25th Anniversary of Daily BenefitsLink Newsletters

[Dave Baker]

This is to share with you the happy news that today is the 25th anniversary of the first day on which the BenefitsLink Newsletter began daily publication. I didn't see this coming when I decided to go daily in 1999, at age 41.

(The newletters had begun four years earlier, but they weren't being published every day.)

The free information must be helping employee benefits practitioners to help their clients, which translates to the ability of employers to effectively run and fund programs that improve the lives of so many millions of working people (and retirees, and beneficiaries), even if most of them wouldn't know (or want to know) the difference between an ERISA and an eraser. What a noble endeavor, to be an employee benefits practitioner!

Some lawyers and TPAs and other benefits practitioners have found work through our job board that's been running since 1996, which means they've gone to new workplaces and sometimes new cities, which means some of them have met people they wouldn't have met otherwise, which means some of them have fallen in love and then had children... which means there are people walking around on the planet now who wouldn't be here but for this "web site" thingie that started in 1995, and then the idea of sending "newsletters" by "email." None of that would have been possible without readers.

The existence of "BenefitsLink babies" didn't occur to me until one day about 10 years ago, but I kept it quiet -- at that time, they were still teenagers!

True to form, I and my business partner and wife Lois Baker (formerly an employee benefits lawyer, whom I met on CompuServe in 1990 while trading ERISA questions using dial-up modems) have failed to do any marketing of this happy day. But as I sat here at the keyboard today I had the idea that we would get so much joy by celebrating the occasion with readers. I hope this hasn't come across as a commercial but instead is the lifting of an E-flute of cyber-champagne -- here's to employee benefits practitioners everywhere! It's a wonderful community, and for 25 years now and still counting, we are so happy to be a part of it.

[Peter Gulia]

You should be justly proud of the great community you created.

[Brenda Wren]

David, many thanks for this great publication.  I read it every day although sometimes I only have time for the headlines.  Remember you fondly from your Orlando days.  Thanks a bunch!   Love the comment "ERISA and an eraser"!  Too funny!

[CuseFan]

OMG - thank you SO much for creating and maintaining this forum which has proved invaluable for many practitioners, not to mention entertaining at times! Echoing Peter, you should be very proud and never hesitant to promote the impact you've had on our industry.

Doing the math (it's much of what we do LOL), that makes you a young and not ready to retire age 66 so we can all rest assured BL will continue for years to come, right?

Truly, thanks for all you and Lois have done and continue to do, it is greatly appreciated.

[Liz Hallam]

Much thanks to you and Lois - it certainly makes all of our lives much easier.  You guys can't retire EVER!

[david rigby]

IMHO, BenefitsLink has changed, for the better, the way benefits professionals do their jobs.

Attaboy Dave!

[Rich Glass]

Thanks, Dave. Your webpage was one of the first bookmarks I ever saved (prior to 1999).

[DPSRich]

CONGRATULATIONS, Thank You So VERY MUCH!  Wishing you ANOTHER 25 YEARS!

DPS RICH

[Bri]

Imagine how joyful things will be here if the "tribe of Guardians" comes through in October just one time, too!

[Bill Presson]

Congratulations Dave & Ms Lois! It's been an incredible benefit. I'm very proud of my December 3, 1999 join date with BenefitsLink.

[imchipbrown]

I still have some of the stone tablets somewhere.

 

[Belgarath]

It is a fantastic resource, and has been run so well, for so many years. A rarity these days. Thanks so much for all your hard work!!

[Retired, but still reading]

David - just want to thank you and the BL family for all that you do.  During my many years as a practitioner, BL was often a lifeline to folks willing to share their expertise and common-sense - a real community!  In retirement, I still enjoy the daily newsletter and once-in-a-while throw in my jaundiced 2 cents.  Best wishes for the next 25 years!!