Employee Benefit Adviser articles from November 2008

Employee Benefit Adviser archives from November 2008

Language arts.(Editor's Note)
November 1, 2008... Byline: Robert Whiddon, Editor-In-Chief There is a lot to be learned from the current financial crisis. Lessons for everyone, from Main Street America's benefit brokers to Wall Street'ss power brokers. One lesson has to do with...

Get a room!(Movers & Shakers)
November 1, 2008... Byline: Molly Bernhart At this year's Employee Benefit Adviser Summit, attendees - employee benefit brokers, consultants and advisers - had the opportunity to ask a panel of employers (and one very recent convert to the ranks of advising)...

One broker's creativity ...(Movers & Shakers)
November 1, 2008... Byline: Emeric McCleary Editor's note - California carriers have made clear their displeasure and frustration with brokers who meld first-dollar coverage with high deductible health plans. Some carrier execs have said brokers who...

Is another's cheating.(Movers & Shakers)
November 1, 2008... Byline: Rae Lee Olson First, contrary to my colleague, I believe that carriers have a right to maintain health insurance products with valid actuarial assumptions. Second, I believe that the pure out of pocket reality in a health plan for...

You must show clients how to value your superior service.(Sales Call)
November 1, 2008... Byline: Mel Schlesinger Last month one of my coaching clients called with a rather urgent matter. One of his clients had just given an agent of record letter to another broker. The situation was as follows: The group had been a client...

Tap tech for better communications.(Tips on Technology)
November 1, 2008... Byline: Molly Bernhart There's been a lot of buzz about Web 2.0 technology and new media as it applies to people's personal lives, but relating such trends to an adviser's business presents a different set of opportunities. Networking...

Smart moves are always timely.(Be Advised)
November 1, 2008... Byline: George Lane According to the National Bureau of Economic Research, a recession starts at the peak of a business cycle and ends at the trough. So, that means that we'll know we've had one... after it's over. Rather than relying...

Minor benefits, Major questions: The mini-medical market continues to expand, but debate continues as to whether it can provide real relief to the ranks of major medical plan sponsors.(Cover story)
November 1, 2008... Byline: Robert L. Whiddon Employers continue to search for relief from higher health care costs. Medical premium trends continue at or near double digits and many companies have found the limits of cost-shifting. Participation continues to...

Scary times call for strong advisers.(Sound Off)
November 1, 2008... Byline: Michelle McMullen Wow. What a time to be a columnist. As I write this, we're in the midst of one of the largest meltdowns on Wall Street in history, and frankly it's hard not to be distracted. But as advisers, I'm reminded that we...

Interact, strategize, succeed.(Movers & Shakers)
November 1, 2008... Byline: Editorial Staff Three days in late September offered advisers and employers a golden chance to identify their weaknesses and strategize on ways to strengthen them. The Second Annual Employee Benefit Adviser Summit and 21st Benefits...

Looking through Wall Street's lens.(Health)
November 1, 2008... Byline: Lydell C. Bridgeford If employers and advisers haven't been keeping an eye on the stock prices and the credit and debt ratings of their health insurers, then it's probably a good idea to start doing so. A band of Wall Street...

Help employers buy better primary care.(Health)
November 1, 2008... Byline: Steve Raetzman Employers have a unique opportunity to be the catalyst for the next major change in how health care is delivered and how people improve their health. That change is the expansion of primary care and its...

Advisers can do much with 'set it and forget it' investment options.(Retirement)
November 1, 2008... Byline: Michael Kaplan With the flood of lifecycle funds available in the market, advisers need to help their clients consider which funds are most appropriate for their retirement plan. Much has been written about how the...

Women worry more, are less confident about retirement than male colleagues.(Retirement)
November 1, 2008... Byline: Molly Bernhart It's not a pretty picture. One in four women have no savings at all for retirement, according to a survey by the Employee Benefit Research Institute. Not only is the retirement forecast for women bleak, they are...

Find a way to be firm, not pushy.(Voluntary)
November 1, 2008... Byline: Robert L. Whiddon As the value and popularity of voluntary benefits continues to spread, advisers will frequently find prospects and clients alike saying they've been there and done that. Mutual of Omaha's Marty Traynor says...

Writing a business plan is one thing, using it is another.(Your Business)(Conference notes)
November 1, 2008... Byline: Jack Kwicien It was great seeing some of you at last month's Benefits Forum & Expo and the Adviser Summit that ran concurrently one day of the conference. There was great content and it was very well attended. It's a great place to...

Prospect smart, not dirty.(Your Business)
November 1, 2008... Byline: Molly Bernhart Good prospecting techniques should act as a hook - something sharp, persuasive or even dramatic that will get an employer's attention and steer them to you. So, when a discussion arose about the number of employers...

On the road... What it takes to be a top 2% adviser.(Your Business)
November 1, 2008... Byline: Rob Nielsen Over the past 20 years, I have observed, participated in, or conducted, literally hundreds of joint sales calls. And no matter what you prefer to call yourself - agent, broker, adviser, or consultant - the behavioral...