But, at the same time, these businesses are in a holding pattern. Despite their optimism, they are waiting to take action. In the survey, only a third plan to add jobs, which is down from last year. Nearly two-thirds said that they have surplus capital but three-quarters of them aren't spending it. Why?

The top items that are having the greatest impact on their decisions are health care costs and concerns around economic growth. But, despite these pressures, employers genuinely care about their employees and are looking for ways to help them without compromising their own financial future. Voluntary benefits are an effective solution.

With all that in mind, here are my own points of interest when it comes to voluntary benefits:

• Cost is the main reason why employers don't offer benefits and many of them are unaware that voluntary benefits are available with no premium cost to them. 
• Voluntary benefits can lead to significantly increased employee satisfaction, which is a tenant of attracting and retaining talent.
• When the financial stressors that employees feel are reduced, productivity and attendance increase.
• Voluntary programs are diverse and offer a wide variety of options from traditional insurance to worksite solutions that can fill gaps in coverage (such as critical illness) to non-traditional benefits like telemedicine or pet insurance. 
• Newer defined contribution strategies are giving employers flexible and cost effective alternatives for funding their benefits.

These are all items that demonstrate why growth is occurring in the voluntary market. But as employees accept more responsibility for their choices, they will need a greater level of support in the way of communication, education and enrollment assistance as well. And, you should be able to rely on the carrier for that support and technology because, to be best in class, it will be essential that carriers manage both a relationship with the employer and a separate relationship with the employee.

If your carrier of choice can't manage both of those relationships, you should look at other carriers because these are the ones who will be winners in the voluntary space.    

Lastly, according to The Principal Well-Being Index, six out of 10 business owners are turning to financial professionals for guidance. Yes, you make the difference in helping business owners find these and other new options to satisfy their objectives.

As you engage with clients, I suspect that you'll find some employers who are willing to put some of their optimism to work, who are willing to further invest in their business and expand their employer provided benefit programs. Others, however, may be hesitant and may choose to shift the cost to their employees through a voluntary program. 

Either way, your role is key to the process — especially in an era of increased personal responsibility.