As a group, voluntary brokers and executives have historically overreacted to industry developments.

Twenty-six percent of brokers cite competition from other brokers as the greatest threat to their personal voluntary business in the next 12 months.

In a previous column, we discussed how many employers are expanding their benefits offering to include non-traditional products.

Despite the growing similarities between employee benefit broker and voluntary broker segments, and some convergence between the two groups, notable differences remain.

This is the last in our series of columns on voluntary market sales results for 2016.

Last month, we reported voluntary new business annualized premium (sales) for 2016 were $7.630 billion, up almost 7 percent over 2015 sales. This column takes a closer look at these results by product line and platform.

Last month, we reported voluntary new business annualized premium (sales) for 2016 were $7.630 billion, up almost 7 percent over 2015 sales. This column takes a closer look at these results by product line and platform.

According to our annual U.S. Voluntary/Worksite Sales Report, new business annualized premium (voluntary sales) increased again last year.