With the unprecedented pace of change occurring in the industry and with so many workers relying on their insurance and retirement benefits for financial security, it seems an important and appropriate time for all stakeholders (workers, employers, brokers and insurance companies) to re-assess their roles in helping Americans protect their financial future for themselves and their families.

But interestingly, Guardian's Workplace Benefits Study reveals a difference of opinion between workers and their employers in terms of the ”responsibility” that companies have in providing insurance and retirement benefits.

While nearly two-thirds of workers surveyed last year believe it is their employers' responsibility to provide financial protection via insurance and retirement benefits, just 16 percent of employers agree with that.