In the News

Segal Benefits and Sibson Consulting staffers are frequently asked to share their expertise with the media. The following is a list of selected newspaper stories, journal articles, television features and radio shows in which our consultants were quoted or our publications were cited.

September 2008

September 26, 2008, CNNMoney.com and multiple publications via Dow Jones Newswires, “Managed-Care Cos Aggressively Seeking More Multiyear Deals.” Senior vice president and national health practice leader Edward Kaplan, New York, quoted on the intensified search for multiyear agreements between managed care companies and their clients.

September 25, 2008, SmartBrief, “Think Outside the Easy-to-Replicate Box.” Senior vice president Richard V. Smith, New York, quoted on long-term employee incentives.

September 25, 2008, PlanSponsor, “NewsDash.” Announcement of Dean Hatfield’s hire as senior vice president and Sibson Health practice leader.

September 23, 2008, Workforce Management, “Fannie, Freddie May Need More than Bonuses to Keep Talent.” Senior vice president Richard V. Smith, New York, quoted on using bonuses as a tool for employee retention.

September 19, 2008, BenefitsLink, “Proposed Updates to HIPAA Electronic Data Interchange Rules.” Sibson’s September 18, 2008 Capital Checkup excerpted and linked.

September 19, 2008, CFO.com, “Options: Swimming Under Water.” Senior vice president Richard V. Smith, New York, quoted on using stock options as a compensation tool.

September 19, 2008, Make Money Myself, “Aligning Pay and Results: Compensation Strategies that Work from the Boardroom to the Shop Floor: Howard Risher.” Sibson noted as a contributor to book.

September 18, 2008, ComplianceEx and CFO.com, “Creditors Could Go After Lehman Bonuses.” Senior vice president Richard V. Smith, New York, quoted on the possible recouping of Lehman’s bonuses.

September 18, 2008, Los Angeles Times blogs, “McCain, Obama Health Plans Critiqued.” Segal’s report on the candidate’s health proposals mentioned.

September 17, 2008, Workforce Management, “Wall Street Turmoil Tainting Stock Option Plans.” Senior vice president Richard V. Smith, New York, quoted on using options as an pay for performance incentive.

September 16, 2008, Employee Benefits Management Directions, “Expert Explains Benefits-Related Effects of Candidate’s Health Care Reform Proposals.” Vice president and senior health compliance specialist Kaye Pestaina, Washington, DC, answers questions about health care reform in this front-page interview.

September 16, 2008, BNA Pension & Benefits Daily, “’Green-Zone’ Status Doesn’t Mean Decisions On Funding Can Be Ignored, Consultant Says.” Segal’s September 2008 NewsLetter, “Does Green Mean Go? Trustee Decision-Making in the Post-PPA’06 Era,” excerpted and linked.

September 15, 2008, Workforce Management, “Despite Financial Meltdown, Financial Firms Urged to Continue Campus Recruiting.” Senior vice president Richard V. Smith, New York, quoted on current recruiting issues.

September 15, 2008, Sales and Marketing Management and Manage Smarter, “The Deal Review Meeting.” In his article, Sibson senior vice president Joseph DiMisa, Atlanta, discusses ways to keep sales initiatives on track.

September 15, 2008, BenefitsLink, “Does Green Mean Go? Trustee Decision-Making in the Post-PPA’06 Era.” Segal’s September 2008 NewsLetter excerpted and linked.

September 15, 2008, FinancialWeek, “The List: Health Benefit Consultants.” Segal listed.

September 12, 2008, Business First (OH) and MSNBC, “Painful Rise in Health Costs Predicted.” Cleveland vice president Christopher Goldsmith quoted on health insurance premiums.

September 9, 2008, BNA Pension & Benefits Reporter,  “Speakers Offer Opinions to Actuary Panel on Need for Market Value Liability Disclosure.” Senior vice president Paul Angelo, San Francisco, testifies on disclosure at the forum held by the Public Interest Committee of the American Academy of Actuaries.

September 5, 2008, clusterbucks.com (blog), “Effective HR Outsourcing Solutions.” Sibson article on outsourcing cited.

September 4, 2008, BenefitsLink, “Retirement Provisions in the HEART Act May Affect Multiemployer Plans.” Segal’s September 2008 Bulletin excerpted and linked.

September 1, 2008, Employee Benefit News, “Staying on Their Toes.”  Senior vice president and national director of health compliance Kathryn L. Bakich, Washington, DC, quoted on the effect the EEOC’s regulation will have on retiree health benefits.

September 1, 2008, Workforce, “9 Defined Benefit Plans.” New York senior vice president and national retirement practice leader Stewart Lawrence discusses why having a defined benefit plan is a lure for recruiting and retaining top employees.

September 1, 2008, Factiva, “What’s New.” Segal’s agreement with Benefit Informatics, a healthcare technology company to expand claims audit capabilities for clients, noted. 

September 2, 2008, BenefitsLink, “Segal Examines What Motivates Employees of Different Ages.” Excerpt and link to Aaron Sorensen and Trevor Kunkle’s September 1 Employee Benefit News article,  “Talking ‘bout my Generation.”

September 1, 2008, Employee Benefit News, “Talking ‘bout my Generation.”  In their article, Sibson senior consultants Aaron Sorensen, Chicago, and Trevor Kunkle, Chicago, discuss the findings of Sibson’s “Rewards of Work” Study on what motivates employees.

September 2008, Benefit Informatics Be Informed eNewsletter, “2009 Segal Health Plan Cost Trend Survey.” Segal’s 2009 Health Plan Cost Trend Survey excerpted and linked.

September 2008, PlanSponsor, “2008 Plansponsor Consultant Survey.” Segal ranked #13 in “Top 25 Consultants.” Segal Advisors also listed in Survey.

Fall 2008, BenefitsCanada, “2008 Pension and Benefits Consultants Online Directory.” The Segal Company, Ltd., listed.

August 2008

August 26, 2008, BNA Pension & Benefits Daily, “Health Plan Cost Increases Projected to Slow Further in 2009, Segal Reports.” Senior vice president and national health practice leader Edward Kaplan, New York, quoted on slowing health care costs. Segal’s 2009 Health Plan Cost Trend Survey also cited and excerpted.

August 25, 2008, BenefitsLink, “CMS Summary of Proposed Mandatory Insurer Reporting Requirements.” Segal’s August 25, 2008 Capital Checkup excerpted and linked.

August 22, 2008, Worldatwork Newsline, “Declines in Trends Predicted for Health Plans.” Senior vice president and national health practice leader Edward Kaplan, New York, quoted on slowing health care costs. Segal’s 2009 Health Plan Cost Trend Survey also cited and excerpted.

August 21, 2008, Business Insurance, “Lower Medical Cost Increases Expected in 2009.” Vice president Eileen Flick, New York, quoted on slowing health care cost trends. Segal’s 2009 Health Plan Cost Trend Survey also cited.

August 21, 2008, The Industry Radar, “On Our Radar Today.” Segal’s 2009 Health Plan Cost Trend Survey linked.

August 21, 2008, BenefitsLink Health & Welfare Plans Newsletter, Segal’s 2009 Health Plan Cost Trend Survey linked.

August 21, 2008, PlanSponsor, “Segal Survey Forecasts Declines in Health Plan Cost Trends.”. Segal’s 2009 Health Plan Cost Trend Survey excerpted and linked.

August 20, 2008, CFO.com, “Amid the Din over Exec Pay, Companies Hold the Line.” Sibson senior vice president Myrna Hellerman, Chicago, discusses the effects of the revised pay disclosure rules.

August 20, 2008, Worldatwork Sales Force Newsletter, “Forecast Mostly Sunny for Sales Growth.” In their article, Sibson senior vice president Joseph DiMisa, Atlanta, vice president Dennis Spahr, Chicago, and consultant Jonathan Minor, Chicago, discuss the outlook for corporate sales.

August 19, 2008, CFO.com, “A Survey Of Managed Care Groups, Insurers, And Pharmacies Sees Slight Moderation Next Year From The Usual Double-Digit Climb.”  Segal’s 2009 Health Plan Cost Trend Survey excerpted.

August 15, 2008, Sacramento Business Journal, “Employers Tied in Knots.” Senior vice president Andrew Sherman, Boston, quoted on the implications of the conflicting laws on same-sex marriages.

August 13, 2008, Medical Benefits, “Legal Pulse.”  Segal’s May 20, 2008 Capital Checkup, “2009 Minimums and Maximums for HSAs and HDHPs”, excerpted, as well as Sibson’s June 25, 2008 Capital Checkup, “U.S. Supreme Court Rules on Plan Conflict of Interest and the Standards of Review in ERISA Benefits Litigation.”

August 13, 2008, Media Newswire, “Taking a Break Offers Employees Many Benefits.” Sibson’s 5th Rewards of Work Study, “Keys to Retaining and Engaging Employees in Different Age Groups,” cited. 

August 11, 2008, Business Insurance, “IRS Slams Door on Pension Transfers.” New York senior vice president and national retirement practice leader Stewart Lawrence quoted on administration’s proposal to allow pension transfers.

August 11, 2008, Business Insurance, “Public Entities Generally Keep Traditional Pension Plans.” Senior vice president and national director Cathie Eitelberg, Washington, DC, quoted on the fiscal health of public pension plans. 

August 5, 2008, Employee Benefit Adviser’s Audio Arena, “EBA Raw Bar.” In his podcast, Sibson New York regional director John Graham discusses recent regulatory updates on HSAs.

August 1, 2008, Employee Benefit News, “Same-Sex Marriages Raise Questions for Employers.” Joanne Hustead, senior health compliance specialist, Washington, DC, quoted on the recent California Supreme Court ruling allowing same sex marriages. 

August 1, 2008, Plansponsor, “Wellness Programs Reduce Health Costs for Education Institutions.” Sibson faculty compensation study excerpted. 

August 1, 2008, BNA Pension & Benefits Daily, “Commenters Ask IRS to Be More Flexible when Writing Rules for Multiemployer Plans.” Senior vice president Judith F. Mazo, Washington, DC, testifies on behalf of the National Coordinating Committee for Multiemployer Plans (NCCMP). 

August 2008, SHRM online, “Health Care Cost Growth Expected to Slow in 2009.” Senior vice president and national health practice leader Edward Kaplan, New York, quoted on slowing health care costs. Segal’s 2009 Health Plan Cost Trend Survey also cited.

August 2008, workspan, “Preparing for the Next Round of Health-Care Reform Debate.” In her article, vice president and senior health compliance specialist Kaye Pestaina, Washington, DC, discusses the presidential candidates’ health-care proposals.

August 2008, EBRI Notes, “New Publication and Internet Sites.”  Segal’s 2008 Medicare Part D Survey of Multiemployer Health Funds linked.

August 2008, Medical Benefits, “Medicare Reform Bill Passes Over President’s Veto.” Segal’s July 28, 2008 Capital Checkup excerpted and linked.

This list was updated on October 21, 2008.

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