Benefit Advisors Network Smart Partners® Meet in San Diego

CLEVELAND, OH (2/25/10) --- Concerns over healthcare reform and legislative changes affecting compliance topped the agenda as more than 100 executives from 33 member companies took part in Benefit Advisors Network’s (BAN) Smart Partners® Semi-Annual Educational Conference.

Held February 21-23 in San Diego, the two-day conference also covered tools and resources for helping BAN Smart Partners® improve performance and profitability, develop and leverage strategic relationships, and distinguish themselves in their respective markets.

“The intellectual exchange of ideas and experiences between firms provides our Smart Partners® with the opportunity to learn from each other and from our Alliance Partners, product vendors, and service providers, who provide our members with best-in-class solutions,” says BAN Director Deane Elek.

Elek notes that for this conference, the exchange of ideas was enhanced by a new, interactive “click technology” that enabled participants to provide immediate feedback to issues being discussed and questions raised.

Five new BAN member firms were on hand for the San Diego conference, including Bolton & Company (Pasadena, CA), The Centennial Group (Costa Mesa, CA), Cornerstone Insurance Group (Little Rock, AR), Eustis Benefits, LLC (New Orleans, LA), and Phillips Benefits Advisors (Fort Wayne, IN). Two prospective member companies also attended.

BAN is the premier national network of independent benefit advisory and consulting companies. Members are selected specifically for their industry knowledge, ethics, and vision. To be accepted into membership is a prestigious validation that a firm has been recognized as the “best of the best” in its particular market.

Among the highlights of the Smart Partners® Conference were presentations from a trio of industry experts. Peter Marathas, BAN’s Compliance Director and a Partner with Proskauer Rose, discussed ERISA. Rob Lieblein, a Partner at Hales & Company, delivered a presentation on strategic valuation planning and structuring. And, Dr. Thomas Parry, President of Integrated Benefits Institute, shared his expertise in benchmarking, based on a data pool of 11 million benefit plan participants.

Benefit Advisors Network’s next conference will be held in Boston on August 8-10, 2010.

For more information about Benefit Advisors Network, call 440-528-0301 or visit www.benefitadvisorsnetwork.com.

About Benefit Advisors Network

Benefit Advisors Network is a federated association of benefits brokers who leverage their combined size to bring employers the right solutions at competitive prices. For more information about Benefit Advisors Network, contact Director Deane Elek at (440) 528-0301 or visit the organization’s website at www.benefitadvisorsnetwork.com.