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Executive Comp Performance Metrics Will Change Under Tax Reform

"As a first step, carefully model the multi-year effect on earnings, especially when earnings in one year are depressed by tax reform and then artificially lifted in the year after. When contemplating adjustments to as-reported financial results, best practice is to set a principle and follow the principle consistently regardless of whether it helps or hurts incentive payouts in any given year. We expect that most companies using after-tax performance measures will back out the earnings effect of the tax cut on after-tax measures."

Healthcare CEOs Say Leaders Need to Redefine Wellness

"As companies complete for talent and corporate culture becomes a differentiator in recruitment, it's clear that organizations need to shift focus from the financials to the people. And by making physical and mental wellness a number one priority, senior-level financial executives may discover an alternative solution to the health care crisis."

Preconditions for an ERISA Section 103(a)(3)(C) Audit Under SAS 136

"Statement on Auditing Standards (SAS) 136, [is] effective for audits of [ERISA] plan financial statements for periods ending on or after Dec. 15, 2021 ... While the new SAS does not affect the accounting or financial statement reporting for plans, it will affect every other aspect of the audit, including engagement acceptance, the audit opinion, audit procedures, and required communications at the conclusion of the audit."

Preparing to Improve Your Company's Health Benefits for 2022

"[K]ey partnership questions to ask as you go into meetings with your broker that can guide your decisions on everything from funding models to the benefits themselves: [1] What type of partner do you want to have? ... [2] What do your employees want out of their health benefits? ... [3] How are your current benefits partners doing? ... [4] What type of investment are you willing to make? ... [5] What type of funding model is the best fit for your company?"

Pension Risk Transfer: Where Obligation Meets Opportunity

"There are a number of ways CFOs can go about transferring the potential risk from their existing plans. [This article discusses] buyouts and buy-ins, plan terminations and lift-outs, and the respective characteristics of each."

2021 Health Benefits: Get Smart About Controlling Costs Without Leaving Employees Exposed

"If you've only tried one route, such as traditional group options, now may be the time to get a quote from other partners who can design different plans around your needs.... Consider what's most important to your team from a flexibility standpoint -- being able to adjust your contributions from year to year, allow employees to seamlessly switch between coverage options, the ability for employees to take benefits with them when they go, and so on.... Does your partner offer regular check-ins, easy-to-understand reporting, digital portals for employers and employees to access account information, or ongoing consulting and support to make the best decisions for your team and your budget?"

The Market Disruptor of Health Plans

"Managing supply chains to control cost is critical to the overall health of a business. That principle applies in the context of healthcare costs, too. Implement an effective, long-term healthcare cost solution and the CFO can then refocus on the rest of the business. Fully-insured plans offer a CFO few, if any, meaningful cost control options."