Americans agree: Financial planning isn’t fun but it is necessary

A new study conducted by Northwestern Mutual recently found that a vast majority of adults in the U.S. described financial planning as “not my favorite thing in the world, but [I] know it needs to get done like a medical checkup.” The survey, called the 2018 Planning & Progress Study, is an annual research project…

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Paid and Unpaid Leave: What You Need to Know (And How You Can Be Protected Without It)

Benefit packages can be confusing to understand, and – it’s sad but true – many times are forgotten the minute the onboarding paperwork is signed. Unfortunately that leaves many employees not fully understanding their benefits package, and one area of frequent confusion is what their “paid” and “unpaid” leave options are. Not being clear on…

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12 ways to mitigate stress during the holidays

The holidays can be stressful — whether it’s gift buying, balancing party commitments or entertaining family, this time of year can put a strain on your mental health. In addition, the holidays can sometimes be a time of increased depression and anxiety. However, there are a few practical steps people can take to reduce stress…

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Survey reveals Baby Boomers’ need for strategic retirement planning

A report recently released by BMOW Wealth Management showed aging Americans have concerns with regard to retirement planning and the effects on their family and wealth. The report, called The Aging Economy: Improving with Age, surveyed more than 500 Americans 55 and older and reviewed the benefits of an in-depth wealth plan to help manage…

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Time to Invest in You: Ways to Make Your Retirement a Reality

By Rachel Barrow, AVP Marketing, Individual Markets, Guardian Life Insurance Co. of America® Dreaming about retirement may bring to mind relaxation, travel, and leisure time. Many people find, though, that planning for it can be stressful – but it doesn’t have to be that way. If open enrollment time has you thinking about how you’ll fund your retirement,…

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“I’ll take a 50% cut in pay, and I’m cool with downsizing my retirement” – Said No Employee, Ever

By Tom Charla, Director and Tara Reynolds, Corporate Vice President, MassMutual Most employees have figured out that the safety nets previous generations enjoyed — job security, pensions, even Social Security – can’t be relied on the way they have been in the past. They know that when it comes to reaching their financial goals, especially…

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SSDI lacks rehabilitation resources

By Ted Norwood, General Counsel & Director of Representation, Integrated Benefits Inc. SSDI has poor resources for vocational rehabilitation or job placement, and no resources at all for claimants during the wait for a decision. This makes it harder for people to recover and get back to work. Because of the long wait, many claimants…

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Why relying on SSDI is better than nothing, but far from optimal

By Ted Norwood, General Counsel and Director of Representation, Integrated Benefits, Inc. According to the Council for Disability Awareness, half of those who don’t work for the government have some form of employer-paid disability insurance (short-term disability only, long-term disability only, or both STD and LTD). These benefits are important because 25 percent of today’s 20-year-olds…

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When you hear the term ‘underinsurance,’ do you understand what it means?

By Bob Herum, Second Vice President, DI & GSI Sales, Ameritas I picture the millions of working Americans who are employed, receive benefits through their employers, and yet, go about their daily activities without realizing the potential financial risk to their way of life. Specifically, I’m thinking of their income and what insurance they may have…

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Do your benefit priorities match your employers’?

By Diane Russell, Lincoln Financial Your company’s benefit package is sending you a message about their priorities — and whether they are the same as yours. When companies get it right, it pays off in terms of your job satisfaction and desire to continue to work there. That’s because your employer is making it clear…

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Looking for top employees? These three benefits are a must

By Diane Russell, SVP Marketing, Lincoln Financial Your company’s benefit package sends a message to your employees about what you feel is important and if you’re listening to their concerns and priorities. Get it right, and your benefits dollars will be well spent and will pay off in terms of employee satisfaction and retention. Your…

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

By Fred Schott, Director of Operations, Council for Disability Awareness If you’re one of the millions of working Americans currently making decisions about your employee benefits choices for the coming year, you’ve probably put most of your focus on the health-plan options, including what is or isn’t covered, which providers are or aren’t in-network, and…

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