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While the causes of climate change may be for up for debate, its impact on our economy and potential adjustments to business models are not. For example, rampant coastal flooding in South Florida has prompted at least one research institute to predict insurers will stop offering homeowners policies in the region. As a result, the…

In July, the Trump administration proposed an initiative requiring greater transparency in health care pricing. Specifically, the proposal would require hospitals to publish prices negotiated with insurers for individual services. However, studies have shown that consumers seldom use this type of information to shop for lower prices, presumably because their insurance pays for a large…

Recessions have consequences, and the Great Recession of 2008 may have produced one of the most influential consequences of all: the millennial mindset. Because of their early experiences in the “real world,” this generation is poised to have long-term significance — comparable to baby boomers — in work, play and politics. If you think boomers…

According to Zurich North America’s chief claims officer, natural hazards are more common and more damaging than in the past. The time to act and reduce future risk is now, particularly when it comes to nationwide infrastructure. For example, U.S. roads and bridges were simply not built for the severity and frequency of storms and…

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reports that Social Security beneficiaries have lost $6.7 million in two months resulting from a new, highly effective scam. This is how it works: Someone calls you and says they are with the Social Security Administration (SSA), stating they regret to inform you that your Social Security payments have been…

Artificial intelligence (AI) is not just for Amazon’s Alexa anymore. Health care patients are starting to see more mainstream uses of AI-enabled tools, such as:1  Robot-assisted surgery  Virtual nursing assistants that stay in contact with both patients and providers Connected health management devices that you can download on your smartphone, wear on your body or…

Today, more Americans are getting their life insurance through their employer rather than purchasing a policy on the individual market, according to LIMRA, an industry market research firm.1 At the same time, fewer employers are offering life insurance as a benefit. LIMRA research showed 23 percent fewer employers offered life insurance in 2017 compared with…

These days people are more transient, less grounded by geographical roots and familial connections. Perhaps we have become more willing to move when life throws us lemons — choosing to make lemonade somewhere else. Economists track migration trends, and cities watch such data closely. One recent study by real estate brokerage Redfin revealed that the…

One of the key principles of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act was that reforms were rendered so simple that taxpayers could complete their form 1040 on a postcard. Last summer, the IRS unveiled a new tax return postcard just for this purpose.1 The reality, however, is that taxes are never simple, and simplicity…

When are we happiest? A new study by the Resolution Foundation reveals that the two ages when people tend to be their happiest are 16 and 70.1 This makes sense when you think about it. Sixteen is often the first time children get a taste of independence — they’re old enough to drive and yet…