Amid the hustle, bustle and good cheer of December, there's also an undertone of melancholy and retrospection. Another year past. A time to remember both our successes and shortcomings. In a society dominated by knee-jerk reactions and quick takes, an annual reminder of the importance of taking time to slow down and reflect, before again shifting our gaze to what lies ahead.
The December issue of Benefits Selling magazine offers both an overview of the year that was in the benefits industry, and a preview of what's next.
In 2015, the world around us continued to shift and lurch ahead at a breakneck pace. Voluntary benefits further solidified their place within the industry, as evidenced by projected growth of between 3 percent and 6 percent in 2015. And all indications are that this trend will continue in the years ahead, as detailed in Katie Kuehner-Hebert's voluntary feature.
Meanwhile, PPACA produced another year of political discord, mixed messages and indeterminate results in 2015. As Nathan Solheim writes in his PPACA preview, while 2016 may not go down in the history books as a key year for health care reform, the presidential election, reporting requirements and the ongoing tug of war over the Cadillac tax ensures there will be plenty to watch.
And although ongoing changes within the industry are presenting brokers with a variety of new opportunities, they are also exposing key vulnerabilities that must be addressed to ensure survival. Kevin Trokey's “7 insurance agency trends to get you to 2017” offers strategies and tips to help brokers succeed in the days ahead.
But if you're looking to end your year on a high note, I recommend starting with Michael Crispi's, “Timing is everything” As a recent college graduate, Crispi considered a variety of promising career paths before asking himself, “Where is the opportunity to do something that nobody has ever done before?” His answer: employee benefits. “The industry is changing dramatically,” he writes. “We are at a crossroads and have the privilege of rewriting the book on how to design health plans for employee benefits packages.”
In an aging industry too often plagued by cynicism and resistance to change, Crispi offers a much-needed message of optimism and a great example of the bright future that lies ahead for those who are willing to face it head on.
As you celebrate and relax with friends and family in the coming weeks, I hope you find some quiet moments within the chaos to reflect, appreciate and anticipate.
I look forward to joining you in discovering what's next in 2016.
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Paul Wilson
Paul Wilson is the editor-in-chief of BenefitsPRO Magazine and BenefitsPRO.com. He has covered the insurance industry for more than a decade, including stints at Retirement Advisor Magazine and ProducersWeb.
