Practice management

Brokers all talk with their clients about the fact that “engaged” employees are more “productive," says EBA Blogger Beverly Bettie. However, when, if ever are they put under the same looking glass? Internal and external resources in our own organizations impact our ability to be productive, to achieve results, and financial success.

Every year someone calls guest blogger Jim Moniz the Grinch because he’s the guy who points out the ineffectiveness of the holiday bonus. But, he says, employee benefits advisers, brokers and consultants need to recognize there exists more creative vehicles that can serve as incentive programs to drive and maintain growth as well as recruit and retain key talent/

There is a rarely a plan of how "pretend sales goals" are going to actually be met, says EBA Contributor Kevin Trokey. He provides seven cultural issues to consider when selling product.

While brokers will be needed now more than ever to assist their clients, they must be sure to partner with the right provider, or potentially risk losing everything, said a panel of experts at the Workplace Benefits Transitions conference Wednesday.

2012 election and victory of Obama over Romney means health care industry will change

A day in the life of Doug Johnson, JA Benefits, Bedford Indiana.

The pros and cons of a benefit practice offering retirement plan services.

Jack Kwicien on why and how brokerages should be more than just a vendor

Nelson Griswold on why your brokerage business model could spell doom.

Schlesinger on how to have better sales appointments for broker.

Craig Davidson on creating the sales environment you want.

Post-election, for those who were waiting for something to happen that might change the course of health reform, you can stop waiting. A recent Mercer study found 15% of clients were waiting on the election to start implementing health reform, anticipating a change in administration would either repeal it, fundamentally change it, or roll back some of the provisions - which was probably more feasible. That not being the case, I think everybody out there should start making plans for 2014 based on the law as we know it.

Key considerations for employers and their brokers looking to self-fund.

If you are a small business owner and the reason you are giving your customers to buy from you is price, EBA Contributor Kevin Trokey strongly encourages you to start looking for another reason. In this world of big box stores and Internet shopping, small businesses just can’t compete on price.

When was the last time you took a good, introspective look at your client base and thought about saying goodbye to a client? For EBA Blogger Beverly Beattie, it’s important to give clients tremendous value and for my clients to know they are fully receiving it.

HHS outlines various conditions and services insurers must cover, and rules to let companies expand employee wellness programs in new proposed regulations of the ACA posted Tuesday.

Now that health reform is here to stay, blogger Dave Petno says he is ready for the challenge to understand what he calls the “entire 2,700 page monstrosity.” Here’s how you can be prepared too for your client’s questions.

The Congressional Budget Office said in a report that a Congressional fix to exclude broker commissions from medical loss ratio calculations will increase deficits by $531 million over the 2013-2017 period.

'Obamacare,' Exchanges, Medicare Surtax, MLR’s etc … it goes on and on, the litany of challenges, concerns and issues that may call into question our very survival. Perhaps this is really all about perspective. Sometimes we are so close to a situation that we lose sight of the big picture issues.

Updated throughout the day after Obama's re-election, hear what industry leaders and industry groups say the president's win means for the broker community. Be sure to leave your thoughts in the comments, too.