5 Reasons Why Businesses Can’t Sponsor Their Own Benefits Plan?

self managed benefit plans

I’ve been out to a number of clients who don’t have a benefit plan. There are some business owners that I’ve met that are attempting to self-manage their own benefit plan. They see that it’s a necessary step to help attract and retain employees.  Introducing a benefit plan helps to legitimize the company in the eyes of employees, suppliers and … Read More

Why Marketing Your Group Benefits Plan Every Couple of Years is a Bad Idea

Marketing Your Group Benefit Plan

The traditional approach taken by most benefits consultants is to take your benefit plan out to the insurance marketplace for pricing. This, however, is a short term solution and not a sustainable practice. This is at best, a knee-jerk response to costs that are climbing out of control and doesn’t address the real issue of getting claims in hand.  It also … Read More

Want to Learn About the 9 Biggest Mistakes Made on Benefit Plans?

Biggest Mistakes Made on Benefit Plans

  If you think the benefits industry is child’s play, you’re mistaken.  I’ve listened to a number of benefits brokers “pitches” and if I find their approach confusing then chances are you will too!  It’s not difficult to see that the biggest mistakes made on benefit plans are due to misinformation and the self-serving needs of the benefits consultant. Get … Read More

How will Educating Employees on Benefit Plans Create a More Sustainable Plan?

Educating Employees on Benefit Plans

Educating employees on benefit plans means more than just explaining what their plan includes and how to make a claim. So how will educating employees on benefit plans create a more sustainable plan? Many of my clients know how much I emphasize this point with their plan sponsors.  It probably is the single most important detail in ensuring that a plan … Read More

When is it Time to Kick Your Employee Benefits Provider to the Curb?

When To Change Benefit Carriers

  When to change benefit carriers?  The quick answer is only after you’ve exhausted all other avenues with your existing carrier. Many brokers will paint this portrait of changing to their carrier will be less expensive, better service, greater satisfaction levels for employees and a vast improvement over your previous supplier.  Reality is often a much different scenario.  In fact, … Read More

5 Reasons Why Benefit Plans for Business Owners Should Differ From Employee Plans

benefit plans for business owners

I walk into many privately-owned companies only to find out the business owners are set up under the same benefit plan as their employees.  Should benefit plans for business owners differ from employee plans?  In a word, Absolutely! It’s all too common that I see business owners having the same co-pay obligations as their employees.  So if an owner goes … Read More

Why Don’t You Want to be a Business Owner Without a Benefits Plan?

business owner without a benefit plan

Should You Be Paying Personally for Health and Dental Expenses? In short, the answer is no. You can pay more taxes, but why would you? As business owners, the CRA gives us very few opportunities to do things in a tax-preferred way. Business owners are entitled to write off legitimate health and dental expenses through your business. There are a … Read More