Insights

While terms like “financial planner” and “wealth manager” may sound synonymous, these two types of financial professionals have different areas of focus.

Most people couldn’t bear the financial hardships resulting from unexpected events, which is why one of the most important component of a sound financial plan should be your personal risk management strategy.

On January 15, 2026, the Department of Labor’s Employee Benefit Security Administration (DOL) announced significant changes to its list of national enforcement projects for fiscal year 2026. The updates reflect where the DOL will focus its enforcement efforts to increase employee benefit plan compliance, address abusive practices, and protect the rights of participants and beneficiaries. Employer plan sponsors should take note of this development and consider taking proactive steps to minimize

On January 9, 2026, the California Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC) and several other state agencies released a statement that California and American Academy of Pediatrics-recommended vaccines must continue to be covered by health plans and insurers regulated by the State of California. Vaccines can be received at no cost from an insured’s doctor, as well as some local pharmacies or other authorized providers. The statement follows California Assembly Bill (AB) 144, signed September 17

On January 15, 2026, the White House released an outline of its proposed healthcare agenda, “The Great Healthcare Plan.” The proposal was issued in response to months of deliberations surrounding the future of enhanced premium tax credits under the Affordable Care Act, as well as scheduled reforms for Medicaid. While the announcement did not provide significant details, it did outline the administration’s main healthcare objectives, which included lowering prescription drug prices and reducing

The Washington Office of Insurance Commissioner (OIC) adopted R 2025-11 Healthcare Benefit Managers, effective January 24, 2026. The rule implements provisions of past Washington legislation (SB 5213) with delayed effective dates until January 1, 2026. It also addresses items not covered in an October 2025 article, discussed in a prior edition of NFP's Compliance Corner: Washington Technical Assistance Advisory on Healthcare Benefit Manager Registration and Filing Mandates. This rule amends the

As a reminder, if an employer has at least one employee who resides primarily in New Jersey for at least 15 days in any month, the employer is subject to file Form(s) 1095 with the New Jersey Division of Taxation in the subsequent year annually. The current 2025 tax year's filing is due on March 31, 2026, with copies to be distributed to primary enrollees by March 2, 2026. To meet NJ's reporting requirements, employers can provide copies of Forms 1095-C (or B) prepared for the ACA employer mand

The California Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC) released its 2025 Year in Review Highlights newsletter, covering various topics, including responses to federal policy changes, prescription drug costs, access to care, and enforcement actions. Included in the newsletter was a recap of 2025 legislative actions, including: Assembly Bill (AB) 260, which prohibits a health plan with prescription drug benefits from limiting coverage for mifepristone, regardless of its Food and Drug Administra

On December 31, 2025, the DOL published a notice of enforcement policy to extend delinquent filer relief to multiple employer welfare arrangements (MEWAs), arrangements that are not group health plans but provide benefits that consist of medical care (non-plan MEWAs), as well as entities claiming exception (ECEs) that are seeking to file a late Form M–1. The DOL’s Delinquent Filer Voluntary Compliance Program (DFVCP) gives delinquent plan administrators an opportunity to avoid higher civil pena