Preventing Ransomware Attacks in School Districts

March 14, 2026
Agent7

Ransomware attacks on school districts are no longer rare events — they are targeted, disruptive, and expensive. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, ransomware continues to be one of the most prevalent cyber threats impacting public institutions, including K-12 schools. For districts, the consequences go beyond financial loss. Instructional time is disrupted. Sensitive student […]

The 2026 Specialty Drug Surge: What Employers Need to Prepare For

March 13, 2026
Agent7

Specialty drugs have been a major cost driver for years, but 2026 marks a significant shift in both scale and urgency. With GLP‑1 medications expanding into new indications, gene therapies entering the market at record pace, and oncology drugs continuing to rise in both cost and utilization, specialty medications are projected to account for more […]

Young happy woman receives support from attenders of group therapy at mental health center.

The New Era of Mental Health Parity Enforcement in 2026

March 12, 2026
Agent7

Federal agencies have made mental health parity enforcement a top priority in 2026, and employers sponsoring group health plans are feeling the impact. Regulators are no longer satisfied with high‑level assurances that plans comply with the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA). Instead, they expect detailed, data‑driven documentation showing that mental health and […]

The Case for Guaranteed Retirement Income • The Insurance Pro Blog

Should You Borrow Against Your Life Insurance? When It Makes Sense • The Insurance Pro Blog

March 11, 2026
Agent7

The Case Against When Borrowing Against Your Life Insurance Doesn’t Make Sense The flexibility of a policy loan is a genuine advantage. But flexibility without discipline can create serious problems — some of which don’t become visible until years later. When You Have No Repayment Plan The most common mistake we see is treating a […]

Fiduciary Responsibilities for Employer Health Plans: What Employers Should Know Now

March 10, 2026
Agent7

When employers think about fiduciary responsibility, retirement plans often come to mind first. But recent developments make it clear that fiduciary duties also matter—sometimes significantly—when it comes to employer-sponsored health and welfare plans. Federal law requires employers that sponsor ERISA-covered benefit plans to act in the best interests of plan participants and beneficiaries. While many […]

When Does IUL Underperform Whole Life?

March 9, 2026
Agent7

Other Crediting Methods Participation Rates and Spreads: Where Are the Breaking Points? Not every indexed universal life insurance policy uses a simple cap rate on the S&P 500. Some use uncapped index accounts where the participation rate or a spread becomes the controlling variable instead. We analyzed both. Participation rates A participation rate determines what […]

Why Your Account Balance Isn’t the Number That Matters • The Insurance Pro Blog

March 8, 2026
Agent7

Consider two people, both 65, both retiring this year, both needing roughly $6,000 a month to live comfortably. On paper, one looks far more “successful” than the other. In practice, the picture is more interesting than that. Hypothetical example for illustrative purposes only. Individual results vary based on specific products, timing, and personal circumstances. Person […]

What is an Annuity?

March 7, 2026
Agent7

Decision Framework How to Think About Whether an Annuity Belongs in Your Plan An annuity isn’t a universal solution. It’s not the right product for every person or every dollar. But for certain problems, it’s the most efficient tool available — and the conversation deserves more nuance than the blanket opinions you’ll find in most […]

An Honest Look at Who It Works For • The Insurance Pro Blog

March 6, 2026
Agent7

Long-Term Success What Makes Whole Life Insurance Work Over Time The people who get the most value from whole life insurance share a set of behavioral traits that matter just as much as their financial profile. They’re patient Evaluating a whole life policy after one, two, or even three years will consistently lead to disappointment. […]

The Case for Guaranteed Retirement Income • The Insurance Pro Blog

March 5, 2026
Agent7

None of this means everyone should rush out and annuitize half their retirement savings. Individual circumstances vary. Your health, your other income sources, your legacy goals, and your comfort level all factor into whether a single premium immediate annuity makes sense — and if so, how much to allocate. But the default assumption is worth […]