We post blog articles here regularly about financial, physical, and emotional wellness, and the steps working Americans can take to protect their income and strengthen their resilience, at home and in the workplace.
Affordability is a major concern for employers, with discussions frequently focusing on healthcare expenses, out-of-pocket costs, and wage pressures. Employees are facing similar financial challenges – and it’s impacting how they use and experience their benefits, including disability and leave.…
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Guiding Clients Through Disability Insurance Underwriting Disability insurance (DI) provides clients a vital financial safety net by replacing income if illness or injury prevents them from working. However, the underwriting process can sometimes be a hurdle for agents and clients. As a trusted advisor, guiding your clients through this process with clear communication and education…
Spring is an exciting season for the Council for Disability Income Awareness (CDIA). This blog kicks off our annual Spring Campaign, which, together with DIAM™, highlights the importance of disability income insurance for working Americans. Over the next few months, our member firms and industry experts will share blogs and videos each week. We encourage…
Launching a small business can feel overwhelming — and for parents with disabilities, it often requires additional planning and problem-solving. Still, entrepreneurship can offer a flexible, meaningful way to work when it’s designed around real life rather than traditional expectations, prioritizing stability, autonomy, and long-term sustainability. For many parents with disabilities, work is about more…
Six months ago, I wrote a blog titled “Joining the Sisterhood” that described my experience with the routines, exhaustion, fear, and strange sense of structure that cancer brought into my life. Over a month ago, I finished my treatment successfully, but I didn’t realize it would come with its own set of challenges, surprises, emotions,…
When your paycheck is your most valuable asset, you’d assume your employer-provided disability insurance coverage is enough. For many professionals earning six or seven figures, however, the truth is quite different. Standard group long-term disability (GLTD) insurance plans may offer protection, but they often leave high-income earners more exposed than others. Here’s why, and what…
Consider this: If you couldn’t work starting tomorrow, how long would your savings last? Unexpected events, like an injury or extended recovery, can drain resources quickly. That’s why Open Enrollment is a smart time to consider how your workplace benefits can help protect your income. Disability insurance benefits from your employer replace a portion of…
Thoughts on the term “disability” When most people hear the word disability, they often picture a wheelchair, a cane, or a designated handicap parking space. These visible markers have long shaped public perception of what it means to be disabled. But what if the challenges someone faces aren’t immediately apparent? Invisible disabilities encompass a broad and diverse…
When we talk about “benefits,” we usually mean financial ones—medical insurance, retirement security, and, of course, income protection. But there’s another kind of benefit that often goes overlooked: the health benefit of work itself. That was the focus of our recent CDIA webinar, Beyond the Paycheck: The Health Benefits of Work, which brought together voices from across…
My mom needed a lung transplant. Our family nearly faced the unthinkable: cutting off financial support to someone we loved most, at the hardest moment of her life. Almost — because she had a plan. And that made all the difference. What happened to us isn’t rare — it’s just rarely talked about. America’s financial…
Turning 60 felt like no big deal. I was in great shape and looking forward to a long, full future. Then everything changed overnight. After I saw my doctor for back pain and fatigue, blood tests revealed the awful truth: incurable cancer. When the call came, my wife and I sat in stunned silence. Me?…
An Introduction by Bob Herum, President, CDIA: The Fall Campaign and its theme reminded me of a recent blog written by Rick Cordaro, a peerless disability income sales representative. I met Rick at the first IDIS meeting in 2004 and was instantly drawn to his energy and ‘can-do’ attitude. He later served with me on…
It’s been more than 30 years since the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) became law — and what a journey it’s been. The ADA transformed how our nation views access, inclusion, and equality. We’ve made tremendous progress, yet there’s still more work to do. Looking Back: What the ADA Changed The ADA was a game-changer.…