New Year, New Penalties | Fort Worth Benefit Advisors

Department of Labor Publishes Updated Penalties for OSHA Violations On January 2, 2018, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) published updated, inflation-adjusted penalties for violations of various laws regulated by the DOL and its internal components or divisions, including the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA). The DOL is required to adjust the level of … Continued

Driving in to 2018 | Fort Worth Benefit Advisors

How Changes to the Mileage Reimbursement Rate and Qualified Transportation Benefits Will Impact Employers in 2018 On December 14, 2017, the Internal Revenue Service released the 2018 standard mileage rates used to calculate deductible costs of operating vehicles for business purposes. The rate increased by one cent  from 53.5 cents in 2017 to 54.5 cents … Continued

I Have Life Insurance Through My Employer. Why Do I Need Another Policy? | Fort Worth Benefit Advisors

One of the perks of having a full-time job with a good company is the benefits package that comes with it. Often, those benefits include life insurance coverage, which is great. And everyone who can get life insurance at work should definitely take it, as there are many advantages to company-funded life insurance, also known … Continued

Utilize FSA Monies with Key Year–End Strategies | Fort Worth Benefit Advisors

‘Tis the Season’. Like most, you ‘re probably in the midst of the “hussle and bussle” of this holiday season with dinners, parties, and activities; Christmas shopping; and spending those remaining FSA dollars you have allocated this year.   Wait, what? Yes, you read right. Chances are, if you’ve opted to utilize an employer-sponsored FSA … Continued

You Think You Won’t Qualify for Life Insurance, but You’re Wrong | Fort Worth Benefit Advisors

  Think you can’t qualify for life insurance? Think again. You want to protect your loved ones for the future once you’re no longer around to provide for them. We all do. Life insurance gives you that peace of mind that your family will be taken care of after you’re gone. However, you’re also worried … Continued

Rules for FSA & HSA Accounts | Fort Worth Benefit Advisors

According to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), no permission or authorization to set up either an FSA or HSA account is required. Both accounts are intended to help provide you with financial assistance regarding medical care costs. An FSA (flexible spending account) is set up by your employer. An HSA (health savings account) is held … Continued

DOL Delays New Rules for Disability Benefit Claims | Fort Worth Benefit Advisors

On November 29, 2017, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) published a Final Rule that delays implementation of new claim rules for disability benefits through April 1, 2018. This 90-day delay is intended to give the DOL, insurers, employers, and other interested parties additional time to review the new rules. The DOL is collecting public … Continued

4 Ways to Get Financially Fit in Your 40s | Fort Worth Benefit Advisors

Many people in their 40s are facing an uncomfortable fact: They simply aren’t where they’d hoped to be financially. Fortunately, all their life experience can help correct for past mistakes. “There’s a different trigger moment for everybody,” says Jay Howard, financial advisor and partner at MHD Financial in San Antonio, Texas. “But regardless of when … Continued

The Importance of Therapeutic Communication in Healthcare | Fort Worth Benefit Advisors

The quality of a therapeutic relationship depends on the ability of the healthcare provider to communicate effectively. The term “therapeutic communication” is often used in the field of nursing; however, the process isn’t limited to nursing. Other healthcare professionals, friends and family members of a patient can implement the strategies of communicating in a therapeutic … Continued

Ask the Experts: Employee on modified assignment due to a workers’ comp claim | Fort Worth Benefit Advisors

Question: We have an employee who is on modified assignment due to a workers’ comp claim. Do we have to pay for the time spent away from work for doctor appointments or does the employee have to use PTO time? Answer: You may not necessarily have to pay for the time an employee spends at … Continued