Cowden Associates' 2007/2008 Tri-State Employee Benefits Survey featured in the Pittsburgh Business Times:

A survey by Downtown employee benefits consultant Cowden Associates Inc. found that the number of businesses adopting some form of the so-called consumer-driven health care plan more than tripled since last year, but 107 out of 274 respondents, or 62.9 percent, said they were unlikely to offer the coverage in the future. Another 37 respondents, or 21.8 percent, said they had no interest in the plans, which usually incorporate a health reimbursement or savings account.

"It's a big change, and employees are not necessarily looking for big changes in the way their benefits are structured," said Cowden Executive President Vincent Wolf. "We seem to have hit a threshold, a ceiling, with these types of plans."

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Employers in Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Ohio believe the future of managing health care costs lies in helping their employees manage their health through wellness programs, according to Cowden Associates, Inc. Seventh Annual Tri-State Area Employee Benefit Survey.

Cowden Associates, the region's leading independent human resources, compensation and employee benefit consulting firm, compiled results of its 2007-2008 survey from 274 employers throughout the tri-state region. Survey participants include for-profit, nonprofit and governmental employers. Size of employers ranged from less than 100 employees to more than 10,000.

"Competition for talented employees is strong, and employee benefits play a critical role in attracting and retaining those employees," said Cowden Associates President and CEO Jere Cowden. "As regional employers work to attract and retain talent in part through strong employee benefits plans, our regional survey data allow them to benchmark themselves against their regional competition and develop attractive, cost-effective plans."

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Jim Bartoszewicz was featured in a Pittsburgh Business Times article from the March 21 -27, 2008 issue:

A recent ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court is being called a victory for millions of workers and a reminder for employers to exercise the utmost fiscal responsibility regarding their 401(k) plans.

The court ruled on Feb. 20 that individual participants in 401(k) retirement plans can sue to recover losses caused by the mismanagement of funds, reversing a decision made earlier by the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond, Va., in the case of LaRue v. DeWolff, Boberg & Associates.

Jim Bartoszewicz, president and CEO of Cowden Advisers Inc., a Downtown investment advisory firm, said companies can take action to guard against lawsuits.

"By creating Sound practices for governing their retirement plans, sponsors will reduce the number of legitimate claims, while putting themselves in a better position to defend the frivolous suits," he said.

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