WASHINGTON, D.C. — Two paths diverged in a yellow wood.
The wood is long gone, but there's little doubt we stand before a pair of divergent roads.
Both of Tuesday's keynote presentations painted slightly different, yet equally bleak, pictures of the future we face in light of a health care reform law most of us are still trying to figure out.
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Legislative guru Greg Scandlen took the stage a defeated man. His take on what he called "the worst piece of legislation in history," was nothing short of apocalyptic. At one point, he went so far as to suggest that brokers might want to consider becoming financial advisors instead.
Scandlen offered valuable insight, but at the end of it all, he admitted there was little hope, frustrating at least one first-time attendee.
Brian Roberston's panel session followed, signalling the death knell for limited medical benefits. And the panelists agreed the end might come sooner than many expect.
But my conversations with brokers here over the past two days teemed with hope and untapped potential.
The future is bright for voluntary, maybe more so than ever. Just ask Aflac, where they're doing big business in places like Japan, where nationalized health care isn't a debate, it's reality.
I'm also certain employees will flock to consumer-driven products, no matter how Obamacare shakes out. (Besides, there's no way in hell that new cap on FSA contributions will last.)
Bottom line is that yes, there are going to be changes. And it's important to know what's wrong. But I think I'd rather focus on the opportunities that lie ahead than dwell on the obstacles.
And maybe that will make all the difference.
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