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In the annuity world, a rider is an optional enhancement to the benefits, protections and guarantees in your annuity contract.

They can help you customize your annuity to meet your individual needs or solve financial problems involving retirement income. This item explains some of the best and most popular riders for your annuity.

We hear the stories every day: People dying suddenly from heart attacks or freak car accidents. That makes us think, what if that happened to me?

Consider these 10 reasons for owning life insurance to protect your family and loved ones. 

The more your home is worth, the trickier it is to make sure that it and all of its contents are covered properly and that you are not paying too much premium.

First off, a typical homeowner's insurance policy may not be suitable for your home. If you have a high-value estate with expensive furnishings, décor and collectibles, you will need specialized insurance to cover your property and assets for damage or loss. What are your options to make sure any claims you make are covered to the fullest?

With cannabis legal in 40 states for medical use and 24 states for recreational use, many people may be confused about the legality of driving after using pot.

While all states have laws prohibiting driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, many people who live in states with medical marijuana laws think it's okay to get behind the wheel after using the substance. Being arrested for driving under the influence of marijuana is a serious offense, but there are many differences in terms of standard of proof.

If you own or operate a business whose inventory varies throughout the year, a traditional commercial property insurance policy may not be sufficient in case of a large loss.

If your commercial property policy limits are based on the average inventory your organization carries throughout the year, and you have a total loss during a period when you are carrying additional inventory, your policy may not cover your losses in total. Conversely, if you set your policy limits based on the times when you have peak inventory, you may be overpaying for coverage.

It would be nice if everything could be done with a gentlemen's agreement. But it's important to get things down on paper in a written contract. That's especially vital for high-dollar, complex items like construction projects — which require big investments up front, large commitments of capital and labor. 

Here are the essential elements of a sound construction contract that can withstand adversity and protect the interests of both sides.

For businesses that suffer property damage, getting repairs or rebuilding completed on time and within budget is becoming an uphill battle.

A mix of inflation, supply chain challenges leading to material shortages, a tight construction labor market and the inherent complexity of commercial construction have pushed costs higher and stretched timelines longer. This can leave a company unable to operate or producing revenue at only partial capacity while they wait.

With health insurance costs continuing to climb, many employers are finding that standard medical coverage alone doesn't offer enough financial protection for their staff.

Rising deductibles, higher out-of-pocket maximums and the soaring cost of care are pushing workers to look for other ways to fill the gaps. Employers can step in to meet that need with voluntary benefits.

As cancer rates rise among working adults, treatment has become one of the fastest-rising expenses in employer-sponsored health plans, according to a new survey.

The survey by the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans (IFEBP) found that 86% of employers have seen their cancer care spending increase over the past year, with a median rise of 11%, making it one of the most significant contributors to overall health care cost growth.

As more employees are diagnosed with cancer, here's what employers are doing to tackle the increase in the cost of care for their population.

With employers bracing for another steep rise in health care expenses, many are preparing "disruptive" changes, according to a new report.

Employers surveyed for the "WTW 2025 Best Practices in Healthcare Survey" said they anticipate their health care costs to increase by 9% in 2026. They told researchers they can't simply absorb the increases or pass them on in full to employees, and instead hope to chip away at costs through a multi-pronged approach.

If you view annual open enrollment as a simple box-checking exercise, you're likely missing out on helping your staff get the most out of the benefits you provide.

Instead, if you approach open enrollment as a chance to strengthen employee engagement, control costs and help your workforce understand the full value of your benefits program, you'll likely boost participation and satisfaction among your staff. Here are seven steps to getting open enrollment right.

Some see retirement as a time to start a new career. Others see it as a time to travel. Still others plan to spend more time with family and friends.

If you have thought about it, good for you. If you haven't, you should. It's a worthwhile exercise that can help you make plans so you can live out your years doing what you want. With that in mind, here are some things to consider.