Bolton

Virginia counties have three ways to adhere to the new Paid Family and Medical Leave Act: default into the state plan, go with an approved private plan, or self-insure. Each comes with different costs, different administrative lift, and a different deadline clock. Watch Bryan Spivey and Liz Gardner break down what counties should consider when choosing a path in our conversation with Virginia Association of Counties. https://lnkd.in/ei8KEXsH

On Paid Family Medical Leave: If you wait, you risk automatic enrollment in the state plan, with less autonomy to choose what’s best for your team. That's the reality Liz Gardner laid out for Virginia counties navigating the new Paid Family and Medical Leave Act. Bryan Spivey and Liz Gardner sat down with Virginia Association of Counties for a Premier Partner Spotlight on what SB2 and HB1207 mean for county budgets, HR teams, and employees, and why the planning window is now, even though benefits don't start until December 2028.  Watch the full conversation: https://lnkd.in/ewQbBGeB

Come find us and let's catch up! 🎉 The Bolton team will be at Summer Maryland Association of Counties Booths 704 & 705. We’d love to see you and hear what’s on your mind for the year ahead. While you’re there, try our hands-on VIRTUAL REALITY EXPERIENCE! See you in Ocean City, August 13–14 at the Roland E. Powell Convention Center.

Our latest Economic Update breaks down the economic trends that matter most. Perspectives from our CIO, Giovanni Forte, CFA: - Economic conditions remain mixed. First-quarter GDP growth was revised upward from 1.6% to 2.1%, reflecting a somewhat stronger economy than previously reported. At the same time, consumer prices, as measured by PCE, have moved above the wage-growth measure shown in the update. Energy remains a leading source of inflation pressure, meaning higher energy costs continue to affect both households and businesses. - Interest rates also remain elevated. Treasury yields have risen since the end of 2025, with the most noticeable increases occurring among shorter-term maturities. For committees, the key takeaway is that both borrowing costs and the income available from shorter-term fixed income investments remain higher than they have been in recent years. - The labor market continues to show resilience, with the unemployment rate edging down to 4.2%. However, that stability has not yet translated into stronger consumer confidence. Although sentiment improved modestly in June, it remains below the lows reached in 2022, as persistent inflation concerns and geopolitical uncertainty continue to weigh on households’ outlook. - The broader equity market declined modestly during June, despite continued strength among semiconductor and memory-chip companies. Weakness among several of the market’s largest companies offset much of those gains, illustrating how headline index performance can mask meaningful differences beneath the surface. Check out the full report for deeper insight and data: https://lnkd.in/eN5gEwHK

Fertility benefits are more prevalent than ever in employer-sponsored plans, and a proposed federal rule could give employers a whole new way to offer them. Here's what to know before you're scrambling in Q4. https://lnkd.in/eFffRjmw

Two challenges keep coming up in conversations with the business leaders we work with: keeping their best talent, and building a culture where performance actually thrives. These aren't separate problems. Lose ground on one, and the other follows close behind. The leaders who navigate this well aren't relying on luck. They have a clear plan for how they communicate, recognize, and invest in their people, and they execute it consistently. That's the work we help our clients do every day.

"If something isn't documented, it didn't happen." That's the reality of fiduciary responsibility under ERISA. Good intentions don't hold up in an investigation. Meeting minutes do. Watch our 7th Annual Webinar to Keep You Out of Fiduciary Jail, hosted by Mike Beczkowski, Senior Consultant at Bolton, and Andy Larson, Director of Retirement Education and Advisor Practice Management at Retirement Learning Center, LLC, to find out what other simple but powerful things you can do to protect your organization. The full recording is available now on our website. https://lnkd.in/eK9ywiQy

Our clinical advocacy nurses do more than answer questions. They investigate: tracking down the right fax number, finding better sites of care, untangling Prior Authorization roadblocks, and advocating for alternative therapies. One family called their Bolton nurse a "guardian angel." We call them detectives.

This #FourthOfJuly marks 250 years of independence, a milestone worth reflecting on. We’re especially proud to serve the people who keep this country moving forward every day. The individuals, teams, and organizations whose work often happens behind the scenes, but makes a lasting impact. It’s a privilege to support that work, today and every day. Happy 250th, America!

You keep writing more. Employees keep reading less. Here's the fix nobody talks about.