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The National Association of Health Underwriters held its annual convention in late June amid a mood of apprehension, as the attendees expected a Supreme Court ruling on health care reform during the convention.

The primary cause of stress, points out James Werner, CEO of Wealth Habit, is finances. With the average employer spending just under 9% of payroll on extended disability absences - most of which are related to stress - Werner believes an increased focus on financial wellness in the workplace has the potential to not only help employees save, but also save their employers "hundreds of thousands, or even billions, of dollars a year."

Private enterprise is limbering up for the 2012 EBN-EBA Financial Fitness Challenge, an online financial-education program sponsored by Employee Benefit News and Employee Benefit Adviser in partnership with Educated Investor, a provider of financial education products. Organizations of all types and sizes, from Walmart to Woodchuck Hard Cider, are taking part in the Challenge, which began last month.

In her career as sales director at ITG Worldwide, Kristin Ash emphasizes the importance of informing plan sponsors and plan participants about the risks associated with traveling and working overseas. EBA spoke with Ash about her success and the benefits of adding international coverage to a broker's portfolio.

The 1988 Paralympic Games in South Korea changed my outlook on disability - and ultimately helped shift the focus of my group benefits career to disability income insurance and instilled a strong belief in an advocacy-based approach.

There is no question that the Supreme Court upholding the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in a 5-4 ruling has solidified, for now, the change in the country's health care market that took form when President Barack Obama signed the legislation into law in March 2010.

In a profession on the brink of radical change, advisers need deeper insight, more analysis, and broader perspectives. They need actionable, timely information in the formats in which they can best absorb it. And they need it now.

7:00 a.m. The morning begins with checking my smartphone and going through LinkedIn and Twitter. I then check emails and respond accordingly.

For decades, health care consumers have been told once you have a problem, then you should go to the doctor. But now, as high-deductible health plans become ever more prevalent, employers are encouraging employees to go to the doctor first - before they get sick - and in turn the employer will often cover the visit at 100%.

Most experts are predicting massive consolidation among DC record keepers - with the big push just about to begin, especially with four national record keepers representing more than 100,000 defined contribution plans likely to change ownership in the next few months.