Does a benefits broker give legal advice?
No. Legal questions go to your attorney. We bring the benefits facts and the dates.
What each side does.
We Bring Facts
We bring plan terms, carrier rules, costs and deadlines.
Counsel Decides
Your attorney decides how the law applies and what to do about it.
Working Together
We can share the facts with your attorney so the advice rests on the actual plan.
How it plays out.
A benefits broker is not a law firm, and a layoff is a time when that line matters. Questions about whether a severance term is lawful, whether WARN applies or how to word a separation agreement go to an attorney.
What a broker can do is the benefits side: what the plan says, what the carrier requires, what dates apply and what each option costs. Those facts are what an attorney needs to give useful advice.
CFH clients can also reach attorneys and CPAs through the firm when a question needs one, so the facts and the legal view can come together without starting over.
How we help.
A broker should take work off a smaller HR team, not add to it.
Plan Summaries
We help prepare plain plan summaries for counsel.
Attorney Access
CFH clients can reach attorneys through the firm when a question needs one.
Follow-Through
We help carry out the decisions with carriers and payroll.
Splitting the work.
Write Down the Question
State each question in one sentence.
Sort It
Mark each one legal or benefits.
Send Legal Questions to Counsel
Give your attorney the plan facts alongside the question.
Send Benefits Questions to Us
We bring back the plan terms and dates.
Mistakes that cost money.
Using the Broker as Counsel
A broker’s view on a legal point is not legal advice.
Sending Counsel Without Facts
An attorney working from assumptions can give the wrong answer.
Not Writing Anything Down
Verbal answers are hard to rely on later.
Related guides.
Right-Sizing HR After Layoffs: The Benefits Workload
The full picture.
Attorney and Broker Roles After a Layoff
Severance terms, releases and notice questions belong with your attorney.
Layoff Benefits Notices Checklist
A layoff can trigger COBRA, WARN, state unemployment and plan-level notices.
Where the Rules Come From.
The laws and rules named on this page link to the statute or regulation they come from. This is general information, not legal or tax advice, and rules change, so check the current text.
COBRA Continuation Coverage (29 U.S.C. 1161)
Requires many group health plans to offer temporary continuation coverage after a qualifying event.
Is HR carrying more than it should?
Tell us what changed, and we will show you what to take off the desk.
Your renewal letter
Your census
Your current plan documents
Your renewal date
Rough answers are fine. We build the numbers from there.
An independent employee benefits consulting firm. We look at the entire benefits program — cost, plan performance, risk and administration.
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