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Beyond Wall Street's Myth: The Little Guy Will Be A-OK Under New Fiduciary Definition (PDF)

"The employer and employees have a one in a million shot to successfully sue the advisor if XYZ tanks and ABC soars. But the employees have a much greater shot to successfully sue the employer that thought it did its homework and relied upon the advisor who gets off scot-free. The DOL proposal makes certain advisors in certain conditions 'fiduciaries' under ERISA. It also extends that fiduciary definition to advisors, brokers, etc. of IRAs.... The DOL is targeting the advisor who provides advice and gets paid for it, requiring a common sense degree of honesty currently not required. If you are an employer, employee, or IRA owner, ... you should be thrilled if the regulation becomes law."

The Cost of Unhealthy Behavior

"[The target page provides some of the key points of] an interview of Dr Steven Aldana conducted by WELCOA president Dr David Hunnicut."

Survey Indicates Salary Continuation/STD is the Black Hole for Cost and Control

Excerpt: The International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans recently completed a survey of their membership on Salary Continuation and Short Term Disability (STD)[.]

Forced Reversal of 45% of LTD Denials Means Something is Wrong

Excerpt: In an announcement May 5, 2008 The Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance released a report documenting the results of a multi-state settlement concerning disability claim practices by Unum and its subsidiaries since 2004 and the results are fascinating; 45.1% of group LTD claim decisions were reversed resulting in an additional $558.6M of additional benefits either paid or reserved for future benefit payment.... Keep in mind the majority of these contracts were likely to be ERISA plans.

2006 Survey of Surviving Spouses on the Financial Impact of Premature Death: How Much of a Death Benefit is Enough?

Excerpt: MetLife completed a survey of surviving spouses several years ago which provides insight into what amounts of life insurance were adequate.

Who Are These Guys? Why the PCORI Picks Matter a Lot More Than You Probably Realize

"PCORI isn't a church, where all are created equal in the eyes of God, but a politically created, politically governed, controversial dispenser of a very large amount of money that a host of interest groups would like to control. PCORI staff chose the panel members in part by looking at their affiliations, and those connections (or lack of them) should be an immediate part of the public record when the appointments are announced. By being vague, PCORI obfuscates political and power relationships and makes it more difficult for the public and industry stakeholders to either approve of or criticize those choices."