Have you talked with your clients recently about planning for long-term care needs?  You’ve probably heard that the subject of long-term care is on the minds of many aging adults, particularly if they’ve had a family member who has needed care recently.  The cost of care is staggering, especially for those who have been diagnosed with a chronic illness such as Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s Disease. Just like insuring your car and home in the event of loss or damage, protecting a legacy against a catastrophic event is just as important. 

Here’s a funding source that you may not be aware of – a fixed annuity!  We partner with a carrier who has years of experience in the long-term care marketplace, and allows a client to use an existing fixed annuity contract that isn’t earmarked for another purpose, and reposition (1035 exchange) it into a long-term care contract.
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• and... the monthly LTC benefit will be tax-free, even if that contract has substantial gains;
• and... a spouse can be added as an eligible person to receive the same benefits;
• and... if long term care is never needed, the annuity value will pass on to named beneficiaries at death.  

 
Call Sheryl or one of our marketers to talk about this option or other solutions we offer. It’s definitely a topic that you’ll want to include in your conversation with clients.  

The special needs market has long intrigued the life insurance industry.  It is predicated on the question: how can a parent leave an inheritance to their child with a disability without disqualifying the child from government benefits, i.e., SSI and Medicaid?  Medicaid is the most appropriate health care coverage for a person who is disabled because it pays for expenses that traditional health insurance will not cover.  

Typically, to qualify for Medicaid the recipient must be on SSI, a disability income program.  Eligibility for SSI requires a person to be impoverished which is defined as having no more than $2,000 in assets and income less than $794 a month.   It is difficult if not impossible for a person to sustain themselves on that amount.  Most recipients receive assistance from their parents.  

The only practical and legal method for a parent to leave an inheritance to supplement their child is through a special needs trust. Unfortunately, the legal fees required to establish the trust is more than most parents can afford.  The Special Needs Estate Planning Taskforce has solved this problem by creating a trust package that middle America can afford.  The trust package is unique in that it consists of four trusts.  

In addition to a special needs trust, it has a caregiver trust designed to cover expenses the caregiver incurs that cannot be paid by the special needs trust.  It also has a spendthrift trust for those who have a disability but are not on Medicaid. The fourth trust receives the inheritance and distributes it to the other three trust as needed.  Life insurance is the number one funding vehicle and nothing else is close.  

​For information about developing this market call 501-680-2744. For information about the Taskforce visit specialneedstaskforce.com

I heard an advertisement for a law firm that used the title of this writing, “We measure our success by yours.”  It’s such a simple statement and so true at The Ohlson Group.  It is the most simple explanation of our mission statement.  If you are successful and doing business with us… we are successful. We know that we must earn your business. We know that we have to provide you with a strong value proposition when working with The Ohlson Group.  We know that we need to make your business life easier and more fun.  We also know that we have to be part of your financial future and assist you with your planning.

We also know that, like you, we have to “ask for the sale.”  So, here it comes, If you are not working with The Ohlson Group today, can we have the opportunity to work with you?  Can we look at your next case and assist with the proposals and ideas?  What do you have to lose?  Let us show you the complete package.  For those working with us already, thanks, thanks and more thanks.  Please let us know when we drop the ball and make a mistake… because we are not perfect.  Thanks for the relationship.  Guys and girls… find out why agents from coast to coast continue to refer to The Ohlson Group as... a different experience.  

​Yes, it is time for the consumer to buy annuities and life insurance direct… direct from a licensed financial professional.  Let’s face it, if a consumer is going to examine the benefits of an annuity, why wouldn’t they want to speak with a pro?  What about service?  

No one better than the financial pro to meet, and or speak, with the consumer on an annual basis when they may be faced with decisions and opportunities?  And, is the consumer getting a better deal buying direct?  Can the person with the headset guide the consumer in the decision making process better than we can?  I think the licensed financial professional is by far the best resource.  But, what does the consumer think?  Please read on…

Consumers are researching “Safe Money Products” online… and we know that.  That is why we are aggressive in building our digital lead program.  We want to provide you with annuity leads that are the result of a consumer looking for products, answers and choices.  We are so excited about the success we are having in this venue.  Sure, online purchases are strong with so many products.  Online term sales are strong because most Americans haven’t spoken to a life agent in years.  

I just bought some shoes and shirts online. I knew what I wanted, had ordered from this retailer before and I knew that they would fit.  But, financial products that are of such great importance to all should not be considered “one size fits all.”  So, strut your stuff, investigate our lead program and ask us how we can turn old leads into potential sales.