Voluntary benefits

While small-business employers are just as keen on providing the same benefits as their big-business counterparts, a recent study says employers can look at offering competitive voluntary benefits as a way to entice employees and boost employee retention.

Supplemental benefit SurgeryPlus is a new product offering for advisers, especially those who work with self-funded clients.

One recent court case suggests your employer clients should consider including disclaimers in benefit notices to protect against changes in retirement plan payouts.

A handful of letters from trade groups and the Chamber of Commerce reject as “premature and imprudent” the DOL’s proposal to require retirement plan service providers supply guides to fee disclosures.

The do-it-yourself approach may be all the rage for home renovations but when it comes to benefits, employees still need guidance from their employers.

Offering dental coverage and encouraging employees to stick to yearly care regimens can boost employee well-being and overall productivity.

Commentary: Blogger Michael Klachefsky shares ways that disability insurance providers and absence management vendors can help with some unexpected consequences of the health law.

While many in the industry think voluntary sales is a no-brainer for benefit advisers and employees alike, there's one type of product that hasn't seen a boost thanks to the ACA.

Once viewed as a nice-to-have benefit, some say voluntary benefits should now be advertised and heavily promoted to millennial-age employees as an important component in their overall portfolio of benefits.

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

Why trusted advisers should be sharing this growing retirement income strategy with their clients.

Employees are craving voluntary benefits to offset high deductible plans, yet many say they haven’t been offered any new options since the ACA became law.

The Affordable Care Act’s ongoing rollout continues to plague employers as many look for alternative benefit structures to help with rising costs. The defined contribution benefit model – touted as a way to lower costs for employers and increase choice for employees – is generating lots of discussion but are employers ready to take the plunge?

Identity theft and data security is a concern of every shopper whether they shop online or at brick-and-mortar stores. But as the more profound breaches at Target and other retail giants have gained hold on consumer minds, voluntary benefit offerings have surfaced on private insurance exchanges to help combat this growing digital dilemma.

It’s no surprise Americans are tired. That’s why benefit advisers working with employers to build a wellness program should not ignore sleep solutions.

Advisers say employers are increasingly purchasing voluntary dental plans as an effort to cut costs, meet new ACA requirements and retain employees.

Commentary: Columnist Mel Schlesinger contends that most brokers aren't actually selling the non-medical insurance products that could help clients and their employees. Simply including them in a proposal is not enough, he says.

The IRS last week issued Notice 2014-19, which sets forth the rules for recognition of same-sex spouses in retirement plan administration. Here's what employers need to know.

MetLife has launched a new voluntary life insurance product aimed at baby boomers nearing retirement.

Commentary: While voluntary sales continue to rise, billing for these products is turning into a mess, says blogger Tinker Kelly. The concept of self-billing, explained here, can fix this.