If there's one word that best defines our current environment, it's uncertainty. Yes, the world has experienced chaotic times before and will undoubtedly do so again in the future, but that doesn't change the fact that living through turmoil can be scary and unsettling. Amidst a global pandemic and nationwide protests, dramatic unrest and significant changes are all around us.

As we read the news each day, we're bombarded with headlines like "How the pandemic will permanently change the way every generation lives" and "COVID-19 will permanently change consumer behavior." Is it any wonder that everything feels so surreal these days? When experts are predicting enormous and potentially irreversible alterations to the way our societies work, it's bound to leave us feeling shaken and vulnerable. Of course, only time will tell exactly what the future will look like, but if there's one thing we've learned over the years, it's that times of change and disruption often lead to a crossroad between failure and opportunity.

Our coverage over the past few months has largely focused on analysis of the many ways the pandemic is impacting health care and employee benefits and what this will mean for the future of brokers and employers. In this month's issue, we examine the cost of health care, the future of voluntary benefits, and the impacts on benefits advisors.

In "The cost of disruption," (page 26) Emily Payne explores the effects of the chaos wreaked on our health care system by the COVID-19 pandemic and wonders, "will it be back to business as usual once the threat is over?"

Meanwhile, Tripp Amos asks, "What will the post-COVID world of voluntary benefits look like?" in his feature, "Rewriting the book." He argues that to succeed in this new landscape, the industry will need to adapt in three key areas.

Instant Insights /

Certain uncertainty: The future of brokers after COVID

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