Vice President Actuary - Life, Absence and Disability Benefits

The Standard names James Schugel national sales consultant, Finals & Deal Strategy for Retirement Plans. August 5, 2026 PORTLAND, Ore. - Standard Insurance Company (The Standard) welcomes James Schugel as a national sales consultant, Finals and Deal Strategy. In this role, Schugel will support The Standard's retirement plan sales efforts for plans with $10 million or more in assets by helping deliver strategies, tools and consultative resources to advisors and clients in this growing market segment. Schugel brings 11 years of financial services and retirement industry experience to The Standard. His background includes partnering with retirement sales teams on finalist presentations, online demonstrations and positioning of product, consulting and education capabilities throughout the sales process. Before joining The Standard, Schugel served as senior product and solution consultant at Lincoln Financial. He earned a bachelor's degree in accounting from Saint Louis University and holds FINRA Series 6 and 63 licenses. Schugel also earned the Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor(R) and Chartered Retirement Plans Specialist(R) designations. "James brings valuable retirement plan experience and a strong understanding of how to support advisors and clients throughout the sales process," said Jason Burlie, head of Retirement Plan Sales at The Standard. "His expertise will help us strengthen our finalist strategy and continue delivering tools and consultative resources advisors need to serve this important market segment." About The Standard. Established in 1906, The Standard is a family of companies dedicated to helping customers achieve financial well-being and peace of mind. Standard is a leading provider of financial protection products and services for employers and individual customers. Its products include group and individual disability insurance, group life and accidental death and dismemberment insurance, group dental and group vision insurance, voluntary and supplemental benefits, absence management and paid family leave services, retirement plans products and services and annuities for employers and individual customers. For more information about The Standard, visit standard.com and follow Standard on LinkedIn and Instagram. The Standard is the marketing name for StanCorp Financial Group, Inc., and its subsidiaries. StanCorp Equities, Inc., member FINRA, wholesales a group annuity contract issued by Standard Insurance Company and a mutual fund trust platform for retirement plans. Standard Retirement Services, Inc., provides financial recordkeeping and plan administration services. Investment advisory services are provided by StanCorp Investment Advisers, Inc., a registered investment advisor. StanCorp Equities, Inc., Standard Insurance Company, Standard Retirement Services, Inc., and StanCorp Investment Advisers, Inc., are subsidiaries of StanCorp Financial Group, Inc., and all are Oregon corporations. Contact. The Standard Melissa Wilmot 971.403.6984 Send a message

Straight from the source: Thames Water and The Standard podcast tackles river health. Wednesday 29 July 2026 A new podcast series dives into the health of its rivers, produced by The Standard in association with Thames Water The six-part series, 'Thames Unfiltered', journeys along the River Thames from its source to the sea, to explore the past, present and future of one of Britain's most vital natural assets. The series, presented by acclaimed business journalist and author Lucy Tobin, examines the Thames as both a symbol and a lifeline for London, reflecting the city's environmental history from periods of severe pollution to significant recovery. It also revisits defining moments such as the Great Stink of 1858, when untreated sewage and industrial waste overwhelmed the Thames during a hot summer, creating an unbearable smell that brought parts of London to a standstill and forced the government to invest in a modern sewer system. The resulting infrastructure, designed by engineer Joseph Bazalgette, redirected waste away from central London and marked a turning point in improving public health. Today, the river faces renewed scrutiny amid mounting pressures from climate change, population growth and increasing demand for freshwater. The series brings together a compelling range of voices, from those living breathing and working on the Thames, professors and academics in ecology, experts at Thames Water alongside some of the industry's biggest critics each offering contrasting perspectives on the Thames today. The series also features Sir Peter Bazalgette, the great, great grandson of Sir Joseph William Bazalgette, whose legacy continues to shape the story of the Thames today. Tessa Fayers, director of waste and bioresources at Thames Water, said: "Newsworks Limited is incredibly proud to have collaborated with The Standard on Thames Unfiltered, a series that brings together expert voices and compelling stories to explore the state of the River Thames, the challenges it faces, and the part Newsworks Limited all have to play in its future. "The health of its rivers is a complex issue. Through this series, Newsworks Limited will share knowledge in a fully transparent way to help people better understand the factors affecting river health. Newsworks Limited will also explore why protecting the Thames matters to communities, wildlife and future generations. That means confronting criticism and answering the difficult questions people want to ask. "By engaging openly with a range of perspectives and acknowledging the challenges Newsworks Limited face, Newsworks Limited hope to encourage informed discussion and build a deeper understanding of what it will take to improve the health of the Thames. "Blending storytelling, expert insight and on-the-ground reporting, Thames Unfiltered explores the science, history and infrastructure that sustain the river. It also investigates the network of stakeholders and decision-makers shaping its future." Lucy Tobin, journalist and host of Thames Unfiltered, said: "The best part of working on Thames Unfiltered was visiting the unseen river - standing inside the industrial-chic 'poo palace' that is Abbey Mills Pumping Station, and seeing how Victorian engineering still keeps London moving today. The Thames is the lifeblood of this city, but its water system is creaking under the pressure of a surging population and systemic failures by its custodians. "The river is full of surprises: I never expected to find harbour seals and porpoises, or learn that it's supposed to be the murky colour of builders' tea. Thames Unfiltered is the story of a river brought back to life after being declared biologically dead in 1957, but also a wake-up call about how seriously pollution and climate change are threatening the Thames' future. "By addressing critical questions about the river's health and long-term sustainability, the series aims to highlight the challenges ahead."

The Head and the Heart to headline Children's Cancer Association's 2026 gala. Live From the Heart benefit concert supports free JoyRx programs for hospitalized children impacted by serious illness. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE- Portland, OR - [July 15, 2026] - Children's Cancer Association (CCA) is proud to announce that Charity Rose Thielen and Matt Gervais, of the multi-Platinum indie-folk band The Head and the Heart, will headline the organization's annual Live from the Heart gala, presented by The Standard, on Saturday, October 3, 2026, at the Portland Art Museum in Portland, Oregon. The benefit concert will feature a simplified and intimate performance, bringing together community leaders, philanthropists, and supporters for an unforgettable evening celebrating the transformative power of joy for seriously ill children and their families. Proceeds from the event directly support Children's Cancer Association's free JoyRx Music(R), JoyRx Mentorship(R), and JoyRx Nature(R) programs, which serve children, teens, and families facing cancer and hospitalization across the Pacific Northwest and the nation.