Perspectives

Market Trends

Stephens Insurance has launched a proprietary claims analytics platform designed to enhance how clients manage property and casualty risk. What began as an in-house project has now been scaled for use by most large, complex clients to view an analysis tailored to their specific business model.

Market Trends

Oil & Gas companies face rising cyberattacks that threaten critical infrastructure, disrupt operations, and expose financial vulnerabilities. Stephens Insurance and BMS team up to explain how tailored cyber insurance solutions can fill coverage gaps, transfer risk, and provide the financial protection needed to withstand today’s evolving threat landscape.

Employee Benefits Compliance

Recent developments at the federal level bring certainty and new options for plan sponsors of group health plans. The U.S. Supreme Court held that the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) preventive care mandate is lawful, which means plan sponsors do not need to make any changes to their plans’ preventive care coverage. New legislation offers an expansion of health savings account (HSA) eligibility, with permanent relief for first dollar coverage of telemedicine services, along with a long-awaited increase to the maximum contribution to a dependent care flexible spending account.

Market Trends

The IRS has announced that the ACA affordability threshold for employer-sponsored health coverage will rise to 9.96% of an employee's household income for plan years beginning in 2026. This benchmark determines whether employers offer a plan that meets ACA requirements.

Market Trends

As the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season unfolds, businesses across the Gulf Coast and Southeastern U.S. face elevated risks. In light of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) projection for 3 to 5 major hurricanes, businesses should be proactive in mitigating risks and ensuring a more resilient response.

Company Spotlight

Stephens Insurance is built on lasting values and cultivating long-term relationships. We have earned a global reputation for our vision, integrity, and innovation. We tailor our insurance services to align with our clients’ unique goals to minimize risk and strengthen their financial position.

Market Trends

The rise in increase of freight broker identity theft and falsified shipping documents calls for enhanced verification protocols throughout the shipping process. From confirming carrier details to maintaining strong communication with drivers and warehouses, Stephens outlines essential fraud prevention tactics to safeguard your business.

Market Trends

Open enrollment is a critical time for employers and employees to review and select benefits that impact overall well-being. Careful planning and clear communication are essential to ensuring a smooth and efficient process that benefits both the workforce and the organization.

Market Trends

In the energy sector, the topic of renewable energy generates excitement about the possibility of cleaner and more sustainable energy sources to power our world. While the goal of achieving a complete energy transition by 2050 initially showed promise, a slowing consumer demand for renewable energy and reliance on governmental policy for implementation has drastically changed the timeline.

Market Trends

United Benefit Advisors has released its 2024 Employee Benefits Trends Report, which offers an insightful analysis of national trends in employer-sponsored employee benefits plans segmented by region, state, industry, and business size. This report empowers clients to benchmark their employee benefits programs against competitors, enabling them to develop strategic, data-driven employee benefits programs to attract and retain top talent.