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Tim Fuller, President of SRS Inc.

Tim Fuller

President, SRS Inc.

Tim Fuller is President of SRS Inc., a full-service IMO (Independent Marketing Organization) and BGA (Brokerage General Agency) that has connected independent financial professionals with life, annuity, disability income, and long-term care solutions from 60+ carrier partners for more than 50 years. Tim and the SRS team specialize in impaired-risk underwriting, advanced case design, and helping advisors place the cases other IMOs turn away.

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3 Ways to Start a Long-Term Care Conversation With Retirement-Age Clients

Adult daughter and her aging mother sharing a warm moment while discussing long-term care planning

Many retirement-age clients looked at long-term care insurance years ago and walked away because of the premium. They still carry the risk, and today’s flexible designs give you a reason to reopen the conversation.

Key takeaways

  • Some protection is better than none: partial coverage still hedges a large share of the risk.
  • Retirees respond to conversations about protecting assets and not burdening family.
  • Flexible plan design lets coverage fit most budgets.

Retirees who said no to LTC because of cost are still carrying the risk. A smaller plan is still a plan.

1. Reframe coverage as a hedge

Clients often think it’s full coverage or nothing. Explain that even a modest benefit can cover a meaningful share of care costs, with savings or income covering the rest. Having some protection is far better than ignoring the risk.

2. Talk about what they care about

Ask about protecting their retirement assets, how they want to spend retirement with family, and whether they worry about burdening their children with care. These concerns motivate more than product details. See why family shouldn’t be the long-term care plan.

3. Show that it can fit their budget

Modern designs offer choices in benefit amount, benefit period, elimination period, and inflation protection, so coverage can be sized to what a client can afford. Hybrid products funded with idle assets are another option. See five ways to make LTC more affordable.

Frequently asked questions

Is it too late to buy long-term care insurance in retirement?

Not necessarily. Many carriers issue coverage into the 70s, though premiums are higher and health matters more. Hybrid options can also fit retirees.

How can retirees afford long-term care insurance?

By choosing a smaller benefit, shorter benefit period, longer elimination period, or using idle assets to fund a hybrid policy.

What motivates retirees to buy LTC coverage?

Protecting their savings and not burdening their children are usually the strongest motivators.

50+ Years in Business60+ Top-Rated Carriers★★★★★ Rated by Advisors

Reviewed by Tim Fuller on 2026-09-25

Tim Fuller, President of SRS Inc.

Tim Fuller

President, SRS Inc.

Tim leads SRS Inc., a full-service IMO (Independent Marketing Organization) and BGA (Brokerage General Agency), connecting independent financial professionals with life, annuity, disability income, and long-term care solutions from 60+ carrier partners.

Connect on LinkedIn →

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Key Person Disability Insurance: Protecting the Business When a Star Employee Can’t Work

Professional working confidently at her desk, representing disability income protection

Many businesses insure their most important person against death. Far fewer insure against the more likely risk: that the person becomes too sick or injured to work for a long time.

Key takeaways

  • Social Security estimates that just over 1 in 4 of today’s 20-year-olds will become disabled before reaching full retirement age.
  • Key person disability commonly pays about 150% of the employee’s salary over 12 months after a 90-day wait.
  • With a 12-month elimination period, lump-sum benefits of up to three times annual income, or more with justification, may be available.

Key person DI can pay about 150% of the person’s salary over a year — time to hire, train, or cover temporary help without losing profits.

Why disability is the bigger risk

A long-term disability can hurt a business as much as a death, and it’s more likely during working years. The Social Security Administration estimates just over one in four of today’s 20-year-olds will become disabled before full retirement age. See a large-scale example in our $50 million key person disability case.

How it pays

  • Monthly benefit: after a typical 90-day elimination period, benefits often total about 150% of the key person’s salary over 12 months. In some cases, benefits above 150%, not tied to income, can be obtained.
  • Lump sum: with a 12-month elimination period, a single payment of up to about three times annual income may be available, and larger amounts with financial justification. This suits firms that can absorb a short absence but need capital if it becomes long.

How businesses use the money

Hire temporary help if the prognosis is short, or cover recruiting, hiring, and training a replacement if the disability is permanent. It can also offset lost revenue while the business adjusts.

Building the case

We can help document the value of the key person and the likely loss to the business, which supports both the sale and financial underwriting. It’s often cross-sold with key person life insurance.

Frequently asked questions

What is key person disability insurance?

Coverage owned by and payable to a business if a critical employee or owner becomes disabled and can’t work.

How much key person disability insurance can a business buy?

Commonly about 150% of the person’s salary paid over 12 months, or lump sums of up to about three times income, with more available based on financial justification.

How is key person disability different from BOE?

Key person coverage replaces the value of a key employee; BOE reimburses the owner’s business overhead expenses while they’re disabled.

50+ Years in Business60+ Top-Rated Carriers★★★★★ Rated by Advisors

Reviewed by Tim Fuller on 2026-09-25

Tim Fuller, President of SRS Inc.

Tim Fuller

President, SRS Inc.

Tim leads SRS Inc., a full-service IMO (Independent Marketing Organization) and BGA (Brokerage General Agency), connecting independent financial professionals with life, annuity, disability income, and long-term care solutions from 60+ carrier partners.

Connect on LinkedIn →

We’re Here to Help

Have a question about what you just read, or a case you’re working on? Tell us a bit about what you need, and a member of the SRS team will follow up with you personally — no obligation, no hassle.

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Beneficiary Designations for Minor Children: Trusts vs. UTMA Custodianships

Advisor and client reviewing an advanced markets estate planning strategy in a private office

The beneficiary designation is one of the most important parts of a life insurance application, and one of the easiest to get wrong. When minor children could end up receiving the death benefit, a few extra minutes of planning can save the family a costly court process.

Key takeaways

  • Minors cannot legally receive life insurance proceeds directly, so a court-appointed guardian may be required if a child is named without a plan.
  • A trust offers the most control over how and when children receive the money.
  • A custodianship under the state’s Uniform Transfers to Minors Act (UTMA) is a simpler, low-cost alternative when a trust isn’t in place.

There should never be a contingency that results in an underage beneficiary receiving life insurance proceeds outright.

Why the beneficiary box is a trap

The beneficiary space on most applications is small. That encourages clients to keep their instructions short and tempts busy advisors to skip a fuller designation on a separate page. When children are involved, a short designation can create big problems.

Minors are not legally able to accept death proceeds. The age of majority varies by state. If a minor becomes the beneficiary, directly or as a contingent beneficiary, a guardian of the child’s property may need to be appointed through the courts, a process that takes time and money and may not put the person the insured would have chosen in charge.

Option 1: Name a trust

The strongest solution is to name a trust as beneficiary. The trustee holds and manages the proceeds for the children and distributes them according to the insured’s written instructions, whether that is paying for education, making staged distributions at certain ages, or holding funds longer for a child who needs more time.

The hurdle is getting the client to have a trust drafted, even when the size of the death benefit clearly justifies the cost. If the family has larger estate planning goals, an irrevocable or grantor trust may be worth discussing with their attorney.

Option 2: A UTMA custodianship designation

Nearly every state has adopted a version of the Uniform Transfers to Minors Act. It lets a beneficiary designation name a custodian to receive proceeds for the benefit of a minor, with no separate trust document required. Think of it as a basic trust created by state law.

There are trade-offs compared with a trust:

  • The custodian’s duties are set by statute, which may be less flexible than the insured would like.
  • The child receives the remaining funds at the age set by state law, often 18 or 21, which may be younger than the parents would prefer.

Not perfect, but far better than leaving the proceeds to a court-supervised guardianship.

Getting the wording right

UTMA designations can be tricky. Despite the word “uniform,” states differ in what they require, and carriers differ in the wording they will accept. Good practice includes:

  • A separate, complete designation for each minor child
  • Naming successor custodians in case the first choice cannot serve
  • Using a separate sheet rather than squeezing instructions into the application box
  • Confirming the carrier’s preferred language before submitting

Contact us for help drafting any ownership or beneficiary designation, especially one that creates a custodianship for a minor.

Frequently asked questions

Can a minor be the beneficiary of a life insurance policy?

A minor can be named, but cannot legally receive the proceeds directly. Without a trust or custodianship in place, a court may need to appoint a guardian to manage the money until the child reaches the age of majority.

What is a UTMA beneficiary designation?

It names a custodian to receive life insurance proceeds on behalf of a minor under the state’s Uniform Transfers to Minors Act. The custodian manages the funds under state law and turns them over to the child at the age the statute sets.

Is a trust better than a UTMA custodianship?

A trust usually offers more control over how and when children receive the money, while a UTMA custodianship is simpler and cheaper to set up. The right choice depends on the size of the benefit and the family’s goals.

50+ Years in Business60+ Top-Rated Carriers★★★★★ Rated by Advisors

Reviewed by Tim Fuller on 2026-09-26

Tim Fuller, President of SRS Inc.

Tim Fuller

President, SRS Inc.

Tim leads SRS Inc., a full-service IMO (Independent Marketing Organization) and BGA (Brokerage General Agency), connecting independent financial professionals with life, annuity, disability income, and long-term care solutions from 60+ carrier partners.

Connect on LinkedIn →

We’re Here to Help

Have a question about what you just read, or a case you’re working on? Tell us a bit about what you need, and a member of the SRS team will follow up with you personally — no obligation, no hassle.

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The Underinsured American Household: Why Existing Clients Need a Coverage Check

Happy family of four laughing together on the couch, representing life insurance protection

Losing a primary wage earner is devastating emotionally and financially. You cannot prepare a family for the grief, but you can help them prepare for the financial shock, and many households, including clients who already own a policy, are not as well protected as they think.

Key takeaways

  • Industry surveys consistently find that many families would feel financial strain within months of losing a primary earner.
  • A meaningful share of people who already own life insurance believe they don’t have enough.
  • Regular reviews with existing clients are one of the most reliable ways to find and close coverage gaps.

Owning a policy isn’t the same as being adequately covered, and many policyholders know it.

How vulnerable is the typical household?

Consumer research over many years has shown the same pattern: a large portion of households say they would feel the financial impact of losing the main wage earner within a matter of months. Savings run out quickly when a mortgage, childcare and everyday bills continue without the paycheck that covered them.

This isn’t only a problem for families with no coverage. A significant share of people who already own life insurance say they don’t have enough. Often that coverage came through work or was bought years ago and never revisited.

Why coverage falls behind

Coverage that fit a client’s life five or ten years ago can fall short today. Common reasons include:

  • Income growth and a higher standard of living
  • A larger mortgage or new debt
  • More children, or children approaching college
  • Reliance on group coverage that may not follow them if they change jobs
  • Inflation eroding the real value of a fixed death benefit

A quick look at income-replacement guidelines, such as those in our post on life insurance income multiples, often shows the gap clearly.

Turning reviews into a service habit

Clients going through busy life changes rarely think about their life insurance. That is where you add value. Staying in regular contact and offering a simple annual or periodic review helps keep coverage in line with the client’s life, and it naturally uncovers needs for additional coverage, updated beneficiaries and better policy features.

A consistent review process also strengthens the relationship. Clients remember the advisor who checked in before a gap became a crisis.

How SRS can help

Our team can help you build a simple review process for your book of business, run needs analyses and compare current coverage against today’s products from our carrier partners. Contact us to talk through the clients you’d like to review first.

Frequently asked questions

What does it mean to be underinsured?

Being underinsured means the life insurance in place would not replace enough income or cover enough debts and future expenses for the family to maintain its standard of living after a death.

Why are people with life insurance still underinsured?

Coverage is often bought once and never updated. Income, debt, family size and inflation change over time, and group coverage through work may be too small or may end with a job change.

How often should clients review their life insurance?

A periodic review, often annually or at any major life event such as marriage, a new child, a home purchase or a job change, helps keep coverage aligned with current needs.

50+ Years in Business60+ Top-Rated Carriers★★★★★ Rated by Advisors

Reviewed by Tim Fuller on 2026-09-26

Tim Fuller, President of SRS Inc.

Tim Fuller

President, SRS Inc.

Tim leads SRS Inc., a full-service IMO (Independent Marketing Organization) and BGA (Brokerage General Agency), connecting independent financial professionals with life, annuity, disability income, and long-term care solutions from 60+ carrier partners.

Connect on LinkedIn →

We’re Here to Help

Have a question about what you just read, or a case you’re working on? Tell us a bit about what you need, and a member of the SRS team will follow up with you personally — no obligation, no hassle.

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Improving Long-Term Care Placement Rates: 4 Things to Know Before You Quote

Adult daughter and her aging mother sharing a warm moment while discussing long-term care planning

Long-term care underwriting has become stricter. Declines on one spouse, and offers at worse rate classes than quoted, lead to policies that are never placed and clients who lose confidence. The fix starts before the first quote.

Key takeaways

  • Stricter LTC underwriting has increased declines and not-taken policies, especially for couples.
  • Four questions predict most outcomes: height and weight, tobacco use, recent or pending health issues, and current medications.
  • Pre-screening lets us recommend the carrier most likely to approve the client at the quoted rate class.

Medications tell you more than almost any other answer. Ask for the full list before you quote.

Why placement rates suffer

When a proposal is built without knowing the client’s health, the underwriting decision often doesn’t match the quote. Couples are especially vulnerable: if one spouse is declined, the other often walks away too. The result is wasted time and frustrated clients.

The 4 things to know first

  1. Height and weight
  2. Tobacco use
  3. Recent major health issues or pending surgeries
  4. Current prescription medications, which often reveal conditions clients forget to mention

With this information we can estimate insurability and rate class, and point you to the carrier most likely to view the client favorably.

Tools to make it easy

We offer a one-page LTC health questionnaire covering the issues that drive underwriting decisions. Reviewing a carrier’s underwriting guide once or twice also helps you learn what matters. The same approach works for life insurance; see field underwriting that gets the rate class right.

When one spouse is declined

Even with good field underwriting, it happens. Here’s how to handle the couple rejection objection.

Frequently asked questions

What health questions affect long-term care insurance approval?

Build, tobacco use, recent or pending health issues and surgeries, and current medications are the biggest factors.

Why are LTC insurance applications declined?

Common reasons include cognitive issues, recent major illnesses, mobility problems, and certain medications. LTC underwriting focuses heavily on future care needs.

How can I avoid LTC declines?

Pre-screen clients with a health questionnaire before quoting, and submit to the carrier most favorable to their health profile.

50+ Years in Business60+ Top-Rated Carriers★★★★★ Rated by Advisors

Reviewed by Tim Fuller on 2026-09-25

Tim Fuller, President of SRS Inc.

Tim Fuller

President, SRS Inc.

Tim leads SRS Inc., a full-service IMO (Independent Marketing Organization) and BGA (Brokerage General Agency), connecting independent financial professionals with life, annuity, disability income, and long-term care solutions from 60+ carrier partners.

Connect on LinkedIn →

We’re Here to Help

Have a question about what you just read, or a case you’re working on? Tell us a bit about what you need, and a member of the SRS team will follow up with you personally — no obligation, no hassle.

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Income Protection: Why Now Is the Best Time for Clients to Buy

Professional working confidently at her desk, representing disability income protection

When is the best time for a client to buy income protection? Now: before a health issue makes coverage harder to get, and before age makes it more expensive.

Key takeaways

  • Disability premiums rise with age, and health changes can limit or eliminate eligibility.
  • Young couples aged 25 to 45 are prime prospects: buying homes, starting families, with decades of earnings ahead.
  • A 33-year-old earning $60,000 with 3% annual raises will earn about $3.5 million by age 67.

A 33-year-old earning $60,000 has about $3.5 million of future earnings ahead. That’s the asset disability insurance protects.

Why earlier is better

Premiums are based partly on age, so they’ll never be lower than today. And any new diagnosis can bring exclusions, ratings, or a decline. Buying while young and healthy locks in both price and insurability.

Who to talk to first

Young couples aged 25 to 45 are buying homes and starting families, the ideal time to build a foundation of protection. Don’t overlook single full-time earners, new homeowners, existing life insurance clients, and auto clients with higher liability limits.

Show clients what they’re really protecting

A 33-year-old earning $60,000 a year, with 3% annual raises, will earn about $3.5 million by age 67. Income is their most valuable asset. Remind them how long it took to build their savings, and how quickly a disability could drain them.

Talking points

  • Explain what’s at risk: a lifetime of earnings.
  • Show how disability benefits cover expenses during recovery.
  • Stress timing: the premium will never be lower.

For framing the conversation, see why we call it income protection.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best age to buy disability insurance?

As early in your career as possible. Premiums are lower and qualifying is easier when you’re young and healthy.

Who needs disability insurance most?

Anyone who depends on their income, especially young families, homeowners, and single earners.

How much income could a disability cost?

Potentially millions. A 33-year-old earning $60,000 with 3% raises would earn about $3.5 million by 67.

50+ Years in Business60+ Top-Rated Carriers★★★★★ Rated by Advisors

Reviewed by Tim Fuller on 2026-09-25

Tim Fuller, President of SRS Inc.

Tim Fuller

President, SRS Inc.

Tim leads SRS Inc., a full-service IMO (Independent Marketing Organization) and BGA (Brokerage General Agency), connecting independent financial professionals with life, annuity, disability income, and long-term care solutions from 60+ carrier partners.

Connect on LinkedIn →

We’re Here to Help

Have a question about what you just read, or a case you’re working on? Tell us a bit about what you need, and a member of the SRS team will follow up with you personally — no obligation, no hassle.

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Please let us know what's on your mind. Have a question for us? Ask away.

Trust-Owned Life Insurance: Keeping Flexibility With Substitution Powers

Advisor and client reviewing an advanced markets estate planning strategy in a private office

Irrevocable trusts are the standard home for life insurance bought to cover estate taxes. But clients often worry about locking a valuable policy away for good. A properly drafted grantor trust can keep the door open to reacquire the policy later without pulling the death benefit back into the estate.

Key takeaways

  • Life insurance held in an irrevocable trust is generally kept out of the insured’s taxable estate.
  • Under Rev. Rul. 2011-28, a grantor’s power to reacquire a policy by substituting assets of equal value is not, by itself, an incident of ownership, when proper safeguards are in place.
  • A policy bought back from a grantor trust can often be sold back later without triggering the three-year rule or a transfer-for-value problem.

Rev. Rul. 2011-28 confirmed that a grantor’s substitution power, properly limited, does not cause estate inclusion of a trust-owned policy.

The standard ILIT strategy

Wealthy clients who expect an estate tax bill often buy life insurance inside an irrevocable life insurance trust (ILIT). They make gifts to the trust so the trustee can pay premiums, using annual exclusions or lifetime exemption to shelter the gifts. At death, the proceeds are outside the taxable estate and can provide liquidity to pay taxes. With the federal exemption now at $15 million per person, see our overview of what the $15M exemption means for planning.

The concern is what happens if the client later needs the policy back, for example as collateral for a business loan after health changes make new coverage hard to get.

What Rev. Rul. 2011-28 says

Many grantor trusts give the grantor a power to reacquire trust property by substituting other assets of equal value. Advisors once worried that this power, applied to a life insurance policy, might be an “incident of ownership” that would pull the death benefit back into the estate even if never used.

In Rev. Rul. 2011-28, the IRS concluded it is not an incident of ownership, provided that:

  • The trustee has a fiduciary duty to ensure the substituted assets are of equivalent value, and
  • The power cannot be exercised in a way that shifts benefits among trust beneficiaries.

Clients should confirm with their legal and tax advisors that their trust document meets these conditions.

Moving a policy out and back in

This flexibility can go both ways. Suppose a client reacquires a policy to use as loan collateral. Once the loan is repaid, the client may be able to sell the policy back to the grantor trust. Done properly:

  • The three-year rule for gifted policies generally doesn’t apply, because the policy is sold for full value rather than gifted.
  • Transfer-for-value is generally not an issue, because a sale to a grantor trust is treated for income tax purposes as a transfer to the grantor.

For more on why grantor trusts are so useful here, see our post on grantor trusts in life insurance planning.

Putting it to work

For clients hesitant about irrevocable planning, knowing there is a well-established way to get the policy back if needed can make the decision easier. Contact us if a client is weighing trust-owned coverage or the sale of an existing policy to a trust, and we can help you coordinate with their attorney.

Frequently asked questions

Can a grantor get a life insurance policy back out of an irrevocable trust?

Often yes, if the trust grants a power to reacquire assets by substituting property of equal value. Rev. Rul. 2011-28 held this power does not cause estate inclusion when the trustee must ensure equivalent value and benefits can’t be shifted among beneficiaries.

Does selling a policy to a grantor trust trigger the three-year rule?

The three-year look-back generally applies to gifts of life insurance. A bona fide sale for full value is generally not subject to it, though clients should confirm with their tax advisor.

Is a sale of a policy to a grantor trust a transfer for value?

Generally no. For income tax purposes, a sale to the insured’s own grantor trust is treated as a transfer to the insured, which is an exception to the transfer-for-value rule.

50+ Years in Business60+ Top-Rated Carriers★★★★★ Rated by Advisors

Reviewed by Tim Fuller on 2026-09-26

Tim Fuller, President of SRS Inc.

Tim Fuller

President, SRS Inc.

Tim leads SRS Inc., a full-service IMO (Independent Marketing Organization) and BGA (Brokerage General Agency), connecting independent financial professionals with life, annuity, disability income, and long-term care solutions from 60+ carrier partners.

Connect on LinkedIn →

We’re Here to Help

Have a question about what you just read, or a case you’re working on? Tell us a bit about what you need, and a member of the SRS team will follow up with you personally — no obligation, no hassle.

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Special Needs Planning With Life Insurance: Funding a Special Needs Trust

Advisor and client reviewing an advanced markets estate planning strategy in a private office

Parents and caregivers of a family member with special needs often share one worry: who will provide for their loved one when they’re gone? A special needs trust funded with life insurance can create lasting resources without putting critical government benefits at risk.

Key takeaways

  • A special needs trust (SNT) can hold assets for a person with a disability while helping preserve eligibility for means-tested programs such as SSI and Medicaid.
  • Life insurance is a natural funding source because it creates a known sum exactly when the caregiver is no longer there.
  • These cases often involve the whole family, opening the door to broader planning.

Life insurance delivers funding to the special needs trust at the moment it is needed most: when the parent or caregiver is gone.

Why a special needs trust matters

Many people with disabilities rely on means-tested government programs such as Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Medicaid. Leaving money to them directly can disqualify them from those benefits. A properly drafted third-party special needs trust holds assets for their benefit and can pay for extras that improve quality of life, while being designed to avoid counting against eligibility.

The trust needs to be drafted by an attorney experienced in special needs planning, and the trustee must follow the rules on how distributions are made.

How life insurance fits

The biggest challenge is funding. Parents may not have enough assets to support a loved one for a lifetime. Life insurance solves that by creating a known amount, delivered to the trust at the parent’s death. Common designs include:

  • A guaranteed universal life policy owned by or payable to the trust for lifetime protection
  • Survivorship (second-to-die) coverage when the goal is to fund care after both parents are gone
  • Premiums funded by annual exclusion gifts; see our overview of gifting strategies

Beneficiary designations of other family members and relatives should be coordinated so no one accidentally leaves assets directly to the person with special needs.

Planning for the whole family

Special needs planning rarely stops at one policy. Families also need to think about guardianship, a letter of intent describing the loved one’s routines and care, retirement planning for the parents, and fair treatment of siblings. ABLE accounts can also play a supporting role for eligible individuals. Each conversation is a chance to serve the family more completely.

An opportunity to serve

Families caring for a loved one with special needs are often stretched thin and don’t have time to research their options. An advisor who brings a clear plan and a trusted network of attorneys can make a real difference. Contact us to talk through case design and carrier options for your next special needs case.

Frequently asked questions

What is a special needs trust?

It is a trust that holds assets for a person with a disability, designed so the assets generally don’t count against eligibility for means-tested benefits like SSI and Medicaid. The trustee uses the funds to supplement, not replace, those benefits.

Why use life insurance to fund a special needs trust?

Life insurance creates a known sum paid to the trust when the parent or caregiver dies, which is exactly when the loved one will need support the most.

Should the person with special needs be named directly as beneficiary?

Generally not. Leaving assets directly to someone who relies on means-tested benefits can affect eligibility. Naming the special needs trust as beneficiary is usually the better approach, with guidance from an experienced attorney.

50+ Years in Business60+ Top-Rated Carriers★★★★★ Rated by Advisors

Reviewed by Tim Fuller on 2026-09-26

Tim Fuller, President of SRS Inc.

Tim Fuller

President, SRS Inc.

Tim leads SRS Inc., a full-service IMO (Independent Marketing Organization) and BGA (Brokerage General Agency), connecting independent financial professionals with life, annuity, disability income, and long-term care solutions from 60+ carrier partners.

Connect on LinkedIn →

We’re Here to Help

Have a question about what you just read, or a case you’re working on? Tell us a bit about what you need, and a member of the SRS team will follow up with you personally — no obligation, no hassle.

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Life Insurance With a History of Gastric Ulcers: Best Rates Are Possible

Active older man hiking a mountain trail, representing impaired risk life insurance clients living fully

A past stomach ulcer can raise questions on a life application, especially if there was bleeding or ongoing treatment. For a successfully treated ulcer with good documentation, the best rate classes are still within reach.

Key takeaways

  • Gastric (peptic) ulcers are most often caused by H. pylori bacteria; alcohol, smoking, and NSAID use are other risk factors.
  • Ulcers that were treated, followed up, and documented as healed generally get the most favorable offers.
  • A 59-year-old with a past non-bleeding gastric ulcer received Select Preferred on $1 million of term coverage.

A treated, non-bleeding gastric ulcer — and the client still received Select Preferred on $1 million of term.

What gastric ulcers are

Gastric ulcers, also called peptic ulcers, are areas of erosion in the stomach lining that cause abdominal pain and sometimes bleeding. The most common cause is infection with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) bacteria. Alcohol use, smoking, and regular use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) also raise the risk.

What underwriters look for

Underwriters want to know the cause, whether there was bleeding, how it was treated, and whether healing was confirmed at follow-up. Clean documentation of successful treatment is what separates a best-class offer from a rated one. Heavy alcohol use or recurring ulcers are the main red flags.

Case study: Select Preferred on $1 million

  • 59-year-old male applying for $1 million of term coverage
  • 5’9”, 140 lbs, lifelong non-smoker, no adverse family history
  • Diagnosed with a non-bleeding gastric ulcer in 2014
  • Takes over-the-counter medication for heartburn; no alcohol use

Underwriting decision: Select Preferred.

How to prepare the case

Ask the client for the date of diagnosis, what treatment they received, and any follow-up endoscopy or test showing the ulcer healed. Our Underwriting Team can pre-screen the details and point you to a carrier that treats this history competitively.

Frequently asked questions

Does a stomach ulcer affect life insurance rates?

A single, successfully treated ulcer often has little or no effect, especially with documented healing. Bleeding ulcers, recurrences, or alcohol-related causes are more likely to affect the offer.

What documentation helps an ulcer case?

The diagnosis date, treatment records, and any follow-up test confirming the ulcer healed. This shows the underwriter the condition is resolved.

Is heartburn medication a problem on the application?

Not usually. In the case above, the client took over-the-counter heartburn medication and still received Select Preferred.

50+ Years in Business60+ Top-Rated Carriers★★★★★ Rated by Advisors

Reviewed by Tim Fuller on 2026-09-25

Tim Fuller, President of SRS Inc.

Tim Fuller

President, SRS Inc.

Tim leads SRS Inc., a full-service IMO (Independent Marketing Organization) and BGA (Brokerage General Agency), connecting independent financial professionals with life, annuity, disability income, and long-term care solutions from 60+ carrier partners.

Connect on LinkedIn →

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When One Spouse Is Declined for Long-Term Care Insurance: Handling the Objection

Adult daughter and her aging mother sharing a warm moment while discussing long-term care planning

Couples usually buy together. So when one spouse is approved for long-term care insurance and the other is declined, the approved spouse often cancels too. That’s exactly when their coverage matters most.

Key takeaways

  • If one spouse is declined, the healthy spouse is likely to become the caregiver.
  • Caregiving can drain savings and leave little for the caregiver’s own future care.
  • The insurable spouse’s coverage protects the couple’s plan, not just one person.

If your spouse can’t get coverage, you’re likely their plan. Who will be yours?

Why couples walk away

The approved spouse may not want coverage from a carrier that declined their partner, or may decide coverage isn’t needed at all. It’s an emotional reaction, and an understandable one, but it leaves both spouses exposed.

Why the insurable spouse needs coverage more

If one spouse can’t be insured, the healthy spouse will probably try to provide care, with all the physical, emotional, and financial demands that brings. Along the way, they may spend down savings that were meant for their own future care.

How to respond

Client: “My spouse was declined, so I don’t want my policy.”

You: “Caring for your spouse could take a little effort or a great deal. Either way, you may need to use your savings, which could leave little for your own care later. Would you be ready to handle that alone?”

Options for the declined spouse

A decline from one carrier isn’t always final. Other carriers, hybrid products, or life insurance with a chronic illness rider may be available. Better field underwriting before you quote also helps avoid the situation. Our LTC team can review options.

Frequently asked questions

What should a couple do if one spouse is declined for LTC insurance?

The insurable spouse should usually keep their coverage, since they’re likely to become the caregiver. Look into alternatives for the declined spouse.

Can a spouse declined for LTC insurance get other coverage?

Sometimes. Another carrier, a hybrid product, or a life policy with a chronic illness rider may be possible.

Why is LTC coverage important for the healthy spouse?

They often provide care for the other spouse and may use up savings meant for their own future care.

50+ Years in Business60+ Top-Rated Carriers★★★★★ Rated by Advisors

Reviewed by Tim Fuller on 2026-09-25

Tim Fuller, President of SRS Inc.

Tim Fuller

President, SRS Inc.

Tim leads SRS Inc., a full-service IMO (Independent Marketing Organization) and BGA (Brokerage General Agency), connecting independent financial professionals with life, annuity, disability income, and long-term care solutions from 60+ carrier partners.

Connect on LinkedIn →

We’re Here to Help

Have a question about what you just read, or a case you’re working on? Tell us a bit about what you need, and a member of the SRS team will follow up with you personally — no obligation, no hassle.

Name(Required)
Email(Required)
Please let us know what's on your mind. Have a question for us? Ask away.