About the RSI

Prior to the inception of the RSI, the early work in this field began in 1989. A demand analysis for long-term care insurance in the U.K. was commissioned by a leading insurance services firm given the growing market in the U.S. Through the first half of the 1990s, a wide variety of projects related to research, product development, and education-oriented communications were completed in conjunction with Markman Group management. The focal point was education about long-term health care and risk factors, financing health care expenses, and insurance options for professionals and the retirees they served.

A novel publication, “Planning For Longevity,” was developed in 1996, with reprints continuing until the early 2000s. In 2006, a modernized version was completed, along with its website counterpart—planningforlongevity.com. At this time, the health care focus was expanded into retirement financing issues related to income planning, risk management strategies, and helping retirees focus their attention on key health care and financial security issues.

Recently, and the impetus for the RSI’s creation, the need for more relevant information and tools for educating those participating in this market became obvious. The financial services industry serves wide and diverse needs. But meaningful and pertinent information—for which a retiree can learn about vital issues in a thoughtful, informed way— seems lacking. The issues related to retirement security impact people from all walks of life in both developed and developing countries.