Managing your kids & health during social distancing
Life since COVID-19 has introduced shifts in how Americans approach home, work and health. While some of those areas have slowed down, others are even more active than usual. Here are three ways to manage kids, health and finances in the middle of social distancing. Managing kids at home With schools all over the country […]
Four Ways Employers Can Assist Employees Amid COVID-19
Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, we find each day brings new information and challenges. But sometimes, all we want (and need) are answers. Read how you can assist your employees during this uncertain time. Question 1: Can employees change their FSA elections? Under current rules, employees are permitted to make FSA election changes when they have […]
How out of pocket maximums affect enrollment
You want employees to understand their benefits so they use them, but there are a lot of unfamiliar terms that come up in benefits. One such term is out of pocket maximum. Here’s what your employees need to know about this term and why it matters for improving enrollment rates. Out of pocket maximum The […]
Skip the wait– use your BRI account online
Your BRI online account can be used for more than checking your balance. (Although it’s great for that, too). You can also sign up for ways to get your reimbursements faster, skip calling in about your card, and get answers to FAQs. That’s just the tip of the iceberg. Here are the top five ways […]
5 reasons you should follow BRI on LinkedIn
We know you work hard every day to bring the best benefits to your employees. Here are five things that can help you do that and more when you follow BRI on LinkedIn. 1. Learn about new tools for your employees Lack of employee understanding is one of the greatest barriers to increasing adoption. When […]
Simple Tips to Help Prepare for Tax Season This Year
As we welcome the first quarter of the year, we also prepare ourselves for tax season. Some of us may find ourselves dreading this task, knowing that we typically feel a little lost or overwhelmed when it comes to the specifics of filing our taxes. Rather than dealing with the same old confusion, use these […]
Protect Your Family: Get a Flu Shot with Your Tax-Free FSA Funds
The peak of flu season, which tends to fall sometime in February or March, is upon us. If you and/or your family have held off on getting the shot for any reason, it’s time to consider getting this immunization. Fortunately, since this shot is considered a medically necessary procedure, you can have the costs of […]
5 benefits trends to watch in 2020
There are many benefits trends that we expect to take hold in 2020. Review what they are to ensure that your company is ready for 2020 and beyond. Increased use of AI while keeping the “human” in Human Resources. This goes beyond improving agility and responsiveness on websites. That’s so last decade. This is about […]
The Beniversal Card Guide for Newbies
New year, new participant, new card. Now what? If you’re a Beniversal Card newbie, you’re in the right spot. Let’s go over the basics of what to expect, shall we? Activate your card. First things first: If you’re a new participant and just got your card, activate it now. All of your plans are conveniently […]
Top Blogs of the Decade
As we close out the decade, we look back at the most educational, news breaking blogs for a 2019 review. From tax reform to how-to articles, here are the top 10 blogs from Benefit Resource: Check Your Balance To quote Jerry McGuire, “Show me the money!” If you want to see your balance fast and […]
It’s all “peachy” on the legislative front
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE 12/20/2019: Cadillac tax and UBIT relief signed into law. At times, the legislative environment is very complicated and polarizing. However, some might call it “peachy” these days. As a result, there might be some glimmers of hope. Non-profits to see tax relief Current State: The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 required […]
Self-care stocking stuffers
Relax this winter with some stocking stuffers that also double down on self-care. While you can probably find these items at the grocery store or big box retailers, you can also use tax-free funds to treat yo’ self, Parks and Rec style. If you’re a side sleeper… Invest in a pillow specifically designed to cradle […]
Why is my hospital bill not eligible?
While tax advantaged health accounts have many benefits, they can present challenges. One of the largest pain points for many users of these accounts is determining what the account can pay for. The items or services that can be purchased through the account are known as “eligible expenses” (sometimes called “qualified expenses”). One would think […]
Worst plan design and communication failures
After hours of relentless analysis, you finalize your benefits package. You create a glossy booklet to provide to employees and even hold an enrollment meetings. But soon after, the grumblings among employees begin to spread. They are not happy with the benefits package. Where did you go wrong? You lost sight of employees. For many […]
Are you ready for Gen Z in the workforce?
There is about to be a new influx of workers: Gen Z. The ones after Millennials. The group born after 1997. What do you need to know about Gen Z when it comes to benefits? They are digital natives and live online Their decisions are driven by social justice over cultural fit How does this […]
How to find benefits that are “just right”
In the classic children’s fairy tale Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Goldlilocks wanders into the woods and has a set of adventures while sorting through a variety of options to find one that is “just right”. In this day and age, one could make the case that employees in the middle of Open Enrollment wander into […]
3 Ways to Survive Your Company’s Benefits Enrollment
I just got my first email from our company about our upcoming Open Enrollment sessions, and I have to tell you, I wasn’t as excited as I thought I’d be. It was a little disappointing. But it made me think: What are the things I want to hear before Open Enrollment? In a perfect world, probably […]
Credit Card Security: 5 Quick Tips
These five tips will help to keep your credit card information safe. Keep your account number private Avoid sharing your credit card account number details with untrusted parties Do not give your account number to unverified representatives over the phone Don’t share your account number on insecure websites (look for https – the “s” stands […]
Which solution(s) should I choose? Comparing FSAs, HSAs and HRAs
Remember the old saying “There’s an app for that?” In the case of pre-tax benefits, we like to say “There’s a plan for that”. Regardless of your benefits problem, by comparing Flexible Spending Accounts, Health Savings Accounts and Health Reimbursement Accounts, you can find the right plan to fit your needs. Congress has developed a variety […]
The Perfect Recipe for Your Pre-tax Benefit Account Program
There is a saying that goes, “If there’s a recipe for success in life, it starts with picking the right ingredients”. Building the perfect recipe for your pre-tax benefit account program is just that — picking the right ingredients. There are many people that believe you must choose—FSA vs. HSA. We would like to challenge […]
Selecting the right funding options
It’s time to talk funding. Given that “fun” is built into the topic, what could be more exhilarating than a good analysis of funding options? We will try to keep our excitement to a reasonable level as we explore all the “fun” options employers have when funding their pre-tax benefit accounts. DECISION 1: How are the […]
The HR playlist to power through benefits enrollment
As you’re diving headlong into benefits enrollment season, power through with some classic tunes from our Benefits Enrollment Playlist. As you’re getting started Under Pressure, Queen We know you can feel like the people in the first 30 seconds of the video. Especially those black and white clips. It’s okay. But if you start to […]
Three steps for smooth benefits implementation
September through January is benefits implementation season for many human resources personnel. It can be a lot of moving pieces all at once. However, the administrator you’re working with should help you decide which options will work best for your company and employees based on the needs you’ve expressed. A “one-size fits all” approach doesn’t work […]
Dependent FSA: Myth vs. Fact
Flexible Spending Accounts are one of the most popular tax-advantaged accounts employees choose during open enrollment. One of the main draws of these accounts is the broad range of products and services they can be used to pay for. First, you might list all the medical items and procedures you can pay with an FSA. […]
