Anne Patterson, Author at Word on Benefits

Your Benefits Box of Chocolates

Anne Patterson

14 Feb 2017

Whether or not you’re feeling the love this Valentine’s Day (I’ve hit my head too many times on hanging heart decorations and eaten too much chocolate already), we can celebrate the International Foundation products and services our members love having access to, […]

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Trump + Employee Benefits: Washington Insiders Tell All

Anne Patterson

01 Dec 2016

What do the election results mean for employer-sponsored benefits? Which campaign promises will come into play and how? These pressing questions and more were answered during the International Foundation webcast Inside the New Administration & Congress: What’s Next? The webcast featured three […]

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Teachers Get Schooled in Financial Education

Anne Patterson

22 Nov 201624 Jan 2017

So . . . Why does a $190 billion, 103-year-old public pension fund especially need to watch its spelling and grammar on member communication materials? Because it represents 896,000 public school educators throughout California. CalSTRS, the California State Teachers’ Retirement System, shared […]

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How Will the Election Impact Benefits?

Anne Patterson

20 Oct 201620 Oct 2016

The yard signs and bumper stickers are up, your prime time show schedules are getting juggled around to accommodate debate broadcasts, you’re noticing more donkeys or elephants than ever before: It’s election season. But one aspect you might not have considered is […]

Employee Benefits Health Care

5 Cost-Control Secrets for Health Plan Contracts

Anne Patterson

04 Oct 201613 Jan 2017

When looking at total benefit dollars spent, how do fees paid to vendors serving your health benefit plan stack up? These fees probably represent a significant portion of your budget, so understanding how fees are calculated and the value they provide to […]

Employee Benefits Financial Education Financial Wellness

Financial Education Lessons from the NFL Playbook

Anne Patterson

07 Sep 2016

Regular football season is upon us and here’s what I’m thinking about: How my fantasy picks are looking for the week, where and with whom I will watch my favorite team play (the Green Bay Packers), the green and gold combination outfit […]

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Too Smart for Financial Education? Think Again.

Anne Patterson

11 Aug 201611 Aug 2016

As I was writing the short blog you can’t wait to read below, I couldn’t help but think of the classic phrase, “The shoemaker’s children always go without shoes.” You’ll find out why in a second. This proverb dates back to the […]

Employee Benefits Wellness

Office Olympics: All Fun and Games Until Somebody Loses a Stapler

Anne Patterson

14 Jul 201614 Jul 2016

Trash can basketball, desk-chair soccer, synchronized stapling, water cooler weightlifting . . . With Summer Olympic season upon us, a little friendly competition in the workplace can be healthy, especially when it comes to wellness activities. While Office Olympics might not be […]

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Workplaces Fight Against High Prescription Drug Costs

Anne Patterson

20 Jun 2016

The prescription drug train went full speed ahead in 2014 and is not losing steam. A new report from the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans asked employers how they are managing prescription drug costs, and responses revealed that, among other expense-saving […]

Employee Benefits Financial Education Financial Wellness Retirement

Employees’ Biggest Financial Influence? (Sorry, It’s Not You)

Anne Patterson

28 Apr 2016

One-hundred and fifty employee benefit industry leaders walk into a room . . . and, of course, the International Foundation polled them with a couple questions about their thoughts on retirement security and financial education. This gathering occurred at a recent International […]