Employee Benefit Adviser articles from August 2007

Employee Benefit Adviser archives from August 2007

The nitty gritty.(Employee benefits)
August 1, 2007... Sitting around the table with a dozen benefit managers recently proved eye opening. For both what they said and what they didn't. That's not a knock on them. There's a lot to know. It might be a knock on advisers. The reason for our dinner...

Errors & OmissionsErrors & Omissions.
August 1, 2007... Last month we incorrectly indicated that JZA acquired RCM&D. RCM&D actually acquired JZA.

Good deals are about more than just good terms - maps are a must.(Viewpoint essay)
August 1, 2007... The year is racing by. It's summer; a big vacation time. In fact, I am writing this article while at the beach. But we know that for many benefit advisers, it is the beginning of the most hectic part of the year. There is lot's to do and more...

Expat employees do not need chicken soup, they need medical support.
August 1, 2007... Many people consider the job of an expatriate employee to be a temporary, leisurely working vacation. But the holiday perception ends when an overseas employee needs medical attention. When it comes to business, the world is flattening....

The Expat Zone.(human resource management)(Brief article)
August 1, 2007... In EBA's coverage of expatriate benefit offerings it has come to our attention that some advisers think managing expat employees is a challenge alive with drama. Richard Polak, president and CEO of international benefits and human resources...

Selling legalese with ease.(popularity of legal planning is increasing)
August 1, 2007... As the voluntary market continues to heat up, employers are warming to more alternative benefits like group legal plans. Providers such as Legal Access Plans say growth is in synch with the voluntary market's overall success. Shannon D'Onofrio,...

New products, alternative services help solve Catch-22 of small client servicing.
August 1, 2007... Health advisers and brokers serving the small business community continue to struggle with a classic Catch-22. If they devote the energy and resources necessary to properly service their smallest clients they end up spending too much time and...

Healthy purchasing trend continues to evolve.
August 1, 2007... How many times have you spurned the conference hotel for one blocks away just to earn a few rewards points? If you're like many of your frequent flier friends in the benefits industry, chances are it's a common decision. Rewards programs change...

Small biz retirement prospects a bit warmer than originally thought.
August 1, 2007... Thanks to new research from Fidelity, retirement plan advisers seeking new clients in the small business marketplace should be able to reclassify many of their prospects from cool to at least lukewarm. The financial services giant recently...

Regular record keeper review could protect advisers from client poachers.(retirement planning options)
August 1, 2007... The quality and support of a 401(k) record keeper can be one of the most important decisions a retirement adviser can make. Like many important decisions in life, we often make them without enough thought and research and then never revisit...

Indexing can help advisers address employer concerns about market volatility.
August 1, 2007... Recommending the right vehicles to fund one of your client's retirement plans is a tough task. The job may feel more like you are reaching into a basket of snakes as you try to keep your clients' employees happy and your client out of court....

An eye for opportunity: Michael Goldstein helps advisers identify, seize and capitalize on the opportunities non-qualified retirement plans present employers.
August 1, 2007... A fan of sand. Whether it's because he spent his early years as a tax professional traveling to and from Las Vegas, or due to his expanding collection of fine art - much of it glass - Michael Goldstein finds himself fond of the material,...

Employers want more from Moore's cursory look at health care in America.
August 1, 2007... While Michael Moore's most recent cinematic endeavor may fuel anti-carrier sentiment among America's workers, it appears his film will not incite employers against their insurance peers. At a recent gathering of Washington, D.C.-area...

Mini-Moore rebuts SiCKO.(Michael Moore)(Brief article)
August 1, 2007... While Michael Moore's "SiCKO" has been basking in critical acclaim, not everyone has been so complimentary of the film. One person in particular is preparing a counter-punch in hopes of hitting Moore's depiction of a single-payer health care...

Updated answer book gives insight on 401(k) changes.
August 1, 2007... For the last 15 years, Joan McDonagh has kicked the tires on all the legislation affecting employers' favorite retirement vehicle with annual revisions to her well known, "401(k) Answer Book." She knows what things stall advisers and offers a...

Carswell finds a new home within BB&T insurance network.(Company overview)
August 1, 2007... The long-standing independent Hilton Head, S.C.-based insurance agency's decision to join the ranks of BB&T's network of 83 insurance firms may prove a fitting conclusion to the firm's long-running search for a proper perpetuation plan. ...

[Ask the coach].(Cient Creation Coach provides suggestion for business growth and success)
August 1, 2007... Dear Coach, Between servicing my existing accounts and renewing them I have very little time left to add on new business. Do you have any suggestions for how to grow my business? Daniel - Virginia Daniel, That is a really...

A (sales) call to action ...
August 1, 2007... EBA is going to be revamping "Sales Call" a bit over the next few issues. Let us know what challenges you are facing in your sales strategy and what sales topics you would like to see in this section. Do you know someone that you would...

Whistle - and walk - while you work: Treadmill/workstation offers another wellness option, gives new meaning to multitasking.
August 1, 2007... Already tried offering healthy vending options and providing an onsite fitness center? Try transforming employees' workspace with the Office of the Future - a workstation attached to a treadmill - pioneered in 2005 by Dr. James Levine, M.D.,...

Advisers must find technology footing.
August 1, 2007... The months leading up to presidential elections are filled with uncertainty about the future of the economy and business climate. But, there is a more immediate threat. Progress and competition have always been a bigger threat to our...

Battle Weary: Disease management continues to hold promise for advisers wrestling.
August 1, 2007... Outside indicators show the disease management industry is hitting its stride. It has all the attendant activity of a vibrant and expanding marketplace - regular scholarly journals, a national association and several major annual events all...

Page turners...
August 1, 2007... A review of the table of contents for the most recent issue of the Disease Management Journal reveals one of two things. Either we at EBA are much too interested in our chosen subject matter, or the journal is doing a very good job writing...