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A consumer guide that provides basic training for navigating the healthcare system. To get the best care, consumers must be active partners in their care. The enormous growth and complexity of the healthcare system is one of the key drivers. Patients can no longer rely on their health providers to know every surgical or pharmacological solution.

Many affluent families are willing to spend significant amounts on out of pocket medical expenditures but want to maintain good protection from catastrophic medical expenditures. All families today need to plan for adequate coverage, especially when serious illness is diagnosed or when individuals face transitions which affect their coverage like ...

While flawed thinking about risk can cause consumers to make decisions they like at the time, they may end up with poorer health prospects and more financial risk than if they had followed a model known as "expected utility maximization," according to Mark V. Pauly, Wharton professor of health care.

As a collector of fine art, you are more than just the owner of your valuable items – you're also the caretaker. Purchasing valuable articles coverage is one of the best ways to help protect your investment. However, there are several preventative and maintenance steps you should take to both properly care for and help prevent damage or loss to you...

Researchers tested the effectiveness of life insurance's investment characteristics in three estate scenarios under a Monte Carlo analysis involving three different investment portfolios. Their results show life insurance creates more wealth regardless of when death occurs for even the most liquid, well planned estate.

While the tax advantages of life insurance are important, pricing is also critical. Access to policies priced specifically for ultra-wealthy individuals can enhance planning effectiveness and deliver significant value over time.

The major rating agencies have published a number of reports highlighting the favorable trends for the life/annuity and health insurance industry. This paper provides a synopsis of recent reports from A.M Best, Standard & Poor's, Fitch and Moody's.

Given the evolution and complexity of the insurance industry, due diligence on carriers, products and advisors is more important than ever, especially for families of significant wealth. Examination of carriers must go beyond rating services; analysis of products must go beyond illustrations, and selection of an advisor must go beyond initial numbe...

The financial risks associated with unplanned health care events need to be part of the financial planning process to guard against negative impacts to an investment portfolio or retirement income plan in the event of a catastrophe.

Private split dollar can help freeze an estate, minimize gift taxes, provide access to cash values, and finance needed or desired insurance for family members. Properly structured, death benefits may be excluded from the insured's taxable estate and even passed to many successive generations if a dynasty-type trust is used.

The FTC is seeking input on this report, which proposes safeguards for data gathered online and offline from consumers. The three main areas addressed are privacy by design in all business practices, simplified privacy choice for consumers and greater transparency related to company data policies.

Directors and officers at private companies have reason to be concerned about potential U.S. securities exposures, leading savvy private firms to adjust their internal compliance and governance structures to more closely resemble those of their public counterparts. They also are taking a closer look at their D&O liability insurance programs.

Frontier markets are considered to be low-liquidity outsiders beyond developed and emerging markets. They offer the potential for strong long-term returns and diversification benefits at a reasonable level of volatility. However, they come with significant risks that need to be factored into an investment strategy.

The holidays are a time for relaxing with family and friends. Unfortunately, criminals use this time to shift into high gear. Crime statistics from October indicate this year will be no exception to the historical trend, but you can take steps to help avoid becoming a victim of burglary or theft.

In the post-Madoff era, the foundation and non-profit sector continues to struggle with how to invest philanthropic assets most appropriately and how to ensure that boards and staff are managing investments prudently.