The Summit – Blog
Heir apparent? Apparently not. Putting to rest the misconception of inheriting a pension
Pensions were adopted on a large scale in American society in an era of one-earner households as a way to provide the non-working spouse with a financial safety net in the event of the death of the wage-earner. Pensions are their own entities with their own written...
Crossing the COVID-19 finish line: When two Federal emergency declarations end on May 11, what are the employee benefit implications?
As COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths in the U.S. are on the decline, Americans have resumed a sense of normalcy for some time now—happy to put the pandemic behind them. Even so, Federal emergency declarations have remained in place or been extended for the...
Key Provision of SECURE 2.0 Could Better Equip Employees‘ Fighting Against A Screenshot In Retirement Benefit Disputes
Employer-based retirement assets grow as a result of hours or years spent working, payroll contributions and seniority determined by a complex formula of labor, financial contributions, and length of service to an employer. But, if an employee’s online records of...
You Have Long-Term Disability Insurance. Do You Really?
Recently, we participated in a mediation with a large national insurer who is showing up more and more in our litigation files. Our client is a thirty-year employee who suffered from a terrible spinal condition and failed back surgery. Three medical treating...
What’s an “Elimination Period” and an “Accumulation Period”?
Although extremely difficult on a personal level, most long-term disability claims based on a provable sickness or accident are relatively straightforward when it comes to insurance. A claim for long-term disability insurance is filed following a diagnosis or some...
Meaning Behind Conquer Tomorrow at Our Benefits Law Firm
Occasionally, someone will ask, ”why is there a mountaintop in your logo,” or “where did the trademark ‘Conquer Tomorrow’ come from?” The spirit behind our brand comes from a desire to help our clients conquer their legal challenges. In helping our clients reach their...
Why Benefits Law Matters to Us and You
Law should be used in a way that brings about meaningful change in society. When our firm began twenty-two years ago, an area that desperately needed change in Metro Detroit, Michigan, and across the nation was the way executives, employees and their families had to...
Making The Most of Your Free Law Firm Consultation
Nearly all law firms offer a “free consultation.” An initial consultation without cost is like a free estimate to fix a household problem. While legal issues are considerably more complex than common household fixes, treating a “free consultation” like a “free...
ONE LONG-TERM DISABILITY CLAIM; TWO DIFFERENT VIEWS. WHAT IS A CLAIMANT TO DO?
Most are familiar with the famous sketch of the simultaneous silhouette of the older and younger woman appearing within the same image. Both women can be seen within the same drawing. Depending on the viewer’s perspective, the image appears to be of one of two...