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These names ring a bell? Atari. Blockbuster. Myspace.
What do they all have in common? Failure to change. Regardless of current economic conditions, the one constant is the need for employers to gather advice on how to address problems within their business so they can adapt, change, and remain sustainable. Interestingly, not adapting and changing or pivoting is one of the reasons businesses fail. Many of us have heard, "change or die."
Although everyone is aware that the only thing constant in the world is change, people resist change due to various reasons, including fear of failure or criticism, and certainly fear of the unknown.
But, for many business leaders, benefits advisors are key to helping navigate the waters. To do this effectively over the course of their career, they need trustworthy advisors. This is what makes the brokerage and advisor industry so valuable.
Looking back at the agency/brokerage business model, it too continues to evolve and adapt to the changes that are occurring all around it. And we can expect change to continue with President-elect Biden's new administration. But what are those key changes that have impacted and will continue to impact businesses?
Clients Business Model and Expectations
Client's businesses are reacting to the competitive marketplace, forcing them to adapt and evolve. This in turn sets the client's expectations very high — perhaps too high that the performance cannot be met.
Over the past several years studying the market, it seems clients would prefer the following:
- Fewer advisors handling them.
- An advisor that understands their specific business and industry.
- An advisor that understands the interrelated and interoperable components of the business (for example — benefits, compensation, human capital management, technology and regulatory environment are connected topics to one another).
- An advisor that is looking to deliver to the client solutions that are faster than what they receive today, the experience was easier for the client to understand and put into practice and the outcome was better.
Regulatory Environment
Who could forget FASB 106, Non-Discrimination Testing rules in Cafeteria Section 125 Plans, or the Affordable Care Act? The list could go on and on.
These are new rules introduced by new presidential administrations. We should expect this trend to continue with a new incoming administration. The actions required from these new regulations are positive to the business in some instances and harmful in others.
The point here is that the rules continue to change at both the federal and state level. These laws are often complex and may lack clarity that advising the client requires thoughtful research and study.
Technology
Thirty years ago, if an advisor specialized in employee benefits, he or she could earn a comfortable living providing benefits to their client's employees. Back then, the advisor would put together a request for proposal (RFP) and drop in mail, as in the United States Postal Service.
Perry Braun
