September 24, 2026
Webinar today:
Outlining RAM’s Retirement Plan Solution
Join us today at 10:00 am to learn more about TAX CREDITS and the advantages of our Multiple Employer 401k Plan.
There has never been a better time to start a retirement plan! The federal government recognizes citizens have not saved nearly enough to produce a comfortable retirement and have recently rolled out tremendous TAX CREDITS to help employers provide access to retirement savings vehicles, like 401k's.
With the passage of recent legislation via the "Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement" (SECURE) Act, more employers are gaining access and seeing advantages in the pooled plan space. These arrangements are providing unique opportunities for employers to reduce the amount of time they are spending on plan administration & simultaneously save SIGNIFICANTLY on the costs they are spending on their current 401(k) plan.
RAM wants to help provide these advantages to you! We have rolled out a Multiple Employer 401(k) Plan to simplify the process of offering a 401(k) plan to your employees. Standard single 401(k) plans have been around for a long time. Our goal is to provide a powerful alternative for members that want to decrease the amount of time they spend on administration, remove fiduciary liability, eliminate the costly annual 401(k) audit, and lower costs.
Help us try to lower your energy bills!
October 7th, 2026 9:00 am - 9:30 am
Do you want energy cost relief? Join us for only 30 minutes!
Massachusetts has some of the highest energy prices in the nation. But if you join the fight now, there's a chance to effect real, meaningful reform to lower costs. Join us for a brief virtual event to hear from energy expert Bob Rio about how the business community can fight back and prevent the legislature from making the same mistakes that led to skyrocketing energy bills.
This event is FREE, but advanced registration is required.
The House and Senate are ironing out the differences between two pieces of legislation that will directly impact your energy bills. The current scenario: Do you want to see more of the same, high-cost expenses that cause your bills to spike every summer and winter? Or do you want to see meaningful reform that will cut bloated programs like Mass Save and begin reducing the fees that are driving up your bills?
Those pushing for the status quo are loud, arguing Massachusetts needs to be less reliant on fossil fuels despite the higher costs for businesses and residents. That is why we need business owners like you to join us for this quick, important meeting. This is the business community’s opportunity to really make a difference in the energy debate to help lower skyrocketing bills.
Details
When: Wednesday, October 7 | 9 am ET
Where: Virtual, via Microsoft Teams
(A join link will be sent before the event.)
Who: Bob Rio, The Mass Energy Bill Guy
Guest Article by Robert Rio
Shock to the System: The $300 Billion Price Tag to Electrify Massachusetts Homes
This summer, I wrote about the Commonwealth’s history of struggling to manage electricity costs. In part 2, I tackle how much electrification and decommissioning our natural gas system could cost us.
Anyone who owns a home has probably remodeled it or considered remodeling it over the years. Maybe update that old kitchen or add a family room.
My wife and I have. Normally, the process starts with meeting a builder to understand the scope of work and develop a budget. At this point, cost is not a limiting factor. Obviously, we need those imported fixtures for the new kitchen and the custom storage and the wet bar for the family room. That weirdly photogenic couple on TV who remodel an entire house in a weekend said so.
That’s usually when reality sets in.
Click here to keep reading
MA Division of Insurance to Hold Small Business
Health Insurance Listening Sessions
The Division of Insurance will be hosting virtual listening sessions over the next several weeks to hear public comments from interested parties about out-of-network costs and stabilizing insurance markets to drive down premium costs. For the two remaining sessions relating to out-of-network costs, the Division seeks feedback from the public on the following topics:
- Thursday, October 1, 2026 at 10 am Join this Discussion Meeting ID: 277 651 048 459 07 Passcode: s3sT6Tb7
- Topic: Metric/Index & Scope of an Out-of-Network Default Rate
- This session will focus on key considerations related to the methodology and scope of a potential out-of-network default rate. We welcome feedback on approaches for establishing and updating a rate, including potential benchmarks or indices, geographic considerations, and mechanisms for maintaining relevance over time while supporting affordability and network access to services for members/patients. We are additionally interested in perspectives on the appropriate scope and application of a potential default rate, including the services and providers to which it should apply, circumstances that may warrant different treatment, and considerations related to pre-scheduled and non-emergency care.
We encourage participants to consider the potential implications of different approaches for access, affordability, provider networks, administrative burden, and costs.
- Monday, October 5, 2026 at 10 am Join this Discussion Meeting ID: 247 577 353 823 456 Passcode: Gj6B923f
- Topic: Consumer Protections & Network Impacts of an Out-of-Network Default Rate
- This session will focus on additional consumer protections and the potential impact of an out-of-network default rate on provider networks. We welcome feedback on approaches to protecting consumers from unexpected out-of-network costs, including considerations related to balance billing, cost-sharing, and notice and consent requirements, as well as the potential implications for access to care and health care utilization. The discussion will additionally consider the effects of different default rate approaches on provider networks and the broader health care market.
We encourage stakeholders to share perspectives on potential impacts across a broad range of provider types, services, and geographic areas, as well as regulatory approaches for monitoring and evaluating network access to services for members/patients and other market impacts over time.
In addition to providing oral comments during these listening sessions, interested parties may submit written comments on these topics through October 8, 2026. Written comments should be emailed to Cara Libman at [email protected].
Executive Insights: 2026 Massachusetts
Ballot Questions Overview
Date & Time
Oct 15, 2026 09:00 AM
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
Massachusetts voters will consider nine statewide ballot questions this November, covering a wide range of policy issues with potential implications for residents, employers, and the Commonwealth. On Thursday, October 15, the Massachusetts High Technology Council, the Retailers Association of Massachusetts, and the Massachusetts Competitive Partnership will host a virtual Executive Insights: 2026 Massachusetts Ballot Questions Overview to help members understand what is on the ballot before Election Day. This briefing, which is presented as part of the MassVision2050 Executive Insights series, will provide a neutral, informational review of all nine statewide ballot questions.
MAKE YOUR RAMAE NOMINATIONS NOW
There is no limit to the number of businesses you can nominate. So CLICK HERE to nominate your business and all those you love as well. There are so many incredible retail stores and restaurants in MA who could be deserving of this recognition. Help us find our 2026 winners!
You do not need to be a RAM member to nominate or to win.
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