Why We Don’t Use Broker Book-of-Business Averages

We get asked this a lot: “Why not just use broker data?”

Here’s the Short Answer

It’s not benchmarking — it’s self-referencing.

Book-of-business averages are:

• Limited to a single firm’s client base
• Often outdated or incomplete
• Not industry- or size-filterable

They reflect what one brokerage happens to sell, not what the market offers.

What We Do Instead

At Bnchmrk, we source validated plan-level data from:

• Consultant networks
• Employer surveys
• API-connected benefit platforms

Then we run it through a multi-stage QA process: screening for structure, validating logic, flagging anomalies, and cross-checking source integrity.

Why It Matters

Your recommendations should be based on facts — not folklore.

True benchmarking means comparing against a real, representative sample of the market. It gives you:

• Credibility when defending decisions
• Confidence when navigating plan design
• Clarity when something looks “off” compared to market norms

The result? Independent, representative benchmarks — not internal feedback loops.

If your data is just recycled from your own client base, you’re not benchmarking. You’re echoing.

And your clients deserve better.