Marli D. Riggs

In this rough economy consumers look to credit cards, an IRA or 401(k), even under the couch cushions for emergency cash. Many may be overlooking life insurance as a potential source of immediate funds, according to a recent survey by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.

With tuition costs on the rise, employees looking for ways to pay for their children's college education can save with 529 plans.

PinkPowerLadies.com is an online enrollment platform that helps insurance and financial professionals add cancer and critical illness policies to their portfolio. EBA spoke with the site's Chief Executive Kathy Glover and the site's partner Cary Rentner, president of cancerplans.com.

As another open enrollment season comes to a close, millions of consumers are finalizing their benefits packages for 2012. Unfortunately, more than half of insured adults are confused with several important aspects related to choosing a health insurance plan, reveals a survey released Monday.

As high-deductible and consumer-driven health plans continue to increase in popularity, EBA spoke with Nitra LaGrander, a product manager at Evolution1, a provider of electronic payment, on-premise and cloud computing health care solutions, for tips on how plan participants who are new to these types of plans can easily access their online accounts and take charge of managing their health care dollars.

Robert Fine has not only dedicated more than four decades to serving employers and their employees through the insurance and financial services industry, but the owner of Robert Fine & Associates also strives to give back to the community as a whole that's helped him flourish in every way that he can.

Eighteen months after passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, group medical benefits costs are on the rise once again, according to The November Employee Benefits Market Survey conducted by The Council of Insurance Agents & Brokers.

While 88% of small business owners do not think it is right for the government to force a state resident to buy health insurance, more than 90% of them do not intend on purchasing health coverage under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

Consumers who receive a financial needs analysis are more likely to buy life insurance, and purchase larger face amounts, than those who don’t receive an analysis, according to LIMRA’s 2011 U.S. Buyer-Nonbuyer study.

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners on Tuesday passed a resolution urging the Department of Health and Human Services to take action to preserve the role of professional health insurance agents and brokers as advisers and advocates. The National Association of Health Underwriters praises the NAIC for the move.

The Supreme Court announced Monday that it will hear cases on the constitutionality of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in March with a ruling expected by the end of June.

Millennials are by far the most confident about their ability to make the right benefit decisions, with 96% feeling “highly confident” versus 66% of Gen Xers and 64% of baby boomers, according to a recent survey conducted by The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America. However, nearly 80% of employees spend less than two hours evaluating their group medical, dental, life and disability insurance options and those same Millennials are in danger of being uninsured, according to the survey.

More than 30% of respondents say overweight or obese individuals should have to fork out more for health insurance, according to the most recent Thomas Reuters-NPR Health Poll.

More than two-thirds of wellness plan participants find the health care system easier to navigate with the help of an adviser, according to an OptumHealth case study.

Employers implementing wellness programs not only will help lower health-related costs, but their employees will be more engaged and productive while on the clock.

EBA searched far and wide to find 10 "Rising Stars in Advising" who are making a name for themselves and will lead the next generation of advisers. We're delighted to introduce them.

For executives and other high net worth individuals, an emerging voluntary benefit addition is survivorship life insurance - an area benefits professionals may want to explore when crafting executive benefits packages.

WageWorks Inc. is sponsoring a consumer education campaign which provides resources and tips on the advantages and proper uses of pre-tax benefits. Save Smart, Spend Healthy’s focus expands this year to include information on pre-tax dependent care and commuter benefits, in addition to health care flexible spending accounts.

The American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance announced last week that it will publish its third consumer-focused advertorial section, entitled “Fresh Perspectives on Long-Term Care Planning" in the December issue of Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine.

Executives, business owners and other high net worth individuals are actively looking for ways to preserve their estates, not only for their family members, but also for charitable organizations.