{
  "author": {
    "name": "David S Shymkus",
    "webUrl": "/author/profile/david-s-shymkus/",
    "description": "",
    "imageLarge": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/f16d6fc2845f417ea0e93a3f2b6cd37d?s=136&d=mm&r=g",
    "estimate": 6,
    "social": [],
    "articles": [
      {
        "uri": "/2009/12/16/are-you-ready-for-a-new-normal/",
        "title": "Are you ready for a new \"normal\"?",
        "byline": "David S. Shymkus",
        "kicker": "",
        "prettyDate": "December 16, 2009",
        "timeToRead": "2 minute",
        "image": {
          "uri": "",
          "width": "",
          "height": ""
        },
        "authors": [
          {
            "webUrl": "/author/profile/david-s-shymkus/",
            "name": "David S. Shymkus"
          }
        ],
        "kickerNode": [],
        "summary": "I have a good friend who is a police officer working the night shift and I asked him one time about what his average night consists of. I was thinking that his job resembled something on one of those action-packed police shows.",
        "body": null
      },
      {
        "uri": "/2009/04/29/is-the-arra-encouraging-bad-behavior/",
        "title": "Is the ARRA encouraging bad behavior?",
        "byline": "David S. Shymkus",
        "kicker": "",
        "prettyDate": "April 29, 2009",
        "timeToRead": "3 minute",
        "image": {
          "uri": "",
          "width": "",
          "height": ""
        },
        "authors": [
          {
            "webUrl": "/author/profile/david-s-shymkus/",
            "name": "David S. Shymkus"
          }
        ],
        "kickerNode": [],
        "summary": "I'm sure by now everyone involved in the benefits business has read about the new COBRA provisions in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, aka \"The Stimulus Package.\" If you don't know a lick about it, then you had",
        "body": null
      },
      {
        "uri": "/2009/03/11/the-devil-is-in-the-details/",
        "title": "The devil is in the details",
        "byline": "David S. Shymkus",
        "kicker": "",
        "prettyDate": "March 11, 2009",
        "timeToRead": "4 minute",
        "image": {
          "uri": "",
          "width": "",
          "height": ""
        },
        "authors": [
          {
            "webUrl": "/author/profile/david-s-shymkus/",
            "name": "David S. Shymkus"
          }
        ],
        "kickerNode": [],
        "summary": "\"Everything proceeds as if of its own accord, and this can all too easily tempt us to relax and let things take their course without troubling over details. Such indifference is the root of all evil.\" (I Ching). I learned this all too",
        "body": null
      },
      {
        "uri": "/2009/02/04/when-to-aor-and-when-not-to/",
        "title": "When to AOR, and when not to",
        "byline": "David S. Shymkus",
        "kicker": "",
        "prettyDate": "February 04, 2009",
        "timeToRead": "3 minute",
        "image": {
          "uri": "",
          "width": "",
          "height": ""
        },
        "authors": [
          {
            "webUrl": "/author/profile/david-s-shymkus/",
            "name": "David S. Shymkus"
          }
        ],
        "kickerNode": [],
        "summary": "I have never been a big fan of obtaining business on an Agent of Record (AOR) letter. Somehow it just doesn't seem right to simply have the business owner sign a one-page letter to give you their business when you've not been around to",
        "body": null
      },
      {
        "uri": "/2009/01/07/a-parable-from-the-old-prospector/",
        "title": "A parable from the old prospector",
        "byline": "David S. Shymkus",
        "kicker": "",
        "prettyDate": "January 07, 2009",
        "timeToRead": "4 minute",
        "image": {
          "uri": "",
          "width": "",
          "height": ""
        },
        "authors": [
          {
            "webUrl": "/author/profile/david-s-shymkus/",
            "name": "David S. Shymkus"
          }
        ],
        "kickerNode": [],
        "summary": "Since we are now in the new year, I thought I would consider some business and personal goals. Why put off an assignment you could (or should) have done in December 2008, when you can do it now, right? Actually I did start earlier, but failed to",
        "body": null
      },
      {
        "uri": "/2008/12/03/use-your-company-representatives-wisely/",
        "title": "Use your company representatives wisely",
        "byline": "David S. Shymkus",
        "kicker": "",
        "prettyDate": "December 03, 2008",
        "timeToRead": "4 minute",
        "image": {
          "uri": "",
          "width": "",
          "height": ""
        },
        "authors": [
          {
            "webUrl": "/author/profile/david-s-shymkus/",
            "name": "David S. Shymkus"
          }
        ],
        "kickerNode": [],
        "summary": "Some of us in the insurance and benefits business tend to think we know everything. Can you imagine that? Though I've been in insurance since the Baltimore Colts of the NFL moved to Indianapolis, I'm still in learning mode. It's",
        "body": null
      }
    ]
  }
}