Employee Benefit Adviser articles from December 2006

Employee Benefit Adviser archives from December 2006

Brokers continue to say compensation not a concern.
December 1, 2006... Despite the news that UnumProvident will remodel its benefits broker compensation program, making it simpler and more transparent, readers of EBA's Adviser newsletter expect their revenue to remain unchanged. Sixty percent of respondents...

Making a name in employee benefits.
December 1, 2006... Welcome to the EBA issue in which selections for our first "Who's Who" among group benefit brokers appears. If you aren't among the brokers profiled in this issue, and the nomination process passed you by, be assured there will be other...

Annuity tax breaks might boost retirement savings: Lawmakers ponder policy proposals to increase investment in life annuities.
December 1, 2006... Life annuities have caught the eye of Congress, resulting in proposed leg-islation offering preferential tax treatment to annuity income. While the Pension Protection Act tackled retirement asset accumulation, some House and Senate...

"Jelly belly" backlash costs cop his job, defines limits of wellness communications.
December 1, 2006... A Florida police chief lost his job recently when he exhorted his officers to stay in good health and spurn the "jelly belly" lifestyle for one of exercise, good nutrition and self-pride. Some of his subordinates complained and city officials...

Holidays offer advisers an opportunity to take stock.
December 1, 2006... In this series of articles that started in August, we have been discussing ways that principal owners can take steps to optimize their business even before they are finally ready to sell their business or otherwise divest themselves of their...

Some question whether second act is needed.(Pension Protection Act of 2006)
December 1, 2006... Lawmakers got a good, long, complicated bite at the retirement apple with the passage of the Pension Protection Act. The problem, some say, is that while much was accomplished, much was left undone. And although the PPA is being billed as the...

Inside out approach helps retirement advisers capitalize.
December 1, 2006... Retirement advisers readying their sales plans for 2007 success would do well to remember the biblical admonition that cleaning the inside of a cup will allow the outside to also become clean. Or, flipped for modern times: "garbage in, garbage...

Fat times for the fee conscious?(financial advisers fee)(Employee Fiduciary)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... While some advisers can't hide their jitters about the recent class-action suits on plan fees and the ongoing regulatory activity, others eagerly await a crush of frustrated plan sponsors. Mobile, Ala.-based Employee Fiduciary is an example...

Plan shopping slows despite higher scrutiny.(investment plans)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... Despite all the headlines and increased interest in fee activity, the 401kExchange is reporting that fewer plans, regardless of size, are either currently searching for a new provider or at least thinking about changing their provider. For...

Who's Who 2006.(Employee Benefit Adviser's awards)
December 1, 2006... Benefits experts share their picks for this year's standout performers Ask 50 people that rely on the benefits adviser distribution channel to name a top professional and you'll get 50 different names. Ask the same group to talk about what...

Ex-HRH exec ready to build new super broker.
December 1, 2006... Longtime Marsh exec and former Hilb, Rogal & Hobbs President Robert Lockhart is launching a new superbrokerage to serve the middle market. He's starting in the Northeast, having just recently acquired Long Island-based Genatt Associates, which...

Dealmakers.(CVS Corp. acquired Caremark Homecare Inc.)(Great-West Life and Annuity Insurance Co. acquires Indiana Health Network)(BB&T Insurance Services Inc. acquires Wyman, Green and Blalock Inc.)
December 1, 2006... * Willis launches Australian M&A practice. The international broker has established a dedicated M&A team in Sydney. Willis launched M&A efforts in Japan and Hong Kong earlier this year. * Caremark and CVS agree to merger. CVS will purchase...

VSP tops customer satisfaction ranking again.
December 1, 2006... *VSP tops in member satisfaction for three years straight. The vision carrier has been named tops in member satisfaction among national vision plans by J.D. Power and Associates for the third straight year. VSP has won the award each year since...

Web-smart savers: Online tools enhance financial education but still underused.
December 1, 2006... More and more employers are offering their workers access to online tools to help them understand and better prepare for retirement. Advisers, ever hopeful this trend will result in higher deferral rates and broader participation, should temper...

Ask the coach: Set goals that are within your control.(Column)
December 1, 2006... This month EBA's resident sales guru Mel Schlesinger dives into the annual resolution debate and explains how good goal-setting is much different than what you are probably used to. Mel, as we close out 2006, can you give me a few ideas...

Advisers don't like playing politics.(congressional elections)
December 1, 2006... In case you didn't hear, the mid-term congressional elections were big news. Democrats won a majority in the House and the Senate, meaning a dramatic shift in national legislative priorities. And while health care reform is generally associated...

Buyers not yet pushing to share med-trend windfall.
December 1, 2006... Benefit consultants and brokers are reporting that medical trend rates are continuing to fall - to the 7% to 8% range - while health plans are reporting that their actual costs are trending as low as 5.5% to 6.5%. A reliable indicator for...