Life tends to happen all at once.

I was recently sitting in a doctor's office when my wife texted to say she was driving our 3-year-old to the emergency room. Our daughter had tumbled into a coffee table, leaving a gash on her ear. Everyone is fine, and she now tells everyone that she got her ears pierced.

With open enrollment season upon us, the timing was a fitting reminder of why I encourage clients to send me their benefits packets every fall.

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For many families, open enrollment is simply an exercise in checking boxes.…