MetLife recently announced the release of its 2008 Benefit Benchmarking Tool, a Web-based database that allows brokers to pull data from various MetLife studies to highlight industry trends. The tool uses data from the 6th Annual MetLife Study of Employee Benefits Trends and the MetLife 2008 Open Enrollment Study. The enhanced tool allows for more customization by offering specific demographic segments like income, generation and life stage.

"With the diversity of employee populations and their respective employers, a one-size-fits-all benefits program can be ineffective and inefficient for addressing employers' top two benefits objectives – employee retention and cost control," says Anthony J. Nugent, senior vice president, MetLife Employee Benefits Sales. "By increasing the level of customization the Benefits Benchmarking Tool can provide, MetLife makes it easier for employers and brokers to identify benefits solutions for their unique needs."