Employee Benefit Adviser articles from July 2007

Employee Benefit Adviser archives from July 2007

Everyone wants to drive a Porsche ... or read one.
July 1, 2007... I know many of you don't have to dream of driving a Porsche. You just walk out of your house and into your garage and get in. Alas my modest Toyota Corrolla will have to suffice for at least a little bit longer. Fortunately though, what I...

Just a few extra dollars can do much to control cancer claims: It doesn't look too hard to make the numbers work for cancer screenings. The benefits of such a program also appear clear. Now it's just up to advisers to help their clients get it.
July 1, 2007... Okay, choose. Your company's benefit plan can either pay for chiropractic adjustments, or for preventive cancer screenings for all employees. Most health consumers would probably choose the adjustment over the colonoscopy, but which is the...

Survey shows age matters when it comes to selling HSAs.
July 1, 2007... The CDHP movement has been taking it on the chin recently. First came Towers Perrin's recent analysis that basically supports a product recall and retooling, then came breathless coverage in outlets like The Wall Street Journal that...

What you do not know about a fiduciary breach can hurt you.
July 1, 2007... Sometimes, retirement plan clients can act inappropriately. When it happens it can mean trouble for advisers. DOL receives an estimated 1,500 reports annually of employers breaching fiduciary duties. A recent case illustrates no matter how...

Fee disclosure, liability and costs are key to driving more 401(k) sales.
July 1, 2007... If 401(k) plans stay with their record keeper an average of six years - which should increase as fewer plans are switching providers - the likelihood is that pricing is completely outdated for a majority of plans. Even if plan assets did not...

Discover how some employers really feel about emerging funeral benefits.
July 1, 2007... Employers are offering a broader range of voluntary products as a way to entice diverse job candidates and retain good workers. Financial counseling, legal services, pet insurance, cancer insurance, long-term care insurance and concierge...

Preparation is a crucial ingredient in the recipe for successful requests: RFPs are common, but doing them well is uncommon. Here are some tips for making sure your next RFP is one of your best.(Request for proposal)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... When you send out an RFP, it's not to find the best coffee maker for your office break room. You send out an RFP because you are about to spend a considerable amount of your firm's or your client's money on a solution to a complex problem. The...

How will you grow your business over the next five years?
July 1, 2007... Most advisers would tell you their schedules, briefcases and brains are overloaded. So, while helping clients manage their business is an adviser's main concern, how can he possibly make time for his own strategic planning? Employee Benefit...

Setting The Table For Success.
July 1, 2007... Lee Warner is unflappable. He does not mind telling a client he does not know something. It really doesn't bother him. In fact, it is part of his service model. Well, every once in a while he might try to save a little face. Like when the...

The basic laws of evolution apply to business as well.
July 1, 2007... What we have observed from working with Lee Warner and his team is their consistent ability to adapt to market conditions and to be opportunistic. Witness how the business has evolved from a financial planning firm, to a much broader wealth...

Worksite enrollment forecast: The outlook for worksite sales is above the seasonal average - expect scattered interest in new products from current clients and a chance of customers switching to new carriers.(Report)
July 1, 2007... Worksite sales are climbing right along with the summer temperatures. Just how hot is the worksite market? Jim Barrett, president of American Worksite Insurance Marketing, Inc. says his company is having a record breaking year for worksite...

Focus should be on having the right workers not just the right benefits.
July 1, 2007... Larry Winget is not your average management guru. No power suits for this guy. Embroidered western shirts, jeans, lots of jewelry - and, oh yeah - fluorescent green cowboy boots. But he's got more than just an alternative fashion sense, he's...

CRM success depends on implementation and training.
July 1, 2007... Truly "managing" client data can be daunting. That's why so many advisers are still using makeshift systems that toggle between Excel and QuickBooks. CRM software tackles confusing data head on and was a hot topic at a recent meeting of...

HRH kicks off summer with a pair of deals.(Hilb Rogal and Hobbs)(Company overview)
July 1, 2007... The heat is not slowing down Hilb Rogal & Hobbs who has announced a pair of summer-time deals. First up is The Urman Co., a Denver-based employee benefits and P&C broker founded in 1970 that focuses on the insurance needs of schools and...

An industry at fault or just under construction?
July 1, 2007... The Pension Protection Act of 2006 provided direction to employers that offer tax qualified 401(k) plans to employees. The PPA was equally instructive for 401(k) plan service providers looking to improve plan features for the benefit of...