While health is everyone’s No. 1 concern these days, financial wellness is also top of mind. After all, many households are finding themselves in a budget bind as economic woes hit the economy at all levels. Even if your job is secure, you might be finding a partner or someone else in the household facing…
Say what you will about social media. It can be a highlight reel that evokes thoughts of “how is she possibly in Bora Bora again” or “does he ever work?” It can also reconnect you with people you haven’t seen in a decade, without even stepping foot in the same room as them. I hadn’t…
Is income-protection a “luxury good” like designer clothing, fine wine, or—dare I go there?—a Peloton? A look at Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Employee Benefits Survey data on availability of employer-paid short- and long-term disability insurance benefits suggests you wouldn’t be totally off-base if you answered “yes” to that question. For both STD and…
No one plans to have cancer. Aside from the shock and anxiety for the future a diagnosis brings, cancer also presents a financial situation that few people fully consider. Huge medical bills, on top of the typical expenses like college loans, mortgages, and car payments, can leave survivors concerned about their finances. Despite this, there…
Employers are offering more and more voluntary benefits—and workers want these benefits. A recent study showed that nearly one third of eligible employees were signing up for voluntary offerings (that’s a higher participation rate than in earlier years). Amy Hollis is the national leader of voluntary benefits for HR consultancy Willis Towers Watson. She recently…
Becoming a parent is an extraordinary and, at times, stressful endeavor. Your life is about to fundamentally change. And as you plan the myriad dimensions of this new reality, you may be wondering how you’ll cover all the bills while you take time off work. Family leave is a complex issue and it requires a…
Long-term disability insurance. It’s not as immediate a need as health insurance, and you probably don’t think it works into your long-term financial plan as much as life insurance does. But it’s still really, really important. Long-term disability insurance is, at its core, income replacement. It can help you make ends meet when you’re unable…
Student loans and the increasing size of their associated debt continue to grab headlines. The ongoing political environment and upcoming presidential election is significantly increasing the discussion of various proposals and ideas. From a historical perspective student loans are certainly not new. The debt levels, however, are even more evident when you look at the…
By Katie McCord Jenkins, President and Chairperson, Illinois Mutual. If you were to ask me what type of business my company is in, you might be surprised with my response: We are in the business of preserving dreams and enabling people to live fearlessly in a time when so many live paycheck to paycheck. Yes,…
Annual enrollment will soon be underway for many employees. During this time, workers choose benefits they feel are most important to protect their health and financial well-being. Understanding the benefits your employer offers and their associated costs are most likely key considerations for you. In this post, I am going to focus on one…
