Author: Michael Rubenstein

05 Jul

To Identify the Best Candidate, Ask the Right Questions

Are the questions you’re asking potential employees truly helping you identify the best candidate? Increasingly, employers are learning that questions don’t need to be interesting, just effective. Instead of asking a candidate about their favorite superhero, which is essentially another way of asking them what their super power would be, ask them what they like to […]

04 Jul

What works for not working: Rethinking your vacation policy

Summer is approaching, which means your employees are probably looking to get away for a well-deserved vacation — or, at the very least, a staycation that includes unplugging for the week. The low unemployment rate and an increasing number of job openings signal to employers that they need to offer more time off to compete […]

03 Jul

Avoiding red flags: How to lower your plan’s audit risk

Are only the largest retirement plans audited? The truth is that plans of any size can be audited by the IRS and the DOL. Your plan could be selected for a random audit, or as a result of IRS datasets that target certain types of plans. However, lots of audits are triggered by specific events. […]

03 Jul

New tax laws driving interest in alternative savings plans

The tax reform law has had one interesting consequence for the retirement industry: It has driven up interest in different types of savings plans that work in tandem with 401(k) plans to help company owners and highly compensated employees set more money aside for retirement. Mike Weintraub, president of Relation Insurance Services’ retirement division, says […]

03 Jul

How to get workers to stop sitting and start moving

Though some might think that reduced physical demands at work would improve employee health — that more comfortable, sedentary jobs would be safer and healthier long-term — more and more research show that the opposite is true. Even with reduced heavy labor, increased automation and more advanced medical therapies, our nation continues to see a […]

29 Jun

Avoiding red flags: How to lower your plan’s audit risk

Are only the largest retirement plans audited? The truth is that plans of any size can be audited by the IRS and the DOL. Your plan could be selected for a random audit, or as a result of IRS datasets that target certain types of plans. However, lots of audits are triggered by specific events. […]

28 Jun

Student loan benefits poised to take off

Saddled with about $30,000 of student loan debt and lower wages than their parents were making at their age, millennials and Gen Z are forgoing traditional saving strategies to tackle existing debt. The changing workforce demographic has created a new protocol for HR departments to follow, which includes updating the benefits package to resonate with younger employees. […]

28 Jun

NAHU debate: The high cost of medication in America

KANSAS City, Mo. — The cost of prescription drugs continues to be a major concern among health plan sponsors and members alike. With no signs of falling in the near future, experts are attempting to understand where the increases began and what options are available today. During the National Association of Health Underwriter’s Annual Convention […]

27 Jun

How the new Association Health Plan (AHP) rule changes will transform small businesses

With more than half of U.S. workers leaving their current job in search of better pay and benefits, a compelling benefits package is a critical competitive advantage for small businesses. It allows them to stand apart from companies of similar sizes and better stack up against larger ones when competing for candidates or attempting to retain talented […]

27 Jun

One sure-fire way to engage employees in voluntary benefits

Whether your employees are 22 or 62, they need to plan for the unexpected. A sudden injury or illness can dramatically derail their financial well-being and retirement readiness. As the responsibility for healthcare costs shifts to employees, employers are taking steps to help their employees by offering voluntary benefits, like critical illness and accident insurance. […]