July / August

Aon’s 2024 Global Benefits Trends Study reflects feedback from nearly 300 global benefits professionals on the human capital issues of primary importance to multinational companies.

Aon has conducted this study to help multinationals:

• Understand the market trends at work globally, regionally, and in specific industries.
  
  
• Create and deliver global benefits strategies to better manage people risk, control/reduce benefits costs and engage employees.
  
  
• Develop a governance framework that enables multinationals to execute global strategies in local markets.

Artificial intelligence (AI) has been around for decades. But generative AI—the branch that's generating all the buzz right now—is relatively new.

These tools, built on large-language models (LLMs), are trained on the collective knowledge stored on the internet. Because LLMs excel at pattern matching, they can provide answers that seem humanlike. But pattern matching also means they’re only as accurate as the data they collect.

Unless you have a wealth of data available that you can tailor and customize for your needs, these AI tools probably aren’t ready to handle your daily operations. And most companies don’t have the capacity to invest hundreds of millions of dollars to build an LLM that’s specific to their needs. However, several companies offer off-the-shelf generative AI tools, and companies can tie their proprietary data to these existing LLMs. 

Similarly, companies have used robotics in one form or another for decades. The difference now is that AI-powered robots promise to bring transformative capabilities, not just efficiency improvements.

Please join Brown & Brown, with special guests Marathon Health & Garner Health, on Thursday, August 15th for an educational session on how to earn big healthcare savings by improving benefits followed by a river boat tour.

Agenda:
Breakfast – 8:00 AM – 8:30 AM
Education Session – 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM
River Boat Tour – 1:00 PM – 5:30 PM

Where:
Hyatt Regency, Milwaukee Vue Room
333. W Kilbourn Ave.
Milwaukee WI 53202

Please RSVP by August 1^st using the link below.

CIBC (www.cibc.com) is a leading North American financial institution with 13 million personal banking, business, public sector, and institutional clients using a platform that offers personal and small business banking, commercial banking, wealth management, and access to the capital markets.  CIBC offers a full range of advice, solutions, and services through its leading digital banking network, and has locations across Canada, the United States, and around the world. CIBC capital markets provides integrated global markets products and services, investment banking advisory and execution, corporate banking, and top-ranked research to corporate, government, and institutional clients around the world.

The Market Monitor provides commentary and insight into mico and macro factors that affect the middle market client.

On July 31 at 11:00AM CT, Jefferson Wells experts are presenting a webinar on Post-Acquisition Optimization: Accounting, Controls, Tax & Transformation.

M&A activity continues, and organizations seek to grow via mergers or acquisition in both the private and public company arenas. While M&A activity is often done for strategic reasons, the corporate accounting, internal audit, tax, and operational teams must work through effects on the business. In this complimentary CPE-eligible webinar, our Jefferson Wells Directors will discuss impacts of M&A activity across the organization, highlight often overlooked challenges of M&A activity in accounting, controls, and tax, and share ways to plan for – and avoid – integration and optimization oversights.

Would you or a team member like to join us on July 31st? Can’t make the live webinar? Register for the session to receive a link to the recording.

Due to the rising costs of education, many Americans are looking for ways to fund the educational expenses of their children and grandchildren.

In 2023, Congress overhauled the Free Application for Federal Student Aid ("FAFSA") and the Department of Education’s process for awarding federal student aid, which has taken effect for the 2024–25 award year. These changes included a simplified form, removal of the sibling discount, introduction of a new eligibility formula, modified family and aid considerations, and expanded access to Pell Grants. These changes are aimed at better aligning federal aid with the actual cost of college. Even with these changes, however, additional funding may be necessary to fully cover the costs.

Attention Manufacturers!

Manufacturing First Expo & Conference
October 30 • Resch Expo • Green Bay

Attend Wisconsin’s best manufacturing and industrial conference. Grow your knowledge, network, and business at this premier event. Presenters include keynote Steve Jones speaking on Developing Leaders Who Grow a Winning Culture, plus breakout speaker Greg Linnemanstons of Weidert Group sharing The Top Industrial Sales & Marketing Plays Your Lead Gen Strategy Needs Now.