Practice management

More than 30% of respondents say overweight or obese individuals should have to fork out more for health insurance, according to the most recent Thomas Reuters-NPR Health Poll.

Does your reputation allow you to set the rules of engagement and stick to them? Read in today’s BeAdvised why showing customer’s quality with a capital Q will earn their trust and loyalty.

Many of the nearly 1.6 million nonprofits and charities in the country are in need of advisory services. With assets growing at 8.5%, this group represents a healthy market for advisers looking to grow their client base, according to Gary Price, managing principal at Fund Evaluation Group.

Online expectations of insurers’ Web presences are higher than ever, according to a new report from Forrester Research, for a confluence of reasons; the economic instability has increased demand in certain sectors, insurance advertising is a billion-dollar venture, with most of it directing consumers to Web presences, etc. As a result, whether quote-seekers or self-serving policyholders, consumers expect sites to be available, easy to use and fast. And if a site doesn’t live up to these expectations, a competitor is only a click away.

More than two-thirds of wellness plan participants find the health care system easier to navigate with the help of an adviser, according to an OptumHealth case study.

Employee Benefit Adviser is ramping up its social media presence, bringing you the latest news in the benefits industry and fostering intense discussions on everything from new PPACA information to voluntary policies. Come join the conversation on our sites!

Your employees are well-skilled in the areas that help them do well on the job. But, unless they work in HR or the benefits department, they aren’t benefits experts. Benefits are there to support the needs of employees and their families. So, why don’t employees understand and value them more? Because they don’t understand them! …

Financial advisers are constantly on the lookout for new and more engaging and effective ways to market their services to prospective clients.

For benefits shops to not only survive but thrive, Mark Lacher explains why we need to make innovation a core business strategy and not a ‘cool buzz word’. In today’s BeAdvised he suggests three inter-related areas that should be used as a good starting point.

Email and websites are becoming outdated when communicating with health plan participants as social media moves to the forefront, says one industry expert at the annual International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans Employee Benefits Conference.

If you are an aggressive producer, how can you become an agency owner or practice leader? In the November issue EBA contributor Jack Kwicien shares how you can not only play the game, but also take home the trophy but it requires preparation and dedication.

Everyday services that help strike a better work-life balance have become an increasingly valuable part of the benefits package - even if employees are the ones who pick up the tab. But what is the best way to deliver this assistance to the workplace to ensure satisfaction and boost program utilization?

We know that HR directors, benefits managers and C-suite executives are horribly frustrated with employee benefits - not simply with the high cost of the medical, but perhaps most with their lack of control over the process.

Building customer relationships parallels the concept of personal addiction. An addiction requires an occasional fix. According to Dictionary.com, "fix" is a term that means "a compulsively sought dose or infusion of something: to need one's daily fix . . ." Think about giving your customers a fix during this frenetic renewal season.

Are you writing as much business as you would like? Has your revenue been steadily increasing over the last six to 12 months? Do you want to write more business and increase your revenue in the next 60 days?

You now have a strong advocate, retirement advisers. Read in the November issue of EBA as contributor Fred Barstein talks about the recent launch of the National Association of Plan Advisors, a sister organization of the ASPPA.

As I write this, the entire Benefits Group staff is just returning from the 6th Annual Employee Benefit Adviser Summit, co-located with our 24th Annual Benefits Forum and Expo. In Dallas this year, we had a gratifying turnout of nearly 1,000 benefit industry professionals from all parts of the industry, with Summit attendance boosted by participants staying over from the United Benefit Advisors conference - a most welcome addition to the educational sessions and to our industry networking opportunities.

EBA searched far and wide to find 10 "Rising Stars in Advising" who are making a name for themselves and will lead the next generation of advisers. We're delighted to introduce them.

Getting started in social media is a lot like getting started in investing. It pays to have a plan. If you are like most advisers, you’re probably just getting started. For you less is more.

Like a lot of companies, Veridian Credit Union wants its employees to be healthier. In January, the Waterloo, Iowa-company rolled out a wellness program and voluntary screenings.