Seven Tips for New Advisors
The financial services industry can be a great career choice but unfortunately, a lot of new advisors never make it past the first couple of years. Advisor Keith Weber discusses some tips to help young advisors.
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Generics predicted to slash drug spending
Global sales growth of prescription drugs could be cut in half over the next five years as lucrative brands lose patent protection and cheaper generics and emerging markets become the only significant growth drivers, according to a study by IMS Health.
By
Reuters
Benefits Think DOL outlines common mistakes in VCP submissions
Humans being humans, even when working within the Voluntary Correction Program to correct plan mistakes, plan sponsors naturally make mistakes. So, the IRS recently released a tip sheet to help plan sponsors avoid common errors in VCP submissions.
Benefits Think DOL wage & hour widget offers pros and cons
I'm happy to introduce to you EBN's newest staff member: Associate Editor Brian Kalish. He brings you today's post about a new DOL iPhone app that allows employees to track their own hours. Sound like a nightmare waiting to happen? Some attorneys agree. Keep reading, share your thoughts in the comments and send Brian an email to welcome him (or pitch him a story!). You can reach him at brian.kalish@sourcemedia.com.
11 Essential Tech Tools for Financial Advisors
Technology can set advisors apart and lack of technology can put them behind the eight ball.
Only 2.4% of 401(k) participants stopped contributing in 2010
Investors stuck with their retirement savings plans in 2010, the Investment Company Institute said Tuesday, basing its findings on data from more than 23 million defined contribution accounts.
Benefits Think New app unveils what your email inbox says about your work habits
A funny new app from Xerox called the Business of Your Brain app analyzes your emails and calendar notices to identify those distractions that steer focus away from work.
Benefits Think Phasing out the five-day workweek
My mother has the day off every other Friday, which I highly envy. She also works nine-hour days for the privilege, which I do not envy. However, although the idea of clocking time has no appeal for me, I give her employer credit for trying to help employees gain greater control over their time by offering the compressed week option.
U.S. pensions improve funded status
The aggregate deficit in pension plans sponsored by S&P 1500 companies decreased by $4 billion during April, according to new figures from Mercer, a global HR consulting firm.
11 Tips For Refreshing Your Website
Think of your website as your virtual storefront – a reflection of how you do business. Take the time now to do some maintenance and refresh your website. Think of it as a spring-cleaning ritual. These tips come from Kirk Hulett, senior vice president of Strategy & Practice Management for Securities America (www.securitiesamerica.com). He is the author of two books on human resources issues for financial planners and investment professionals, Hiring to Grow: A Practical Workbook and Managing for Performance: The Cycle of Success.
Benefits Think Avoiding wage war: Attorneys advice for preventing wage and hour lawsuits
Do you require nonexempt employees to review their timecards every pay period? Probably not. But according to Bob Yonowitz, partner at the Irvine, Calif. office of Fisher & Phillips LLP, you should.
Benefits Think House GOP: Returns only, no exchanges
This morning, I read news that the Republican majority in the House has plans to choke off some $1.9 billion in grants slated to go to states to set up health care exchanges under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. I’m disappointed by the announcement, because out of all that I dislike about PPACA, the creation of exchanges was one aspect that I was excited about.
Benefits Think Drug shortages put patients (your employees) at risk
This morning on the train, I read a Washington Post article detailing serious prescription drug shortages nationwide and immediately thought of the potential impact on your employees and prescription drug plans.
Name your P.R.I.C.E.: Approach open enrollment like a time-share salesperson
My husband and I recently celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary in Mexico. It was perfect – ice cold Coronas and warm sun. The only drawback (other than the beer-bellied men in Speedos) were the constant solicitations to purchase a time-share.
Employers should model job recruiting after ‘American Idol,’ one blogger says
I've been an avid watcher of "American Idol" since season one – no judgment, please – and although I mostly harken back for seasons past (I greatly miss ex-bully Brit judge Simon Cowell, and my favorite winner is original champ Kelly Clarkson), I'll be watching regardless when the show crowns its 10th winner later this month.
Japan disaster highlights need for disaster preparedness planning
Having personally helped employees through the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the earthquake in Haiti and now the disaster in Japan, I can see that while workers affected by each of these crises had different needs, eight core benefits needs consistently were raised:
Benefits Think Technology is not a license to lose your manners
As I was going through my inbox searching for a topic to post about, I came across an invite to an upcoming audio conference: Business Communication Etiquette Part 1: How to Deal with Technology. I was twice stunned. Once, by the notion that people might actually need a seminar on how to apply the golden rule with technology in the workplace. And twice, that even if such a seminar is needed, that it needs to be conducted in multiple parts.
Benefits Think Hiring is in the eye of the beholder
As HR/benefits pros, youre generally your companys first line of defense in preventing a discrimination lawsuit. How do you counsel managers against making skin-deep selections or relying solely on gut feeling, with millions of dollars potentially on the line in replacement, training and productivity costs if a hire doesnt work out, or if a rejected candidate decides to sue?
Benefits Think Author IDs seven types of employees
As she promotes her new book, "Versatility: A Prerequisite for Leadership Success," workplace consultant Francie Dalton outlines seven different types of workplace personalities and how managers can skillfully mesh them to create productive, harmonious teams.
States face growing pension gaps
States are short $1.26 trillion in paying for public employee pensions and other retirement benefits, a gap that grew 26% in one year and will take many more years to wipe out, according to a report released on Tuesday.
By
Lisa Lambert