Short- vs. long-term disability insurance: How it works

This article originally appeared on the American Fidelity Blog. Understanding the differences between short- and long-term disability can be tough and knowing which coverage is right for you is not always easy. However, disability insurance is an essential part of a solid financial plan, so it’s important to understand your options. What is disability insurance? Disability…

Read More

What happens when a health event causes your income stream to run dry?

By Fred Schott, Director of Operations, Council for Disability Awareness Editor’s Note: The CDA staff participated in a webinar hosted by the Smith Group on May 4th entitled: “Why Don’t More US Workers Have Access to Disability Insurance?” One of the key discussion points was the importance of placing short- and long-term disability insurance within the…

Read More

Disability income insurance: How to use it

By Kevin Dolan Editor’s Note: It’s happened. You’re too injured or sick to work for the foreseeable future and you need to use your disability insurance. What do you do? Recognize that periods of disability are financially challenging situations More than one in four 20-year-olds becomes disabled before reaching retirement age.1 Sixty-one (61) percent of surveyed wage earners…

Read More

Is Disability Income Insurance Worth It?

By Kristina Smith Editor’s Note: You insure your most valuable assets like your home, your car, and your life. Most people would agree that they’re worth protection; however, disability income (DI) insurance is something people tend to be less certain about. They’re not sure if they really need it, or if it’s worth the cost. So, the…

Read More

A Gambler’s Guide to Disability insurance

Duncan Stout Editor’s Note:  Would you like to place a hefty bet against your most of your savings and financial security? Unfortunately, there’s a good chance you made the wager already. One of the largest financial gambles in America takes place every day for millions of working people. It’s a gamble that’s easy to overlook,…

Read More

Discovering the Real Value of Employer-Provided Benefits

One spring evening, around 8:00pm, my husband, my six-year-old son, my newborn son, and I were headed home after getting dinner. I don’t remember anything else from that night. My name is Emily, and I’ve worked at IBI for five years, assisting with all aspects of Social Security claims. Daily, I’d interact with dozens of…

Read More

Are You Playing the Odds with Your Future?

Alexandra Ginieres Head of Disability Marketing, Individual Markets Guardian Life Insurance Company of America® Editor’s Note: Your chances of being struck by lightning are pretty slim – 1 in 700,000. But the majority of Americans will be out of work (for at least a temporary period of time) due to symptoms or conditions as common…

Read More

Federal Disability Insurance Provides Critical Protection to Millions of American Workers

By Steve Perrigo Editor’s Note: It would surprise many employees to know they already have access to disability coverage. If you’ve paid FICA taxes for five of the last 10 years, your Social Security Disability Insurance policy is paid up. Two years into a pandemic and the changing economy and Great Resignation forced U.S. employees…

Read More

Including Social Security in Your Financial and Retirement Planning (pt 2)

Ted Norwood Editor’s Note: In part two of Ted Norwood’s post on Social Security, financial planning, and retirement, the author explains the various Social Security benefits and impact they may have on your financial status. (Click here to read Part 1 of this post.) Financial Planning, Protection and Retirement The basics The basic principles are…

Read More

Including Social Security in Your Financial and Retirement Planning (pt 1)

Ted Norwood Editor’s Note: You are about to enjoy the most entertaining and informative blog post I’ve ever had the pleasure of editing about Social Security benefits. Read on to learn more about what the Social Security Administration and chocolate chip cookies have in common. Thinking about protecting your family’s income, your children’s future, and…

Read More

3 Steps to Preparing for the Unexpected

Amber Stitt Life presents all of us with challenges, including unexpected medical emergencies and health disruptions. So, proactively preparing for a time when you might not be able to care for yourself or your family is critical. If your loved ones have access to your important details and documents, it can reduce the stress on…

Read More