I've spent the better part of the last decade covering the insurance industry, and in that time, I've seen an enormous amount of change. From the market downturn of 2008 to the years-long battle over PPACA to the recent technological threats posed by robo-advice and cloud-based HR software, disruption has been the name of the game.

This ongoing tumult has created a steady stream of storylines and breaking news—never a dull moment. My favorite part about covering the industry, though, has been getting to know the people. 

A few years ago, I met John Nichols, a disability benefits consultant who embodies the spirit of resilience. In 1993, Nichols was the partner at one of the nation's largest providers of disability insurance. One weekend, while waterskiing with friends at a lake in Wisconsin, he suffered a broken neck and was paralyzed from the chin down.

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Paul Wilson

Paul Wilson is the editor-in-chief of BenefitsPRO Magazine and BenefitsPRO.com. He has covered the insurance industry for more than a decade, including stints at Retirement Advisor Magazine and ProducersWeb.