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Missing Out on Higher Social Security Benefits
For widows, and widowers, a call-to-arms for financial advisors
by Marcia Mantell, RMA®, NSSA®
A couple of years ago, the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) at the Social Security Administration issued a disturbing report. During an audit, they found that 82% of widows and widowers “were eligible for a higher monthly benefit amount had they delayed their retirement application until age 70.”
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Evaluating Today’s ‘Safe Money’
Making the case for annuities as more stable than bonds
by John Williams
We're all aware of the recent economic uncertainty, but many people may not understand how it is impacting the investment landscape. In particular, the bond market has had many shifts in recent months, raising questions about its stability with many people.
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More Than Ever, Benefits are an Essential Need
Make the digital environment work for employers, employees
by Eric Reisenwitz
Benefits were once simply a tool to attract and retain talent, but now are an essential need for employees, who are more focused than ever on employer benefit offerings in the wake of COVID-19. Ensuring that employees have the right benefits to feel protected can help ease the financial stress many are facing.
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Making the Case for Annuities
Even in a strong economy, clients may need to make compromises
by Doug Wolff
Clients planning for their retirement are in a new, unpredictable world. After seeing their stock portfolios make roller-coaster moves of late, your clients may wonder whether their retirement strategy needs a serious overhaul. They may tell you that protecting capital now seems a greater priority. Even in a strong economy, clients need to make compromises.…
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Choosing the Best Long-Term Care Coverage
Three important questions your clients should ask themselves
by Dennis Ho, FSA, CFA
Don't hurry. But don't wait too long. That's the conundrum when you're considering long-term care insurance. It's one of those things most of us would rather put off thinking about. After all, nobody likes to contemplate the downside of growing older. However, while determining whether you need the coverage and what type of policy makes…
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Lessons Learned: What Will The New Normal Actually Look Like?
In the blink of an eye, our lives turned upside down
by Brian Vestergaard
A friend of mine had a funny one-liner recently that delivered a much-needed laugh. “The last three months have been the longest year of my life.” With the onset of the global pandemic, our work lives and home lives have gone through sudden and dramatic changes. No one can blame you if you happened to…
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Employee Benefits & The New Normal
3 ways to help your clients create and enroll a strong benefits program this fall
by Pam Jenkins
A lot has changed in the workplace over the last few months. Many of your clients may have shifted to remote working, and some may have closed temporarily. Even as the doors of America’s businesses open up, where, when and how people work may never be the same as before. But one thing hasn’t changed:…
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A New Look For Risk
How COVID-19 has reemphasized the need for actuarial transformation
by Deepti Kalra
Nothing in the 21st Century has impacted the globe on the same scale as COVID-19. The state-imposed lockdowns and shelter-at-home restrictions slowed economic activity drastically. As a measure to mitigate the impact of disruption, the Federal Reserve cut interest rates to a range of 0-0.25%. Investors were unsure of what to expect next, as the…
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Retirement Readiness In The Age Of Volatility
Planning is still all about the long-term plan
by Kent Bartell, CFA
Planning during a pandemic can be overwhelming, especially with the uncertainties of COVID-19 causing people concern over their investment plans. Employees are likely feeling really uncertain about their financial status and retirement plan right now. This is a time when advisors can demonstrate significant value, as employees need to hear from them with reassurances and…
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Solving A Retirement Confidence Crisis
Why are women feeling overwhelmed?
by Sharon Scanlon
While change has seemed constant over the past several months, one thing has remained relatively steady — Americans’ confidence about retirement. Lincoln Financial’s Consumer Retirement Index (CRI) shows that despite the evolving COVID-19 situation and ongoing market volatility, about a quarter of Americans continue to say they are “very confident” about retirement.
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A Conversation with Dave Hanzlik
The Art of Proactive Dissuasion
by P.E. Kelley
The effect of market volatility can be disorienting, to say the least, to the point where you may have to proactively dissuade your clients from altering the plans they have in place. So, it is always good practice, but more so in times of crisis, to revisit and reestablish the goals that you have established…
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How Emerging Technologies Will Redefine, And Revolutionize, The Insurance Industry
Engineering competitive advantages through AI, ML & IoT
by Scott Quiana
Many industries around the world that have incorporated emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) to the internet of things (IoT) into their business models are already seeing significant benefits across many facets of their business.
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Sinking Fast
The threat student loan debt poses on retirement readiness
by Laurel Taylor
The rising costs of college and individual indebtedness have forced policymakers to consider student debt a growing threat to retirement savings. Collectively, Americans owe $1.6 trillion in student loan debt. Not to mention, it takes many borrowers up to 30-40 years to repay that debt.
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