Benefits and retirement product roundup: Fidelity, Paylocity, Great American Life Insurance

We’re seeing an increase in the number of partnerships forming in the benefits and retirement arena this second half of 2021. Companies with expertise in those areas are working with technology companies to make benefits and financial platforms and dashboards for employers, employees, and advisors. What effects might we see from such partnerships, beyond the immediate products offered? At the least, perhaps, a greater awareness of the value of a good user experience in delivering what is often complicated financial and insurance information.

Securities Training Corporation announced it is launching Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and Financial Risk Manager (FRM) licensing exam training, starting with Level 1 of the CFA prep available immediately. Learning modules for Level 1 of the CFA exam include a three-thousand Question Bank and mock exams. Users can customize their preparation with quizzes and track performance. Scribe announced Smart Embed, a feature that lets users share their knowledge across the platforms and tools their teams use every day. It includes the ability to create and embed visual step-by-step guides into wikis, knowledge bases, help centers and more.

Ritholtz Wealth Management and WisdomTree announced the launch of the RWM WisdomTree Crypto Index designed to provide retail investors, via a financial advisor, access and diversified exposure to cryptoassets.

Northeast Business Group on Health (NEBGH) and AARP have released a free digital “Employer Caregiving Toolkit,” to help HR and benefit leaders better understand the demands on employees who are caregivers, the tangible, bottom-line benefits to supporting them, and specific steps they can take to help.

MV Index Solutions announced the launch of the MVIS Global Future Healthcare ESG Index. It is a global index that tracks the performance of companies that are involved in the genomic health care and electronic healthcare industries.

Independence Blue Cross announced IBX Better HealthSM Champion, a care management and advocacy solution. It includes engagement tools; predictive analytics; personalized outreach and support of a multi‑specialty care management team. It will be available to Independence self-funded customers starting January 1, 2022.

Great American Life Insurance Company launched the Advantage 5SM Advisory, its first fee-based fixed annuity. The annuity is designed to offer steady returns with an interest rate that is guaranteed for the product’s initial five-year term.

Fidelity Investments and Paylocity announced they have teamed up to offer access to payroll capabilities with the Fidelity Advantage 401(k) pooled employer plan (PEP).  It aims to enable automated, two-way sharing of plan information between the two companies for automatic contribution processing.

Elevate, a consumer-directed benefits platform, announced it has partnered with DriveWealth and intellicents. Employees can access their HSAs through Elevate’s platform via one dashboard and view, plan and manage their pre-tax benefits. DriveWealth’s platform gives employers and their employees access to fractional shares of more than 6,000 U.S. securities. Both Elevate and DriveWealth sync  to employee account records in real time.