How to position yourself as a trusted ACA compliance advisor
For brokers and benefits advisors, Q4 planning doesn’t start in October. It starts now.
September marks a critical moment in the annual ACA compliance cycle, when employers begin thinking about year-end strategies, benefits renewals, and how to avoid last-minute reporting panic. That makes now the perfect time to deepen your role as a strategic advisor and help clients get ahead of the curve.
Here’s how you can stand out by guiding clients through ACA compliance before it becomes a scramble, and why it will pay dividends well into 2026.
📌 Step 1: Help Clients Take Stock of Their Workforce Now
The foundation of ACA compliance is accurate employee classification. Yet many employers still struggle to determine:
- Whether they meet the Applicable Large Employer (ALE) threshold
- Who qualifies as full-time under the look-back measurement method
- How to track and manage part-time, seasonal, or variable-hour workers
Brokers can add immediate value by helping clients audit their headcounts and hours before Q4 begins. That insight informs both ACA reporting and benefits planning decisions, and helps prevent costly missteps when deadlines hit.
🧠 Step 2: Educate on What’s Changed and What’s Coming
ACA rules don’t change often, but confusion persists. Many clients are unaware of:
- State-specific ACA mandates (California, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Vermont, Massachusetts, and Washington DC)
- Updated penalty thresholds and IRS enforcement priorities
- New reporting formats or system changes that could impact submissions
Providing timely updates and checklists positions you not just as a broker but as a compliance partner. You can even use these touchpoints to introduce solutions like ACA reporting automation or integrated compliance tools.
📊 Step 3: Map Out a Reporting Game Plan Before the Crunch
ACA compliance starts with good planning, and now is the time to get ahead. By August, many employers are wrapping up plan design decisions for the next year, making it an ideal time for brokers to:
- Review last year’s filing process (what worked and what didn’t)
- Flag missing or incomplete employee data
- Identify vendors or tools that can simplify electronic filing
- Offer ACA services or connect clients to trusted platforms
The earlier your clients begin organizing data and confirming eligibility, the fewer errors and penalties they’ll face later. And the more indispensable you become in their eyes.
🎯 Position Yourself as the Solution, Not Just the Messenger
ACA compliance is often seen as a burden. But for brokers, it’s a huge opportunity to differentiate. Instead of only alerting clients to upcoming requirements, step in as the solution:
✅ Offer ACA strategy sessions during annual benefits reviews
✅ Share tools and resources that support self-filing or full-service options
✅ Leverage partnerships with platforms like Mitratech Mineral to deliver expert-backed compliance
When you help clients manage risk and reduce workload, you go from being a benefits provider to a business advisor and partner.
🗓 Ready to Dive Deeper?
Join us for a special webinar:
Beyond the Basics: Mastering ACA Compliance for Multi-State Employers
📅 Thursday, September 18, 2025 | 1:00 PM ET
🎙️ Featuring Angela Surra, Principal Benefits Expert at Mitratech Mineral
👉 Register Now
Final Thought
The best brokers know that compliance isn’t a once-a-year conversation, it’s an ongoing strategy. By helping your clients get ACA-ready now, you’re not just solving a problem. You’re showing up as the expert they trust to protect their business, simplify their operations, and keep them ahead of what’s next.
Looking for the right tool to help your clients stay compliant and stress-free? The ACA Reporting Hub from Mitratech Mineral is purpose-built to support brokers and the employers they serve. Whether you’re offering ACA as a service or guiding clients through self-filing, our platform combines automation with compliance expertise to simplify the entire process.
By Brian Costello
Originally posted on mineral.com
