Gone are the days of hula chairs and ThighMasters at the desk, new technologies and wearable devices are playing into the benefits and wellness strategies of employers, Amy McDonough, Fitbit’s director of wellness, told conference goers at the 2014 Employee Benefits Forum & Expo, being held this week in Boca Raton, Fla.

(Bloomberg) -- Apple Inc. said it’s delaying the release of new health-tracking software that it has trumpeted as one of the main features of its new operating system for the iPhone and iPad.

Commentary: Evolving technologies are creating a major shift in the enrollment landscape. Brokers and benefit advisers hoping to offer clients customized solutions need to stay in the know.

Apple’s new and very high-profile entry into the wearable wellness game might make it the must-have status symbol of 2015, but cost and data security issues may create challenges for Apple Watch in benefits programs.

Commentary: Blogger Sam Fleet says that in addition to offering new services to current clients to expand your business, brokers can prospect through new mediums and social networking platforms.

Commentary: Addressing bswift’s annual benefits study, CEO Rich Gallun identifies trends and provides insight into how organizations are using wellness initiatives, consumerism and technology to shift responsibility for benefit decision-making and management from employer to employee.

Despite all the technical glitches with Healthcare.gov and state-run exchanges during open enrollment, a large majority of Americans researching health plan options relied on websites for information, but supplemented their research with other outlets for answers, including brokers and advisers.

A major increase in the amount spent on HR tech is leading many employers to reexamine the ways they handle their entire HR workflow, and allowing many benefits managers a greatly expanded range of tools for personnel management.

Employers, including private companies and educational institutions, are being forcibly shut out of their employees’ social media accounts as privacy advocates push for more action from legislators.

A new app has hit the streets of New York, looking to maximize the gym reimbursements that are available but underutilized on many insurance plans.

Commentary: How brokers can select the right decision support tool to enhance voluntary sales, according to guest blogger Steve Adams.

Commentary: Guest blogger Veer Gidwaney discusses the intersection of these two types of technologies that some believe are the future of the business.

Who should be concerned about health care data security?

The 2013-2014 winter season has dumped record snow amounts on the northeastern United States, which has made it a rough go for public works agencies and employers to clean up. It also presented an opportunity for snowplow contracting service Xtreme Snow Pros to bulldoze its competition; however, the company was feeling increasingly hampered by its management and recruiting practices.

Commentary: Although your customers may be placing a greater emphasis on voluntary plans, their millennial employees often are unaware of the reasons to elect coverage. If this younger employee base doesn’t understand voluntary options, it could result in lower enrollment and hurt your clients financially. Learn how to harness the millennial’s demand for information to your advantage.

Foursquare helps people discover new places, restaurants and experiences nearby with their mobile phone. For the talent team at Foursquare, employee procedures like onboarding didn't have the same ease and connectivity that their products allowed consumers to enjoy. Onboarding and other procedures were time-consuming, manual processes that resulted in redundant records and tons of wasted paper.

Through strategic partnerships, small brokerages can compete on a national level.

Columnist Craig Davidson says extending your usual advice to clients to the HR realm is important to your business.

Despite assurances from the Department of Health and Human Services that Healthcare.gov is secure, Committee on Oversight & Government Reform Chairman Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calf.) said Thursday that we “must assume that website is still vulnerable and Americans may have [personally identifiable information] hacked and taken.”

John Seltzer, along with son Jason, establishes the groundwork for an enduring business with a focus on consultative sales.