Some say that life insurance is, well, boring; it lacks the sizzle of a long-term care policy or critical illness product. Even so, life insurance of all stripes remains relevant and vital to today's employee.

As of Jan. 1, 2009, all life insurance carriers must employ the new 2001 Commissioners Standard Ordinary mortality and morbidity table. The American Academy of Actuaries Web page offers substantial detail of the new tables and how they work.

Carriers already have or are developing new products using the new CSO tables and this could translate into a flurry of innovative product designs and new opportunities for brokers to provide ample coverage for their clients beyond the one-to-three times their salary they receive with group term.