Practice management

The Bright Choices Exchange is designed to offer ancillary benefits and access to mid-sized and large employers nationwide.

Mindfulness is making its way into the workplace, thanks in part to Janice Marturano, who left her 15-year tenure as an executive at General Mills to teach employees of all kinds how to train their brain to focus solely on the task at a hand. In her view, it’s whole-body wellness.

Are you just one more agent with the same products and the same approach who is trying to win business by having a longer list of promised services? Or are you viewed by prospects and clients as an expert in benefits? Columnist Mel Schlesinger shares how to achieve thought leader status.

The Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act (ADAAA) has changed the way your clients manage their employees’ disability leaves. The Standard has found five mistakes employers may make when considering ADAAA accommodations.

How will the ACA and associated changes in the employee benefit market impact the role of the broker? A recent LIMRA survey of small businesses reveals areas where brokers need to step up to the plate.

AOL Inc. blamed President Barack Obama’s health care law for its plan to reduce spending on contributions to employees’ 401(k) retirement plans.

Commentary: Everyone has them — and loves them. Customers who never complain, who keep coming back, who pay promptly and who appear satisfied. But beware of passive customer loyalty, says sales pro John Graham.

Commentary: So you want to expand your centers of influence, but you’re not sure where to start? Daymark Advisors’ Jack Kwicien shares a simple idea that works. And best of all, it is easy to implement.

Humana Inc. said it has received 202,000 applications for health insurance through the Obamacare exchanges and reaffirmed its 2014 forecast citing better-than-expected Medicare membership growth.

Commentary: The other shoe dropped on Tuesday and columnist Craig Davidson isn't shocked.

Obamacare will reduce the total number of hours Americans work by the equivalent of 2 million full-time jobs in 2017, mostly among low-wage earners, the Congressional Budget Office said.

Set in Atlantic City, the 2014 Workplace Benefits Renaissance, held Feb. 24-26 at the Trump Taj Mahal, features a can’t-miss presentation from the head of the Employers Association on New Jersey breaking down the impact of the ACA on employers.

This group wants to be mentored, amongst other things, according to a speaker at TD Ameritrade Institutional’s national conference in Orlando.

There are three big issues that agency owners think they can’t or shouldn’t do. Columnist Wendy Keneipp shares how to break them down.

Are you, or do you know, a top-notch benefits adviser under 35? Nominate your Rising Star today for possible inclusion in EBA's upcoming magazine.

A Kaiser Family Foundation poll released Thursday shows Americans’ bad perception of the ACA is near an all-time high. Meanwhile, brokers’ negativity about their ability to do their jobs on the exchanges has subsided.

While President Obama mentioned taxes a number of times in his State of the Union speech last night, the details were scant.

While President Obama mentioned taxes a number of times in his State of the Union speech last night, the details were scant.

The president also touched briefly on the Affordable Care Act, challenging Republicans to let Americans know what their “specific plans [are] to cut costs, cover more people, and increase choice.”

EBA recently introduced a concept several brokers across the country are embracing — the retail storefront. But one broker doesn’t just want to attract individual clients to walk-in, he plans to use the space to enhance offerings for his group client employees, too.