Mike Reaume

California workers’ compensation denials were common even when claims seemed valid, leaving injured employees facing medical bills, lost wages, and added stress during recovery.
One major denial trigger: reporting injuries late. California generally required employer notice within 30 days, including when cumulative trauma became reasonably known as work-related.
Insurers often disputed whether injuries were job-related, especially back injuries, carpal tunnel, herniated discs, or conditions tied to pre-existing or outside-work causes.
Medical evidence was central. Clear physician reports linking duties to diagnosis strengthened claims, while treatment gaps or skipped care let insurers question severity or legitimacy.
Missing deadlines also blocked benefits. Workers generally needed to submit a DWC-1 quickly, and California’s filing limit was usually 1 yr from injury.
Employer disputes could complicate claims, especially without witnesses or amid strained workplace relationships. C

California Workers Can Protect Claims

A new publication said retirement planning had been moving from saving to spending as longer lifespans, market uncertainty, and rising complexity reshaped decisions.
Its core finding: retirement success increasingly depended on turning wealth into reliable income, not just building assets for long-term growth.
The publication said unclear income often led people to spend less, delay decisions, or disengage, even when they held significant assets.
It emphasized predictable income for essential expenses could build confidence before retirement, helping people stay invested, act more deliberately, and adapt as circumstances changed.
Three perspectives framed the guidance: rethinking income, a client-advisor story, and a planning framework balancing essential income, flexibility, tax efficiency, and evolving priorities.
Overall, the publication pointed toward retirement readiness defined by income reliability, coordinated planning, and long-term flexibility as retirement grew more com