Providing health insurance to the average employee will cost a company $10,700 this year, an 8.2 percent increase from 2010.

Leaders of a bipartisan "Gang of Six" senators said Tuesday that they've reached agreement on a major plan to cut the deficit by more than $4 trillion over the coming decade through tax reform, Medicare and Social Security overhaul, and repeal of the CLASS Act, among other measures.

Sales professionals who are successful are often found to be in leadership positions, either in their field of expertise or within their company.

The role of health insurance agents and brokers over the next few years will be even more important as middle-market decision makers navigate choices in a post-health care reform era.