What's on the minds of clients: Are you prepared to help?

Our world continues to transform around us daily. And as the pace of change accelerates at an unprecedented level, we are also more plugged in and connected than ever before, meaning we are bombarded with everything that happens anywhere in the world. As a result, one of the biggest challenges we face is learning to filter out the noise and uncover what really matters.

This month’s issue examines several key areas that are currently reshaping our country and, most importantly to you, the impacts they will have on health care and the benefits industry. 

Across the U.S., concerns about the impacts of mergers and consolidation remain in the national spotlight, drawing the attention of everyone from Stephen King to President Biden. On the same day that “Uncle Stevie” testified before the government in an effort to prevent the purchase of publisher Simon & Schuster by Penguin Random House, the same federal courthouse hosted the Justice Department’s argument that UnitedHealth Group’s $8B deal to buy Change Healthcare should be stopped. As the health care landscape continues to shift and  merge, how is it impacting employers, advisors and most importantly, health care consumers?  As Dan Cook writes in this month’s cover story, “Merger advocates argue that many combinations lead to improvements in efficiencies, access, and innovation. Consolidation skeptics doubt that claim.”

Meanwhile, another enormous recent development, the Supreme Court’s controversial decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, is sending ripples (or should I say tidal waves?) across the entire nation, including the benefits and health care space. We devote a large part of this issue to exploring how advisors and their clients can navigate the many new landmines as they try to provide care for employees.  As Scott Wooldridge writes, “it seems clear that employers are deeply concerned about what the Dobbs ruling will mean for their benefit plans, and whether they can fully serve the needs of the enrollees on group health plans, especially in states where an abortion ban is imminent or likely.”

And if that isn’t enough to think about, in “A Different Conversation,” we discuss the ways in which the past few years have changed who advisors are talking to in the C-suite — and what they are talking about.

All of this may seem overwhelming as you head into your busy time of the year, but you can bet these topics will be top of mind for your clients and prospects in the coming months. Are you prepared to help?