Theres a lot of speculation from the industry about this deal. Will it create more customer touchpoints or vertical experiences? Will there be additional mergers? What is the future of brick and mortar stores? Instead of getting caught up in the unknown, at times like this, I like to keep...

Repealing the mandate, even as a stand-alone measure, now seems to me to pose fewer dangers than it once did.

The merger has important potential ramifications for benefits advisors, who currently own a significant piece of the benefits experience via employee benefits decision-making, purchasing, and management.

Here's a bad mix hitting some parts of the U.S.: A housing affordability crisis, underemployment, banks that offer loose credit, and debt-stricken retirees.

Two thirds of 50+ parents have financially supported a child 21 or older over the past five years, according to a new report -- jeopardizing their retirement savings.

A survey by the American Benefits Council, finds that 27 percent of employees consider tax deferral on contributions to employer-sponsored retirement savings as the most important tax benefit to them over the next 10 years, with health insurance coming in a close second.

Along with the oceans and the temperature, the retirement age worldwide is rising.

In part 2 of this episode, we will ask David Contorno, President of Lake Norman Benefits and Benefits PROs 2015 Broker of the Year, about performance-based compensation and his belief that it puts advisors in a much better long-term position.