Guides and tools for the benefits industry.
Original data studies drawn from five million Form 5500 records, plain-English explainers on the 5500, health-plan funding, and ICHRA, plus free tools — the 2026 benefits conference finder and a season-by-season playbook. Whether you're new to benefits data or briefing a team, start here.
Data studies
Original research on what employers actually do
Health insurance renewal increases
What employers actually paid at renewal, 2019–2024 — a median +7.0% in the latest year, with 43% seeing a double-digit increase.
Broker of record change
How often employers switch benefits brokers, how the BOR letter works, and why 70% of lead changes come from inside the roster.
Form 5500 & funding
Understand the data behind employer benefits
What is Form 5500?
The annual ERISA filing behind employer benefit plans — who files it, what it covers, and what the data reveals.
Schedule A vs. Schedule C
How the two Form 5500 schedules differ, and what each reveals about carriers, brokers, and service-provider compensation.
Self-funded vs. fully insured
Fully insured, level-funded, self-funded, and ICHRA compared — what each funding model means and what a company takes on.
What is ICHRA?
The Individual Coverage HRA explained — how it works, why it's growing, and what it means for employers and brokers.
Form 5500 data provider
Why benefits GTM teams use Hillwinds for enriched, monthly-verified 5500 data joined to brokers, carriers, and contacts.
Free tools
Work the benefits conference calendar
Ready to talk?
Turn benefits data into pipeline.
Hillwinds maps the companies, brokers, and carriers across the benefits market — and finds the people to reach. See it on your own ICP in a 25-minute demo.