The latest Aflac WorkForces Report claimed 51 percent of brokers “are only slightly, or not at all confident about the future of their firm and their industry.” For those who haven't diversified their product lines, moved more into services, increased fee income, or moved into voluntary in a big way, they should be concerned.

Many point to Obamacare and its potential impact on medical commissions as the culprit. And while it's true most brokers have only recently heeded the well-publicized changes, the larger trends have been visible since the turn of the century.

One picture of benefits, taken late last year, showed that traditional employer-paid benefits represented a minority of current offerings, with most employers having already moved to voluntary/contributory designs. In this sample, employer-paid plans represent no more than 36 percent of any benefit. Only the ostriches didn't see this coming.