Karen Swift is president of an accounting firm that has ten employees. The only employee benefit provided by the firm is a paid two-week vacation for employees with one or more years of service. The firm's profits have substantially increased, and Karen would like to provide some additional benefits to the employees. Karen needs advice concerning the types of benefits to provide. Assume you are an employee benefits consultant. Based on the following considerations, answer the following questions.

a. Karen would like to provide life insurance for the employees equal to two times their salaries. She wants to minimize the cost of this benefit. What type of life insurance do you recommend?

b. Several employees have expressed an interest in having some life insurance on their lives after they retire. Explain to Karen how employees can keep their life insurance after retirement.

c. Karen would also like to provide health insurance benefits to the employees. Identify the major types of group health insurance plans that she might consider.

d. Assume that Karen is considering both a preferred provide plan (PPO) and a health maintenance organization plan (HMO). Explain the major differences between these two plans to Karen.

e. Are there any other group insurance benefits that Karen should consider? Explain your answer.

f. Karen would like to give the employees a choice of benefits. Explain to Karen how this goal can be accomplished.