"Consultants and Brokers... Why?" Why Use a Consultant Broker? Professionally trained employee benefits specialists are an important link between your company and the many insurance carriers and employee benefits options available.  They provide and service insurance products while educating you in making informed insurance choices. Major and dramatic changes in managed care, employee benefits and the insurance market place make the employee benefit consultant / broker’s role increasingly important to small and medium sized businesses in finding competitive options.  Many dedicated and career consultant brokers have completed professional designations such as: Certified Employee Benefits Specialist (CEBS), SPHR (Senior Profession in Human Resources), Registered Health Underwriter (RHU), Registered Employee Benefits Consultant (REBC), Health Insurance Associate (HIA) and Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU). Our professional consultant / brokers are dedicated to serving the long - term interest of their clients. . How is your consultant / broker compensated? Consultants and brokers have a strong financial and professional incentive to give their business clients a lifetime of quality insurance products and service.  Consultants are typically compensated on a fee basis, commission basis or both.  Brokers are compensated on a commission basis. A commission is a percentage of the premiums you pay your insurance company.  Regardless of the compensation method consultant / brokers have strong incentives to place clients with strong, financially stable insurance carriers and provide superior service on an ongoing basis. What should you expect from your consultant or broker? Evaluate your employee benefit needs. Keep you updated on new concepts in the industry Explain the details of different benefit plans and provide costs indexes. Negotiate to obtain the most competitive benefits and cost. Make recommendations tailored to suit your special needs and budget. Review your employee benefits plan annually to update coverage and limit cost. Consult on ways to help reduce future costs. Provide effective employee benefits communication programs. Serve as your advocate and advisor to insurance companies, providers and government agencies involving claims, services and regulations. Provide immediate service and issues resolutions.   Articles of Interest: *These artilces are in PDF format, and require the Adobe Acrobat Reader for viewing. Click here to download Free Acrobat Reader Having Trouble Viewing Articles? Choosing and Using a Benefits Consultant Staying in Touch   close window