Eba-Stayingcurrent-Industryfinance

AIG not living strong right now

Tue, 16 Sep 2008 15:26:00 GMT

Mortgage meltdown just doesn't seem to cover it anymore. The financial service apocalypse took a giant step closer to the ranks of America's humble benefit brokers and advisers overnight as AIG scrambled to find capital to cover debt obligations following downgrading by several credit reporting agencies.

Friday Fray: Talking 'bout compensation

Tue, 02 Sep 2008 16:54:00 GMT

If you've been tracking the news you'll know that recent research indicates that thousands mid-size companies fail to file their 5500s. That means that the same number of companies probably don't know how much they're shelling out in fees and commissions to their advisers, TPAs, PBMs and other service providers. As more and more of that money is actually being paid by plan participants that's a problem -- one that employers and their advisers would do well to address quickly.

Raw Bar: Winners, benchmarking and CRM

Tue, 26 Aug 2008 16:51:00 GMT

For years MetLife has been updating and hosting a benefits benchmarking tool. It's easy to ignore, but it's also easy to use and full of good information if you take the time to explore it. Listen in as the carrier's Bob Love outlines some of things advisers and employers can do with the latest iteration of it's free data tool.

Raw Bar: Economic woes driving consumer coverage choices

Tue, 19 Aug 2008 17:12:00 GMT

New research from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners shows the economy is causing more and more consumers to skip the doctor's visit or cutback on prescription drugs. It's bad news for employers looking to corral long-term health costs.

Raw Bar: Big broker ponders future of EB sales

Tue, 12 Aug 2008 17:29:00 GMT

Willis' Joe Plumeri spent three weeks doing 40+ events on the roadshow following the announcement that his firm would acquire HRH. Listen in as he talks about what the future looks like for the pair of brokerages as well as what the future holds for the rest of masses of employee benefit sales professionals.

IRS, Treasury prohibit certain pension plan buyouts

Mon, 11 Aug 2008 15:39:00 GMT

Federal regulators at the U.S. Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service recently issued a notice that states, under current law, transferring frozen defined benefit plans to independent investment firms is illegal.

Raw Bar: Wellness, health care reform and lean times retirement sales strategies

Tue, 05 Aug 2008 16:43:00 GMT

You want to know how to drive retirement sales in a tight economy? Want to hear what the industry's best advisers are doing on the wellness front? Want to gird your client's wellness programs from the inevitable sophomore slump? Want to have the answers to your client's HSA questions? Want to elevate the health care reform debate?

HR executives hope to help employees manage their finances during a recession

Fri, 01 Aug 2008 20:33:00 GMT

The threat of a recession loomed before employers for some time, but they were unsure how to "recession-proof" their benefit plans and, for the most part, received little guidance on the subject from benefit advisers. Now, almost overnight, businesses are dealing with the reality of an economic downturn and the challenges that come with it.

And the winners are...

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 16:58:00 GMT

We're wrapping up two awards today at EBA HQ and we have another installation of the Friday Fray to tell you about, this time we're taking a look at EAPs. The first award is the 2008 Employee Benefit Adviser of the Year, which is sponsored by MetLife.

Onsite health gains traction

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 18:51:00 GMT

Worksite health care and onsite clinics have been re-invented from the manufacturing industry days of occupational health. Today's onsite health programs serve a variety of employer groups, can report solid ROI and take a holistic approach to health and productivity. During last week's episode of the Friday Fray David Demers, director of strategic planning and product development for Marathon Health and Raymond Fabius, president and chief medical officer at CHD Meridian addressed the questions of employers and consultants on this hot topic.