In November 2026, DecisionHR announced that former Artex global CEO Zeb Holt had been named chief executive, succeeding Peter Newman. The US provider of professional employer organization services and HR outsourcing made the announcement on 9 November. Newman is retiring from the executive role after nearly 25 years of leadership and will remain board chair and advise the executive team. Holt’s background includes insurance and risk management for PEOs,

In November 2026, the French government published two decrees governing how people can combine work and retirement income from 2027. The decrees were signed on 2 November, published on 3 November and explained in updated Service Public guidance on 10 November. The new framework generally applies when a person’s first basic pension takes effect on or after 1 January 2027. A retiree already receiving a pension in 2026 generally

In November 2026, LIMRA reported preliminary US individual annuity sales of USD 126.3 billion for the third quarter, up 4% from a year earlier and the highest quarterly total in its survey. The 6 November release covers the period ended 30 September. First nine month sales reached USD 355 billion, up 2%. Read the sales mix Fixed-rate deferred annuity sales reached USD 44.5 billion. Registered index-linked products rose 22%

In November 2026, Principal Financial Group released a US employer survey showing that most benefits stayed in place even as confidence weakened, with trade reporting on the survey finding that large employers added retirement benefits more often than small and midsize firms. Principal published the index on 11 November, following fieldwork from 14 September to 4 October among 1,000 US business decision makers. The headline sentiment measure fell to

In November 2026, Swiss Life reported that high single premiums in group life drove a 15% increase in its Swiss premium measure for the first nine months of the year. The insurer published its unaudited update on 11 November for the period ended 30 September. Swiss gross written premiums, policy fees and deposits reached CHF 9.424 billion, compared with CHF 8.199 billion a year earlier. What the increase measures

In November 2026, AM Best reported that accident and health made up 37% of Hong Kong’s non-life insurance premiums in 2025. Its 9 November market review recorded HKD 108.5 billion of gross written premiums across non-life, up 8% year on year. Direct insurance and inward reinsurance both contributed. Corporates and their advisers can use the AM Best report as context for a discussion about the market. The decision itself

In November 2026, Fragomen reported closer scrutiny by Indonesia’s Ministry of Manpower of an existing requirement for employers to facilitate Indonesian language training for covered foreign workers. The advisory appeared on 10 November. The underlying regulation dates to 2021, and the advisory did not identify a new permit procedure or a general requirement to file evidence of course completion. Check coverage by role and assignment List foreign workers by

In November 2026, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention extended its Ebola-related entry restrictions for 30 days from 5 p.m. Eastern time on 10 November. The order continues to affect covered foreign nationals with relevant physical presence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda or South Sudan within the preceding 21 days. The signed order contains exceptions, and separate boarding, attestation and screening requirements may apply.

In October 2026, the Bipartisan Policy Center published findings from two US roundtables on protected lifetime income in workplace retirement plans. The 29 October brief, produced following discussions convened with MetLife, Prudential and TIAA, identifies product complexity, fiduciary concerns, recordkeeper integration and portability as barriers. Participants considered defaults as a way to increase use, but differed on when they are appropriate. The brief reports stakeholder views and introduces no

In November 2026, Brokerslink launched ekko, a member platform for finding specialist expertise and coordinating work on multinational insurance programmes. The launch took place at the network’s Istanbul conference, held from 4 to 6 November. The platform is a marketplace for finding capabilities across the network and shared workspaces called Deal Rooms. It did not report how widely members are using the platform or identify results for employee benefits

In November 2026, Brown & Brown released the findings of its 2027 Employer Health and Benefits Strategy Survey, reporting that 44% of surveyed employers ranked controlling the organisation’s health benefit costs as their top priority. The November 9 release also cited a separate analysis of the brokerage’s customers, who anticipate average annual healthcare cost increases of 10% in both 2026 and 2027. Put employer and employee costs in the

In November 2026, Captive Intelligence reported that Lloyd’s had granted ByteDance approval in principle to establish a captive syndicate. The report was published on November 9 and dated the decision to November 6. This is a report of an intermediate step. Final approval, an underwriting start date and the classes to be written have not been confirmed here, and there is no basis to assume that employee benefits will

In November 2026, Chesnara announced that it had agreed to acquire MetLife UK Limited’s closed UK life book. The November 6 announcement put the portfolio at around 18,000 customers and GBP 1.7 billion of assets under administration at the end of 2025. MetLife’s continuing UK operations are outside the agreement. Chesnara expects completion in the first half of 2027, subject to regulatory approval. Establish exactly what would change hands

In October 2026, France published Decree No. 2026-1001, which revises work and residence rules for foreign workers, including EU Blue Card holders. The decree generally took effect on October 30. Fragomen’s November 9 analysis notes that some measures still await implementation details. Recheck transfer and exit procedures For qualifying Blue Card holders moving from another EU member state, the prior holding period has been shortened from 18 to 12

In November 2026, Hannover Re reported group net income of about EUR 2.1 billion for the nine months ended September 30, up 6.9%. On November 9 it maintained its full-year group net income target of at least EUR 2.7 billion and its expectation of a net life and health reinsurance service result of about EUR 925 million. Both full-year figures are guidance. Check the captive’s own exposure For a

In November 2026, the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority published updated technical documentation for constructing the risk-free interest rate term structures used under Solvency II. EIOPA issued the update on November 6 and said it would apply from January 30, 2027. The documentation incorporates revised market assessments and portfolio inputs. It also removes the Colombian peso, Hong Kong dollar and New Taiwan dollar from the list of relevant

In November 2026, Sterling Brokers announced that it had acquired Lucite, an AI platform built for Canadian group benefits brokers. Sterling’s November 6 announcement said the combined offering would bring its third-party administration platform to independent brokers for the first time. Lucite already supported more than 45 brokers serving over 20,000 clients, according to the announcement. Sterling did not disclose financial terms or quantified productivity gains. A shared back

In November 2026, Sun Life reported third quarter group insurance sales of C$619 million, up about 24 percent from C$498 million a year earlier. Group insurance sales for the first nine months reached C$1.85 billion, compared with C$1.61 billion for the same period in 2025. At the consolidated level, underlying net income rose to C$1.146 billion, while reported net income attributable to common shareholders fell to C$785 million. Those

In November 2026, the US Department of Labor’s final rule on pharmacy benefit manager fee disclosure appeared in the Federal Register, following the department’s October 29 announcement. The rule requires covered pharmacy benefit managers and affiliated brokers or consultants serving large self-insured employer health plans to disclose compensation to plan fiduciaries. It also gives fiduciaries a right to audit that information. November 2 was the publication date; sponsors should

In November 2026, Aon and funds managed by Blackstone announced the launch of Cortina syndicate 1956 at Lloyd’s. The November 6 release describes multi-year following capacity for eligible treaties placed by Aon, with QBE as managing agent and a dividend for participating cedents linked to the syndicate’s share. Lloyd’s gave approval in principle on October 16. Permission to underwrite from the intended January 1, 2027 start remained pending in

In November 2026, the UK Department for Work and Pensions launched consultations on Guided Retirement and Retirement Collective Pension Schemes. The November 3 proposals envisage a default route from workplace defined-contribution savings to managed lifetime income while preserving choice. Responses are due December 22, 2026. A scheme’s role during saving is different from its role when a worker needs income. Trustees and employers should compare how proposed routes handle

In November 2026, Lincoln Financial disclosed higher disability claim severity and 32% growth in supplemental health premiums in results published on 5 November for the quarter ended 30 September. Its Group Protection business reported $77 million in operating income and a 5.5% margin. The disability loss ratio rose six percentage points year on year, which Lincoln attributed to higher severity, while Group Protection premiums grew 3%. Ask what drove

In November 2026, the US Internal Revenue Service published its tax inflation adjustments for 2027. The November 5 release sets the health FSA salary reduction limit at $3,500, the permitted carryover ceiling at $700 and the monthly limits for qualified transportation and parking at $350. The qualified small employer health reimbursement arrangement ceilings rise to $6,700 for self-only coverage and $13,550 for family coverage. Separate statutory limits from plan

In November 2026, Crum & Forster’s Accident & Health division and ViaSafely announced annual travel protection as a voluntary employee benefit. The November 5 release describes fixed-cost payroll deductions and distribution through bswift, participating brokers and marketplace channels, including access outside normal open enrolment. It does not provide evidence of take-up or claims performance. Explain which contract applies Employees should be able to distinguish this offer from the employer’s

In November 2026, The Cigna Group reported growth in its Cigna Healthcare business, which includes US employer plans and international health coverage. In results published on November 5 for the quarter ended September 30, the segment reported adjusted revenue of $11.7 billion, up 9%, and adjusted pre-tax income of $1.19 billion, up 15%. Its medical care ratio was 85.0%, compared with 84.8% a year earlier. The company cited premium-rate

In November 2026, Captive.com previewed the November issue of Captive Insurance Company Reports, identifying reputation in fronting credit assessment, captive governance and data quality in reinsurance access as topics. The overview was published on 6 November. It does not show that a reputation measure secures better terms or that documentation alone changes a placement decision. Build a renewal file counterparties can check For a fronting insurer, the file should

In November 2026, bswift announced that employers could connect its Emma Intelligence service to existing workplace AI assistants to deliver personalised benefits answers. The November 5 release describes an integration intended to let employees ask about their actual coverage from a workplace interface. It does not name participating employers or establish measured accuracy, escalation performance or how sensitive information is protected in a particular deployment. Decide which source can