401(k) account balances have gone up 93 percent, nearly double since the economic downturn in 2009, according to the latest research from the Principal Financial Group. While much of the increase reflects a rebounding market, the study found a significant increase in participation and savings rates since the market collapse, with account balances rising 17 percent in 2013 alone, to an average of $54,000.

Here are five steps you can take to effectively leverage the relationships you have with your strategic alliances.

Total U.S. annuity sales reached $61.4 billion in the second quarter of this year, improving eight percent from prior year, according to LIMRA Secure Retirement Institute. In the first six months of 2014, total U.S. annuity sales increased 10 percent, compared with sales in 2013.

As longevity and the cost of living continue to increase, Americans may be overlooking a key opportunity to strengthen their financial foundation. Despite the many advantages of permanent life insurance, only 22% of Americans currently own a permanent life insurance policy, a fraction of the 66% who have savings accounts, according to Northwestern Mutual's 2014 Planning and Progress Study.

A LIMRA Secure Retirement Institute survey reveals that among consumers aged 50 -75 with $100,000 or more in household income, women are more likely than men to be concerned about running out of money in retirement (46 percent vs. 35 percent).

The need for the Life Insurance Awareness Month campaign currently under way is more important than ever—a recent LIMRA study reveals that only 46 percent of middle-market consumers own individual life insurance.

Boomer Esiason is returning for a second year as the celebrity spokesperson for Life Insurance Awareness Month (LIAM), the industrywide campaign that Life Happens coordinates each September to encourage all Americans to take stock of their life insurance needs.

The financial services firm Edward Jones is partnering with Securities Training Corporation to help prepare students for a career as a financial advisor, according to a news release issued by Edward Jones. The partnership was formed to encourage more students to consider a career as a financial advisor.

A new LIMRA survey finds that 93 percent of life insurance companies had social media programs in place in 2013, up 55 percent from 2010 (when only 60 percent of companies used social media).

Fees are often a main topic of conversation when advisors sit down to meet with their clients. But do advisors paint an accurate picture of the total cost of servicing a client’s account?