Heart health shouldn't be taken for granted, especially when heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women according to the CDC. Annually, around 600,000 people die from a form of heart disease in the United States. Coronary heart disease, in particular, kills 385,000 people everyyear.

All you need for a workplace strain or sprain to occur are stairs or a floor. While there has been an encouraging decline in workplace injuries overall, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a slight increase in musculoskeletal injuries classified as sprains, strains, and tears. And, that includes an increase in injuries to the lumbar region, which are typically long-term and expensive to care for.

Another installment of the Olympic Games has come and gone. The journey of an Olympic athlete represents perhaps the ultimate metaphor for grit: passion and commitment to a long-term goal.

The property and casualty marketplace evolved favorably in 2013. According to the Insurance Services Office (ISO), despite persistently low interest rates undermining insurer investment returns over the past few years, the industry experienced an increase in underwriting profits in 2013, as follows:

It’s been a cold and snowy winter and the spring thaw will soon be upon us. We’ve had record snow accumulation, which could lead to flood issues in the near future. The National Weather Service is also predicting above average rainfall during the months of March through May.

A common question this time of year is whether you need a flood insurance policy? You don’t have to be in a designated flood zone area in order to purchase a flood policy. Water backup is not flood coverage, and flood is not a peril covered under most homeowners’ insurance policies.

It’s February. Is your 2014 off to the kind of start you wanted? It’s not too late to turn the ship around. Even with an uncertain economic and regulatory climate, leaders of businesses large and small have a great opportunity to step up their game.

Recently I visited with my friend and business advisor Tom Searcy, co-founder of Through Eagles Eyes. He talked about how difficult the past half dozen years have been for many organizations. Beyond the headwinds of cost control, unengaged employees, and some of the slowest GDP growth in our nation’s history, Tom pointed to the unprecedented level of reputation damage we’ve witnessed as leaders cut corners.

When Health Care Reform takes effect, companies with more than 50 employees will either offer health care benefits or face penalties. And the choice isn’t as straightforward as it may sound. In many instances companies will save money by paying the fines rather than funding a health care plan. Others will lose money if they drop coverage.

Most employers would like to offer the benefit, but it needs to be truly affordable.

Life Insurance….you know it’s something you need, but it’s something that’s often put-off till later or never purchased at all.  When purchasing life insurance many questions come to mind.  Some of the most common questions are listed below:

What if I Don’t Die?

This is the most common question when buying term life insurance.  When the policy term is over, you get nothing if you’re still alive.  Most people are happy to still be alive, but others focus on the premiums that have disappeared.  Sometimes, this leads to people waiting till later in life to purchase a policy.  This can be risky because it means higher premiums, or the possibility that you are no longer insurable.  Most people are in need of life insurance while their family is young and they have financial obligations such as college education for their children, a mortgage, etc.

Some carriers offer a term policy with a return of premium option.  This policy returns all paid in premiums back to you, in one tax-free lump sum, if you are still alive at the end of the policy term.  It also offers a conversion option.  You can forego the lump sum and convert to a policy that will pay the death benefit to your beneficiary upon your death, without paying in any additional premiums.  The death benefit is lower than the original face value but still a great option, especially if you happen to be uninsurable at the end of your policy term.

If you want permanent life insurance coverage, which means the policy will pay the face value to your beneficiary upon your death, then you might want to consider whole life insurance.  This type of insurance is usually more costly than term insurance and depending on the payment plan you choose, you could end up paying premiums your entire life.

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) established new guidelines to regulate and encourage the use of workplace wellness programs. In 2014, these rules allow employers to increase incentives or rewards offered as part of a health-contingent wellness program, provided the program follows certain guidelines.

We are fortunate to have a very talented team at Gibson. Seeing them put their various strengths to work in the name of our #1 core value, Clients Come First, is one of my greatest joys. I feel blessed to work with a group of folks so devoted to excellence.