As we wrap up 2018, we asked brokers what strategies and tools they were leaving behind, and what they were adding.

You're not the boss of me

One thing I left behind in 2018 is working for insurance companies. I work for my clients and their employees, and no product or bonus will affect that relationship. I've never allowed any commission/income structure to influence me, but the mindset of how we get paid has changed. It should be a direct contract with employer and consultant.

The new idea is that employees deserve to understand the conversation we're having with their employer and why and how their employer is coming up with the strategy to better serve their employees. We work so hard helping employers understand, yet we need employees (consumers) to understand. It's imperative that they have the tools needed to make better decisions and understand why certain decisions are being made. It's time the conversations go deeper, and include employees and their families.

Taylor Y. Lindsey, Employee Benefits Consultants

Buh Bye, spreadsheets

The one thing I have left behind is spreadsheets. Time to move away from complicated spreadsheets of plans and rates. The one thing I have added is a fully staffed HR area in our firm, with a SHRM-certified HR professional and three additional HR consultants that help our clients on a project basis.