” is just enough to make one’s head spin, but it is right where Brian Murphy needs to be as he enters the world of benefit advising.

Broker group hopeful hotline is “first step” in making enrollment through federally-facilitated marketplace an even playing field for agents and brokers

The DOL’s proposed fiduciary rule presents complex challenges to advisers, clients and will exacerbate the savings crisis in America, NAIFA warned Congress Thursday — two weeks before the comment period on the controversial rule closes.

The recently announced mergers of four of the nation’s largest health insurance companies threatens to decrease competition in multiple markets, a threat the American Medical Association says will exceed federal antitrust guidelines and warrants regulatory review. Experts agree brokers will need to work with employer clients to find creative solutions to work with limited plan choices and keep premium costs down.

Many individuals think coverage is too expensive or unnecessary in certain stages of life — that’s why advisers need to emphasize the true cost of a policy and help clients think about their future when discussing life insurance.

Last week's NLRB decision will make many business leaders’ heads spin, issuing a new legal standard to be used when determining if a business is a “joint employer” of another’s employees.

Commentary: The company’s new tactic of comparing itself to brokerages across the country “goes beyond the line of ethical standards,” says HR Technology Advisors' Joe Markland.

Notable gap exists between what employers are demanding and what brokers are supplying

A PBE's consumer-facing portal may be "the sexy piece," an Accenture exec says, but many clients are looking for help beyond open enrollment.

Employers cite cyber threats as a top risk to their company, creating an opportunity for benefit advisers to quell their fears with education and product knowledge.

Commentary: We find our clients like having a guaranteed income, and they also like having buckets of income that start at different times and are taxed in different ways.

Generation Y employees want more customization and education about their benefits — and employers need to provide a broad range of offerings while taking a holistic view to contain rising health care costs.

Commentary: With most businesses, ours included, we derive 80% of our revenue from 20% of our clients. Frequently, we don’t take the time to analyze the characteristics of the 20%, says EBA Advisory Board member Andy Torelli.