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For many people, the word "annuity" immediately brings investments to mind. They compare annuity returns with stock market returns and wonder whether annuities will outperform other financial products.

That approach may miss the point.

Financial professionals increasingly say the best way to think about an annuity is not as an investment, but as a form of longevity insurance.

More Americans are viewing retirement as a transition rather than a destination. Instead of focusing on a specific retirement age, many say they'll retire when it feels right financially and personally, a new study has found.

The encouraging news is that more people are preparing for that future. But due to rapidly growing costs and concerns that they have not saved enough to live comfortably, more than six in 10 respondents said they plan to transition gradually into retirement. How can you financially plan for a gradual retirement?

For many retirees, required minimum distributions are one of the first major tax-related responsibilities they face after leaving the workforce. While the rules are straightforward once you understand them, simple mistakes can result in unnecessary taxes, penalties or missed planning opportunities.

The RMD rules dictate when you must start taking distributions from your retirement accounts and how much you must take each year. Here are some of the most common RMD pitfalls and how to avoid them.

Employers that offer prescription drug coverage will need to take a fresh look at whether their plans qualify as creditable coverage after the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services finalized rules that take effect for plan years beginning on or after Jan. 1, 2027.

Individual coverage health reimbursement arrangements have attracted growing interest from employers looking for an alternative to traditional group health plans.

However, a new survey suggests that rising Affordable Care Act Marketplace premiums following the expiration of enhanced federal subsidies may become one of the biggest obstacles to broader adoption.

As Americans live longer, many of the country's workers are balancing job responsibilities with caregiving duties — contributing to higher stress, lower productivity and increased burnout.

Caregiving demands can lead to absenteeism, distraction, fatigue and scheduling conflicts, while the emotional strain of supporting loved ones may reduce engagement and increase the risk of mistakes or accidents, which can turn into costly blowback for your organization. Don't lose a key employee to this growing problem.

The U.S. Department of Labor has proposed a rule that would make electronic delivery the default for delivering many required health plan notices, a move that could significantly reduce paperwork and administrative costs for employers.

For employers, the proposal could substantially reduce the time and expense of printing, stuffing and mailing millions of required benefits notices each year. Employees may also find it easier to access important plan information on their phones or computers whenever they need it.

Ransomware attacks on manufacturers are increasing, and criminals are becoming adept at shutting down production for days, weeks and even months, costing victimized firms millions of dollars in production losses and disrupted sales.

As cybercriminals grow more sophisticated, manufacturers have become prime targets. Modern factories rely on interconnected production equipment, industrial control systems and enterprise software to keep operations moving. When those systems are compromised, the effects can ripple across an entire organization.

As hybrid work becomes permanent in many workplaces, employers have struggled with a recurring wage-and-hour question: If a non-exempt employee works from home and in the office on the same day, does the drive between those locations become compensable time?

A growing social media phenomenon known as the "teen takeover" is creating new liability concerns for owners of shopping centers, strip malls and other retail properties.

Organized on social media, these gatherings can attract hundreds of teenagers to a shopping center, beach, park or even a street with little warning. While many begin as informal meetups, some have escalated into fights, vandalism, theft, assaults or other criminal activity. What can a commercial property owner do?

New survey data shows that entrepreneurs recognize the importance of prioritizing business insurance early but may slack off in later years as they wrestle with the costs and cash-flow issues of running a small business.

The findings echo earlier research showing that many business owners struggle to understand what their insurance policies cover and often purchase only the minimum coverage required by law. As businesses grow, their risks may change but their insurance may not keep pace. That can be a costly mistake.

Southern California Edison says it has offered more than $750 million to homeowners, renters, businesses and others through a new voluntary program for losses caused by the Eaton Fire, which devastated parts of Altadena and Pasadena in January 2025.

The Wildfire Recovery Compensation Program was created to provide an alternative to what could be years of litigation. Rather than waiting for lawsuits to work their way through the courts, eligible claimants can submit claims directly to SCE.  Here's how it works.