Practice management

Most marketing executives at Wall Street firms believe that new regulations governing the financial services industry will go a long way toward helping banks, brokerage houses and investment banks improve their reputations.

Today marks the eighth annual celebration that honors the important work benefits practitioners and professional advisers do on behalf of North America’s workforce.

Americans who use the services of a financial professional are significantly more likely to have taken steps toward preparing for retirement than those who do not, finds the first quarterly results of a Principal Financial Well-Being Index.

Because so much of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is still unclear, one specific caveat must be made. BeAdvised contributor Sam Fleet addresses how PPACA will effect fixed indemnity plans.

No day is ever the same for a hard-working employee benefit consultant. For those of you who've always wondered what the competition is up to, EBA premieres a monthly feature — 'A day in the life,' in which an adviser tracks one routine day. We kick off with Kevin Roberts, a daily user of social media.

It's finally spring, time for a fresh start. Time to focus on what you can control and what you can positively influence. Apply yourself intelligently to achieve sales success.

Every brokerage sells in the small group market. The reason is simple: That's where most of the group business resides.

Agents are missing a huge sales opportunity with group term life insurance. Most of you think that you actually sell group term life insurance - but you are 100% wrong! You may take orders for group term, but when was the last time that you encouraged an employer to offer group term life where none existed before? Or you initiated a conversation with an employer about voluntary group term life insurance?

Over the past two years, fees charged by financial advisers to new mid- and large-market defined contribution/401(k) clients have been shrinking at an alarming rate. This decline is driven by a number of factors. As with many other trends, it is likely that deflationary pricing will move downmarket. More than ever, it is essential that advisers clearly define their value proposition to employers and participants who, for the first time, will be able to easily determine what they are paying as a result of the new disclosure regulations - or risk being commoditized competing on fees.

On July 1 - when fee disclosure regulations go into effect - there may be questions about advisers trying to reduce their fees. They should keep in mind that in some cases a plan sponsor's ERISA counsel may perceive that action as an admission of guilt that previous fees may have been excessive or unreasonable.

In some ways, the perspective a number of employee benefit brokers and advisers take on social media in the workplace reminds me of views held by many employers - at least in the beginning - on the value of workplace wellness programs. Both social media and wellness have their enthusiastic, devoted supporters, as well as skeptics who question the level of time commitment required to be successful and the resulting return on investment, which can be difficult to track.

Within 30 minutes of being contacted, insurance agent Dal Watson had already added this reporter on most of his social media sites - Google+, LinkedIn and Twitter. And doing so with clients has brought him and other brokers who are on social media increased business, better reputations and stronger connections.

As the challenges mount for benefit advisers to prove their value to clients, one of the main questions I think we should consider is can we help HR? And if so, how? What are the solutions that help HR be more effective to their organizations? Is it possible that benefit advisers might be able to help HR have a more strategic seat at the table?

Protesters packed up signs and TV talkers put away their microphones Wednesday night, the beginning of the long wait till the Supreme Court decides the fate of the Affordable Care Act.

Just as bright yellow “Don’t Tread on Me” and American flags flew high in front of the Supreme Court this week, so did the tempers of the crowds of supporters and opponents of health care reform gathered outside.

As the Supreme Court wraps up oral arguments on the core of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act — the minimum coverage provision that will address the individual mandate — brokers express their concern surrounding health reform and how they are preparing clients for the future with or without it.

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday appeared prepared to decide the fate of President Obama's sweeping health care law rather than delaying for years a review of the mandate that Americans buy insurance or pay a penalty.

Employee benefit brokers and advisers are paying close attention to the proceedings as the Supreme Court takes up an historic test of whether health reform is valid under the country's Constitution.

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Want to win an Amazon.com gift card? You're close! We're just over 100 "likes" away from giving away our first amazon.com gift card. Help us reach 500 fans and once we do all fans are automatically entered to win.