Latest Issue December 2008

2009 Buyers Guide
Benefits Selling presents our fourth annual Buyers Guide for Brokers. This exhaustive broker reference features listings of hundreds of carriers, general agencies, third-party administrators, tech services, enrollment companies, supports services, professional groups, additional service providers and more.

• Next big thing

  According to Internet research firm comScore Inc., 11 billion online videos were viewed just in the month of April 2008. You read that right, one month, 11 billion. And that's up 71 percent from the year before. Now, granted, a large percentage of those views are on consumer sites such as Facebook, YouTube, etc. And most of the content is likely for non-commercial use ... you know, the videos that friends send around and say, "you gotta see this!"

• Exploit expertise

  When executive assistant Carmen Garcia joined the Indiana State Auditor's office in 2006, she was presented with many benefit plan options to help her in securing not only a rewarding career in public service, but also a stable financial future through life insurance coverage offered under a group life insurance contract issued to the state.

• Shelter from the storm

  Without a doubt, the turbulent economy will remain the driving force for health insurance trends in 2009. Small and mid-size employers will be squeezed to cut expenses, and benefit costs are one of their largest budget items.

Columns

Storeylines

A vote for the middle ground
There's an old Irish proverb (one that actually doesn't involve drinking -- at least not overtly) that admonishes, "Better the devil you know than the one you don't."

Competitive Advantage

`Enroogle' and other upcoming trends
This month our focus is on trends shaping the future. This is an exceedingly difficult time to have a clear picture of the future, but is that ever easy to achieve?

By Consumer Design

Should agents disclose commissions?
After the recent wave of bank failures, the American taxpayer has been left with a bad taste in his mouth. The next president will enter office in January with a huge mess to clean up, and lawmakers will no doubt be pushing for more -- not less -- government oversight.

Beyond the Beltway

Sketching out a rough legislative draft for 2009
Even in times of bounty, consistency and continuity, making predictions about what the federal government will do can be a fool's errand. The deliberate process of lawmaking is dependent on external factors (like public opinion, the overall economy and international events) and internal factors (jurisdictional battles between branches of government, political parties and constituencies). In times of uncertainty and upheaval, we might as well check the Magic 8-Ball. "Reply hazy. Try again."

Ethics in Action

Self-launch the ultimate main street bailout
As I write this, Americans are furious about the recent Wall Street bailout. At a time when many are pinched economically, they are outraged that politicians would consider giving the very companies that created the financial mess a gift of such epic proportions.

Worst-Cast Scenario

Insurance & Disorder, Special Victims Unit
In effort to provide equal time to some of my insurance colleagues, I decided to open the mail bag and let you know I'm not the only one who has experienced jokes, bloopers and blunders in this business. To my surprise I found the insurance industry is rather full of crackbrained blunders; and I don't even work in a home office. So, in true Law & Order fashion, here you go.

What's Next

The marketplace for employer advice
We have written extensively about the growing need to provide employees with meaningful advice during the enrollment process. We believe this will become an increasingly important differentiator as employees are faced with choices that grow in number and complexity.

Departments

Benefits Newswire

What now? An informal poll sheds some light on where we're headed.
As 2008 (finally) draws to a bloody close, the new year holds as much promise as it does continued peril.