Business owners have traditionally looked at their relationship with their benefits brokers as being between a vendor and a customer, and less like a partnership.

To get the most out of your benefits plan, you should be looking for an advisor whose approach and priorities fit your business. While many business owners view their advisor as a necessary middleman to finalizing a necessary annual expense, being more selective about your benefits advisor can yield better results for both you and your employees. An advisor who is a good fit for your company is far more likely to leave you satisfied with the quality of benefits your employees receive and the amount of money you save on your plan.

Before you commit to working with an advisor, ask yourself these questions to determine if they would be a good match for your company:

1. What kind of business relationship do I want with my advisor?

Business owners have traditionally looked at their relationship with their benefits brokers as being between a vendor and a customer—the employer would pay for the service and plan the broker offered, then accept a hands-off approach for the remainder of the year until the time came to renew their plan.