Benefits Industry Basics
Get back to benefits basics with introductory resources, educational opportunities, and tools. Whether you're new to the benefits industry or looking to update your skills in a certain area, this toolkit is here to help.
Retirement Plan Basics
The rules around administering retirement plans are in constant fluctuation. With regular changes in regulatory guidance, it's extremely important to have a solid handle on the basics. Understanding fiduciary duties and responsibilities regarding retirement plans put those who administer retirement plans in the best positions to minimize risks and maximize plan value for participants. This course explores the entire landscape of defined benefit and defined contribution retirement plans, with a special emphasis on today's emerging challenges. Join your peers and industry experts to network and learn from each other while gaining insights to take back to your organization and apply to your plans.
More Information
Health Benefit Plan Basics
Today's competitive world places a high value on attracting and retaining global talent, especially in the current economic environment. Prospective and current employees need to look closely at employee compensation strategies and health benefit plans. This course provides the essential framework, knowledge, competencies and tools to evaluate and enhance existing plan designs. Using case studies and classroom interaction with peers, this two-day course presents a systematic way to evaluate how plans can remain robust and become a leading-edge total benefits program. Join your peers and experts to gain insight related to the latest legislative, regulatory and marketplace challenges that accompany health and welfare plan design and administration.
More Information
Basics of Employee Benefits Administration
Navigating the complexities of managing and administering employee benefit plans in today's environment requires knowledge and skills in a variety of areas. Having a solid understanding of the basics of employee benefits administration is more important than ever in this ever-changing landscape. Gather with your peers for this two-day course to learn and network while gaining insights and understanding on how to run your plans. Take a deep dive into the fundamentals of employee benefits administration with instructors who are experts in the field. Walk away with a more solid understanding of the basics as well as strategies to use at your organization to better implement successful plans.
More Information
Investment Basics
The environment of investing is rapidly changing. Having a solid understanding of investing is essential for avoiding costly mistakes and long-term issues. This course serves as an opportunity to efficiently build the simple investment framework required to help better understand and follow best practices and suitable investment structures. The content of this course will be beneficial for various backgrounds and levels of experience to revisit the basic investment framework with the goal of creating a better investment experience for participants and those they interact with. Gather with your peers and experts for two days of investment learning and networking to learn what is working and how others find success, giving you takeaways to implement at your own organization.
More Information
Fundamentals in Health Benefits
Get up to speed on how and why an employer may sponsor a health plan for its employees and their beneficiaries. Two required e-learning courses will outline the various ways to structure a group health plan, as well as the laws and regulations that affect them. Then choose between three elective e-learning courses that cover plan funding and ancillary health benefits that plan sponsors may offer.
More Information
Fundamentals in Retirement Plans
Gain a broad understanding of everything you need to know about designing and administering a compliant retirement plan. Required and elective e-learning courses will outline the different plan structures available, legal and regulatory requirements, contribution and distribution rules, and the unique responsibilities of plan sponsors, fiduciaries, service providers and other decision makers.
More Information
Overview of Retirement Plans
Plan sponsors have many options when designing a retirement plan. Learn about the history and objectives of retirement plans, income sources in retirement, the role of plan sponsors, different plan structures available and how to educate employees. This course will also review Internal Revenue Code (IRC) and ERISA requirements that retirement plans must meet to qualify for tax advantages.
More Information
Introduction to Group Health Plans
Gain a solid understanding of group health plans. Covering key topics like plan design, funding, costs, and the impact of healthcare laws, this course provides a comprehensive overview of how group health plans function. Learn about plan sponsors, provider networks, prescription drug coverage, and cost containment strategies. Ideal for those new to healthcare benefits or looking to refresh their knowledge, this course helps you navigate the complexities of group health plans and their regulations. Get started today with this practical learning opportunity.
More InformationArticles
Benefit Basics: Navigating Health Plan Funding Options (Benefits Magazine, March/April 2025)
As the average annual premium for employer-sponsored health plans continues to rise, many employers and plan sponsors may explore self-insured and hybrid models as alternatives to fully insured plans. What are some tips for employers considering a switch from fully insured plan to self-insured plan or level funding arrangement? Conduct a financial risk assessment, obtain leadership buy-in, evaluate stop-loss coverage options, partner with a knowledgeable broker or consultant and engage employees early. The key to success in any health plan funding arrangement lies in proactive management, employee engagement and a commitment to cost-saving strategies.
Benefit Basics: Complying With ACA Affordability Requirements (Benefits Magazine, September/October 2024)
As required by the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) annually announces what is considered affordable in terms of the maximum employee contribution for at least one health insurance option that offers minimum essential coverage of minimum value. Applicable large employers (ALEs) should check annually to confirm that a health option that offers minimum essential coverage and minimum value and has the lowest employee contribution will meet the affordability test they currently use. If not, they must determine whether to change the test or change the employee contribution—or both—to avoid paying the employer mandate penalty tax.
Back to the Basics: HIPAA Compliance 101 (Benefits Quarterly, First Quarter 2024)
Cybersecurity and compliance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) have become hot topics for the health insurance industry as the number of health care breaches continues to climb. The industry has embraced technology to make administration more efficient and become more consumer friendly, but this increased use of technology brings a heightened cybersecurity risk. What can health plan advisors or sponsors do to mitigate risk? Strategies that health plans should consider to help them remain in compliance with HIPAA includes knowing the basics, building out HIPAA policies and procedures, using multifactor authentication, obscuring PHI and ePHI, and running penetration testing.
More articles available in Benefits Knowledge Center
Certified Employee Benefit Specialist® (CEBS)
Enroll in the Certified Employee Benefit Specialist® (CEBS) program and earn the most respected designation in the benefits industry. You'll learn from health and retirement curriculum—streamlined core courses, laser-focused content and less breadth and more depth mean now you can learn more in less time.
More InformationAsk a Benefits Question
Not finding what you're looking for? We'll do the digging for you on any benefits-related topic.
Reach out to an Information Specialist today.