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.

Life InsuranceImpaired RiskLong-Term CareDisability IncomeAdvanced MarketsUnderwriting

Connect with Tim on LinkedIn →

How to Start the Long-Term Care Conversation: 8 Ways to Ease Into the Talk

September 25, 2026April 29, 2021 by Tim Fuller

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

Most people know they should talk about long-term care. Almost nobody wants to start. Whether it’s a client talking to aging parents or an advisor raising it in a review, the hardest part is the first sentence.

Key takeaways

Someone turning 65 today has close to a 70% chance of needing some form of long-term care, yet most have no plan to pay for it.
The easiest openings are indirect: someone else’s situation, a request for advice, or a comment made in passing.
If talking face to face is too hard, a letter or a more comfortable family member can get the conversation started.

Close to 70% of people turning 65 will need some form of long-term care. Most have never talked about how they’d pay for it.

Why the conversation matters now

Long-term care planning works best before it’s needed, while clients are healthy enough to qualify for coverage and have time to choose. Waiting until a health event forces the discussion usually means fewer options and higher costs. For clients, the talk is often with their own parents; for advisors, it’s with the client. The same techniques work for both.

8 ways to get the conversation started

Be open. Say you’d like to talk about the future and ask if they’re willing. Everyone thinks about these things.
Be reflective. Ask about their past and their parents, then move to the future: what they want most and what worries them.
Discuss someone else’s situation. A friend or relative dealing with care needs is a natural, low-pressure starting point.
Share an article. Pass along something on planning ahead or care costs and follow up.
Ask for advice. Mention you’re preparing a will or retirement plan and ask how they planned ahead.
Grab an opening. If someone says “I couldn’t stand living in a nursing home,” ask what they would want instead.
Write it down. A letter or email outlining your concerns lets them think it over first, which helps when families live far apart.
Get help. Someone else in the family, or a trusted advisor, may be the better person to raise it. What matters is that it gets done.

Turning the conversation into a plan

Once the topic is open, the next step is a needs discussion: where they’d want to receive care, who would provide it, and how it would be paid for. These three questions that demonstrate the need for LTC are a natural follow-up, and our LTC team can help you compare traditional, hybrid, and rider-based solutions.

Frequently asked questions

How do you bring up long-term care with aging parents?

Start indirectly: talk about a friend’s situation, ask for their advice on your own planning, or follow up on something they’ve said. Writing a letter can also help.

What percentage of people need long-term care?

Someone turning 65 today has close to a 70% chance of needing some type of long-term care services, according to federal estimates.

When is the best time to plan for long-term care?

Before it’s needed, ideally in a client’s 50s or early 60s, while they’re healthy enough to qualify for coverage.

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

Reviewed by Tim Fuller on 2026-09-25

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 →

The 3 Types of Disability: Presumptive, Total, and Partial

September 25, 2026April 28, 2021 by Tim Fuller

Professional working confidently at her desk, representing disability income protection

Ask clients to picture a disability and most imagine a catastrophic accident. That’s the least likely scenario. Understanding the three types of disability helps clients see why partial benefits matter.

Key takeaways

Accidental injuries cause a small share of disability claims; most come from illness.
Disabilities fall into three categories: loss of use (presumptive), loss of ability (total), and loss of income (partial).
Many claims are partial, so a partial or residual benefit should be part of nearly every recommendation.

Many disability claims are partial: the client can still work, just not fully. Without a residual benefit, the policy may not pay.

Loss of use: presumptive disability

Permanent loss of sight, hearing, speech, or use of hands or feet. Most policies treat these as total disability automatically, even if the insured can still work.

Loss of ability: total disability

Inability to perform the substantial and material duties of one’s occupation. Common causes include heart attack, stroke, and back injuries.

Loss of income: partial disability

The insured can do some duties, or all duties for less time or less effectively, and loses income as a result. Conditions such as multiple sclerosis, cancer, arthritis, and diabetes often cause partial disabilities.

Why residual benefits matter

Because so many claims are partial, always include a partial or residual disability benefit. For severe cases, consider a catastrophic disability benefit rider.

Frequently asked questions

What are the types of disability in disability insurance?

Presumptive (loss of use), total (loss of ability to do one’s job), and partial or residual (loss of income from reduced ability).

What is a residual disability benefit?

A benefit that pays a proportion of the monthly benefit when a disability reduces income but the insured can still work part-time or in a limited way.

Are most disabilities caused by accidents?

No. Most disabilities are caused by illnesses.

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

Reviewed by Tim Fuller on 2026-09-25

Tim Fuller

President, SRS Inc.

Connect on LinkedIn →

Valuing an In-Force Life Insurance Policy for Tax Purposes

September 26, 2026April 27, 2021 by Tim Fuller

When a life insurance policy changes hands, someone has to put a value on it, and the IRS cares a great deal about that number. Yet there is no single, simple rule for valuing an in-force policy. The good news for advisors: determining value isn’t your job, but you can make the process much easier.

Key takeaways

Policy value matters whenever ownership changes: rollouts from a business, distributions from a qualified plan, gifts and sales.
In most of these transfers, both parties benefit from a low value, which is exactly why the IRS scrutinizes them.
Advisors shouldn’t render a value opinion; request the carrier’s Form 712 and related values and give them to the client’s CPA, attorney or appraiser.

It is not the insurance advisor’s responsibility to determine a policy’s value, nor should you try.

When policy valuation matters

Fair market value is generally the price a willing buyer and willing seller would agree on, neither under pressure and both knowing the relevant facts. Life insurance transfers rarely look like that. Common situations include:

Business to employee: an employer rolls a key person policy out to a retiring executive. The employer may be glad to undervalue it so the employee reports less income.
Qualified plan distributions: the plan trustee doesn’t care about the value, but the participant who must report it as income, possibly with a 10% early distribution penalty, prefers it low.
Gifts: the donor is already in a giving mindset, so a lower value simply means a smaller taxable gift.

Because the parties’ interests often line up rather than conflict, the IRS takes a close look.

Why there’s no easy answer

Congress, the IRS and the courts haven’t produced one clear framework. Instead, taxpayers face a patchwork of rules that vary with the type of transfer, the type of policy and interpretation of the facts. Different contexts may point to different measures of value.

What advisors should do

Rendering a valuation opinion is outside an insurance advisor’s professional role. What you can do is request the carrier’s Form 712 or a similar valuation statement. You may receive several figures, such as:

Interpolated terminal reserve (the most common)
Accumulated cash value and cash surrender value
PERC (premiums, earnings, reasonable charges) value
Premiums paid
Tax and statutory reserves

Pass these to the client’s attorney, CPA or qualified appraiser to support their valuation. That’s more help than most advisors provide. Our article on gifting strategies covers one situation where valuation often comes up.

Frequently asked questions

What is Form 712?

A life insurance statement issued by the carrier that reports policy values. It’s used for estate and gift tax returns and is often a starting point for valuing a policy that is transferred.

What is interpolated terminal reserve?

An actuarial reserve value, adjusted for the point in the policy year and unearned premium, commonly reported on Form 712 as one measure of a policy’s value.

Should the insurance agent determine the policy’s value?

No. Advisors should provide carrier-reported values and let the client’s tax professional or appraiser determine the value used for tax reporting.

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

Reviewed by Tim Fuller on 2026-09-26

Tim Fuller

President, SRS Inc.

Connect on LinkedIn →

Thinking Beyond the Guarantee: Matching Life Insurance Design to Each Client

September 26, 2026April 26, 2021 by Tim Fuller

Guaranteed universal life has earned its place as a low-cost way to lock in a lifetime death benefit. But no two clients have the same goals, and a guarantee-only design isn’t right for everyone. Today’s permanent products can combine cash value potential, long-term guarantees and long-term care benefits in one policy.

Key takeaways

Guaranteed death benefit products are a strong fit for pure legacy needs, but they typically build little cash value.
Indexed and other flexible designs can offer growth potential with protection against market losses, plus optional death benefit guarantees.
Long-term care and chronic illness riders let clients accelerate the death benefit for care costs if they need it.

A guaranteed death benefit is a great solution for some clients, but not for all of them.

Where guarantee-focused products shine

For clients whose only goal is a guaranteed death benefit at the lowest premium, such as estate liquidity or a fixed legacy, guaranteed UL remains an efficient choice. The trade-off is limited cash value and flexibility if the client’s needs change.

What flexible designs add

Many carriers now offer competitive permanent products designed to meet a wider range of goals:

Cash value accumulation with upside potential tied to an index, and a floor that protects against market downturns
Long-term death benefit guarantees available on some designs through riders or secondary guarantees
Access to cash value for emergencies, opportunities or supplemental retirement income

Adding long-term care protection

Close to 70% of people turning 65 will need some long-term care. Affordable LTC and chronic illness riders let clients accelerate their death benefit to pay for qualifying care, so one policy addresses both a legacy goal and a care risk. See our articles on the LTC rider and asset-based LTC.

Come prepared with options

Before your next meeting, think about which design matches each client’s priorities: lowest guaranteed cost, cash value, flexibility or care protection. Contact our Life Sales team for product comparisons and illustrations across carriers.

Frequently asked questions

What is guaranteed universal life?

A permanent life policy designed mainly to provide a guaranteed death benefit to a chosen age, often for life, at a lower premium than cash-value-focused designs. It typically builds little cash value.

Can a policy offer both cash value growth and guarantees?

Some can. Certain indexed and universal life products offer secondary or rider-based death benefit guarantees while still building cash value. Features and costs vary by carrier.

What does an LTC rider on life insurance do?

It lets the insured accelerate part of the death benefit to pay for qualifying long-term care. Benefits used for care reduce the death benefit.

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

Reviewed by Tim Fuller on 2026-09-26

Tim Fuller

President, SRS Inc.

Connect on LinkedIn →

Life Insurance for Adventure Hobbies: Removing Avocation Flat Extras

September 25, 2026April 23, 2021 by Tim Fuller

Mountain climbing, scuba diving, auto racing, and private aviation can all add a flat extra to a client’s premium. Some carriers now have programs that can remove it for experienced, careful participants.

Key takeaways

High-risk hobbies (avocations) are often rated with a flat extra charge per $1,000 of coverage.
One upgrade program can remove flat extras of up to $2.50 per $1,000 for certain avocations, on term and permanent plans.
An experienced 37-year-old climber went from a $2.00 permanent flat extra to Standard Non-Tobacco with no flat extra.

Initial offer: a $2.00 per $1,000 permanent flat extra. After the upgrade program: Standard Non-Tobacco, no flat extra.

How avocations are underwritten

Carriers rate risky hobbies based on the activity, the client’s experience, frequency, and specifics such as altitude, depth, or type of aircraft. The usual result is a flat extra: a fixed charge per $1,000 of coverage added to the premium, sometimes for the life of the policy.

The upgrade program

One carrier’s upgrade program may remove a flat extra of up to $2.50 per $1,000 for certain avocation scenarios. It’s available on both term and permanent plans.

Case study: an experienced climber

37-year-old male non-smoker seeking $1 million of term
Healthy, with normal build, blood pressure, and cholesterol; no adverse family history
12 years of trail, rock, and mountain climbing; climbs only in groups
4–5 climbs a year in the Pacific Northwest; highest elevation 13,000 feet
Climbing difficulty YDS class 5.0–5.4

Initial assessment: a $2.00 per $1,000 permanent flat extra. Under the program: Standard Non-Tobacco, no flat extra.

How to present an avocation case

Complete the carrier’s avocation questionnaire in detail: years of experience, frequency, certifications, and safety practices such as climbing with a group or diving with a buddy. The more specific the answers, the better the chance of a favorable decision. Our Underwriting Team can tell you which carriers treat each activity best.

Frequently asked questions

Does rock climbing affect life insurance rates?

It can. Carriers may add a flat extra depending on the type of climbing, altitude, and experience. Some programs can remove it for experienced climbers.

What is a flat extra on a life insurance policy?

An additional charge per $1,000 of coverage, added to the premium for a set period or permanently, to cover a specific extra risk such as a hobby or occupation.

Which hobbies can cause a life insurance rating?

Common examples include mountain climbing, scuba diving, auto racing, private aviation, and skydiving.

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

Reviewed by Tim Fuller on 2026-09-25

Tim Fuller

President, SRS Inc.

Connect on LinkedIn →

Selling Long-Term Care Insurance to Small Business Owners: Lead With Taxes

September 25, 2026April 22, 2021 by Tim Fuller

Selling long-term care to individuals is often emotional. Selling it to business owners is a logical conversation about finances, and the best opening is usually taxes.

Key takeaways

Businesses can use company dollars for LTC premiums and deduct them, with the amount depending on business structure.
C-corporations can generally deduct the actual premium for owners, spouses, dependents, and a chosen class of employees.
Sole proprietors, partners, and LLC owners can generally deduct premiums up to the IRS age-based eligible premium limits.

Try: “If I could show you a way to reduce your business’s tax burden while protecting your own retirement, would you be interested?”

The opening line

Business owners are always looking for tax savings. “If I could show you something that could help your business reduce its tax burden, would you be interested?” opens the door without leading with illness or aging.

How the deduction works by business type

C-corporations: can generally deduct the actual premium paid for owner-employees, their spouses and dependents, and a designated class of employees. The benefit generally isn’t taxable to the employee.
Sole proprietors, partnerships, LLCs, and S-corp owners (over 2%): can generally deduct premiums for themselves, spouses, and dependents up to the IRS age-based eligible premium limit, adjusted each year.

Rules have nuances, so confirm details with the client’s tax advisor. More in four ways LTC insurance provides tax advantages.

Expanding the sale

Once the owner is covered, key employees are the natural next step, sometimes with multi-life discounts. See multi-life LTC prospecting and executive bonus plans with LTC benefits.

Frequently asked questions

Can a business deduct long-term care insurance premiums?

Yes. C-corporations can generally deduct the full premium; self-employed owners can generally deduct up to IRS age-based limits.

What is the eligible LTC premium limit?

An annual, age-based cap set by the IRS on how much of a tax-qualified LTC premium counts as a deductible medical expense.

Are employer-paid LTC premiums taxable to employees?

Generally not for tax-qualified policies paid by a C-corporation, though rules vary by business structure.

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

Reviewed by Tim Fuller on 2026-09-25

Tim Fuller

President, SRS Inc.

Connect on LinkedIn →

Key Person Replacement Insurance: Funding Recruiting and Training Costs

September 25, 2026April 21, 2021 by Tim Fuller

When a key employee becomes totally disabled, the business faces real costs: finding a replacement, training them, and covering the gap in the meantime. Key person replacement insurance is designed to pay for exactly that.

Key takeaways

The employer owns the policy and receives benefits if the key employee becomes totally disabled.
Benefits can be paid as a lump sum, or a combination of monthly payments and a lump sum.
Premiums are guaranteed, premiums are waived after the elimination period, and separate periods of disability can count toward it.

Recruiting and training a replacement for a key employee can cost far more than their salary. Key person replacement coverage pays for it.

How it pays

If the insured key employee meets the policy’s definition of total disability, the employer receives a lump sum or a combination of monthly and lump-sum payments to cover the loss of the employee and the cost of hiring and training a replacement. Common uses include recruiter fees, training, temporary staff, and lost productivity.

Definition of total disability

Typically, the key employee must be unable to perform the duties of their key person occupation and unable to work in any comparable occupation for the business, by duties or earnings.

Key features

Guaranteed premium: won’t increase because of changes in the employee’s health.
Flexible payment: lump sum, or monthly plus lump sum.
Waiver of premium: premiums are waived once the employee is disabled and the elimination period is met.
Interrupted elimination period: separate periods of disability can be combined to satisfy the elimination period, if they occur within a window twice as long as the elimination period (and less than a year).

Related coverage

Key person replacement is one of several business disability solutions; see key person disability insurance and business loan protection.

Frequently asked questions

What does key person replacement insurance pay for?

Costs of losing a key employee to total disability, such as recruiting, training a replacement, and temporary staffing.

Who owns a key person replacement policy?

The employer owns the policy, pays the premium, and receives the benefits.

Can key person replacement pay a lump sum?

Yes. Benefits can be a lump sum or a combination of monthly payments and a lump sum.

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

Reviewed by Tim Fuller on 2026-09-25

Tim Fuller

President, SRS Inc.

Connect on LinkedIn →

Buy-Sell Agreements: Planning for the Owner Who Leaves Alive

September 26, 2026April 20, 2021 by Tim Fuller

Buy-sell planning usually focuses on what happens when an owner dies. Insurance funds the purchase, the estate gets cash, and the survivors keep the business. But most owners leave alive, through retirement or departure, and those buyouts are often paid over years. Life insurance still has an important role.

Key takeaways

Lifetime buyouts often use a down payment plus an installment note, which leaves the seller exposed if the buyer dies.
Existing buy-sell coverage on a departing owner can be kept in force to protect the remaining owners’ ability to pay the note.
When a key employee buys out a retiring owner, the buyer can own coverage personally and collaterally assign it to the seller for the loan balance.

Every business should have a documented, updated transition plan. Without one, owners go to bed not knowing who their partner will be in the morning.

Death isn’t the only exit

At death, insurance-funded buy-sell agreements work smoothly: tax-free proceeds buy the deceased owner’s interest from the estate, which generally receives a stepped-up basis. That’s why planning tends to focus there.

More often, an owner leaves for retirement, health or other reasons. The buyout usually takes the form of a down payment, if any, and an installment sale over an agreed term at an agreed interest rate. That creates new risks that insurance can address.

Scenario 1: Remaining owners buy out a departing partner

If the buy-sell was insured, the policy on the departing owner can stay in force. Should the seller die during the payout, the remaining owners have funds to pay off the balance, and the seller’s family knows the note will be paid.

It can be cleaner to transfer the policy to the departing owner and have them collaterally assign it for the loan balance. Tax consequences of the transfer and who pays premiums need to be worked out with the client’s advisors.

Scenario 2: A key employee buys out a retiring owner

Here the seller wants assurance that the note will be paid if the buyer dies. Carriers generally won’t let a creditor buy coverage on a debtor. Instead, the buyer purchases personal coverage and gives the seller a collateral assignment for the balance and term of the loan.

We recently helped on a case like this: advising on structuring the buyer’s personally owned coverage, on drafting the collateral assignment, and on presenting the case to the carrier so underwriting understood the purpose.

Keep the plan current

Buy-sell agreements should be reviewed as values, owners and tax rules change. The Supreme Court’s 2024 decision in Connelly v. United States is a reminder that how the agreement is structured and who owns the policies matters. See our articles on cross-purchase agreements and cross-purchase vs. entity redemption.

We’re happy to join calls with you, your clients and their other advisors on any buy-sell planning or funding question.

Frequently asked questions

Does a buy-sell agreement only cover death?

No. A well-drafted agreement also addresses retirement, disability, divorce and departure, and sets the price and payment terms for each.

Can a seller buy life insurance on the person buying their business?

Carriers generally won’t recognize a creditor’s insurable interest in a debtor. Instead, the buyer can own a policy and collaterally assign it to the seller for the outstanding loan balance.

What happens to buy-sell life insurance when an owner retires?

It can be kept in force to secure an installment buyout, transferred to the departing owner, or surrendered. Each option has tax and planning implications to review with advisors.

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

Reviewed by Tim Fuller on 2026-09-26

Tim Fuller

President, SRS Inc.

Connect on LinkedIn →

Is It Time to Upgrade Your Client’s Life Insurance Policy?

September 26, 2026April 19, 2021 by Tim Fuller

Most clients think of life insurance as something that pays only when they die. Many of the policies they bought years ago work exactly that way. A structured policy review shows whether newer designs could do more for them while they are still living.

Key takeaways

“Old insurance” pays only at death; “new insurance” can also pay living benefits for chronic, critical or long-term care needs.
Indexed UL can add tax-favored accumulation and income, which helps clients who are limited or shut out by Roth IRA rules.
Regular reviews protect the relationship; if you don’t start the conversation, another advisor eventually will.

Most clients only know about “old insurance” — and many would consider a change if they knew what newer policies can do while they are alive.

“Old insurance” vs. “new insurance”

The death benefit is still the core reason most people buy life insurance. But the term “old insurance” describes policies that offer little beyond that death benefit. “New insurance” describes coverage where the client doesn’t have to die for the policy to deliver value.

Long-term care, chronic illness and critical illness riders are good examples. These features were not common around the turn of the century, and many in-force policies simply don’t have them.

What a policy review can uncover

Clients’ needs change, and their coverage often doesn’t keep up. A review may show that:

The face amount no longer matches the real need, up or down.
Living benefit riders could be added through a new policy.
A modern indexed UL could offer tax-favored accumulation and tax-free income through properly structured withdrawals and loans.
Current pricing, or an improved health rating, may make new coverage more efficient than the old policy.

Any replacement needs a careful side-by-side comparison, including surrender charges, new contestability periods and underwriting. Our team can help you build that comparison. For clients whose health has changed, see our note on carrier upgrade programs.

Cash value as part of the retirement picture

For clients who earn too much to contribute to a Roth IRA, or who have already hit contribution limits, indexed UL can act as a supplemental source of tax-advantaged retirement income. For younger clients, cash value life insurance adds a diversified accumulation bucket alongside their investment portfolio. The policy must be designed and funded properly, and clients should understand that loans and withdrawals reduce the death benefit and can cause a lapse if not managed.

How to start the conversation

Don’t let your clients hear this story from another agent. SRS can provide turnkey policy review materials and help you build a short list of talking points to open the conversation about existing coverage. Simple questions work well: When did you last look at this policy? Has your health, income or family changed since then? Would a benefit you could use while living matter to you?

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between old and new life insurance?

“Old insurance” generally refers to policies whose only real value is the death benefit. “New insurance” refers to policies with living benefits, such as chronic, critical or long-term care riders, or cash value designed for tax-favored accumulation.

How often should clients have their life insurance reviewed?

A review every few years, and after major life events such as marriage, divorce, a new child, a business change or a health change, helps keep coverage aligned with current needs.

Is replacing an older life policy always a good idea?

No. Replacement should only happen after comparing costs, surrender charges, a new contestability period and underwriting results. Sometimes the best answer is to keep the old policy and add coverage.

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

Reviewed by Tim Fuller on 2026-09-26

Tim Fuller

President, SRS Inc.

Connect on LinkedIn →

Case Placement: Postponed for Anemia, Placed at Standard

September 25, 2026April 16, 2021 by Tim Fuller

A postponement can feel like a dead end, but it often just means the underwriter needs more information. In this case, two documents turned a postponed $1 million case into a Standard offer.

Key takeaways

Postponements often signal missing information rather than an unacceptable risk.
Asking the carrier underwriter what they need to make an offer can reveal a clear path forward.
A doctor’s letter on the cause of anemia and a new normal CBC turned this case from postponed to Standard.

Informally postponed for severe anemia. After a doctor’s letter and a normal blood count: Standard, and a placed case.

The case

71-year-old female replacing $1 million of guaranteed universal life
Informally postponed because recent labs in her medical records showed severe anemia

What the underwriter needed

We discussed the case with the carrier’s underwriter, who explained how to repackage it for an offer:

A letter from the client’s doctor explaining the cause of the anemia
A current, favorable CBC (complete blood count)

The outcome

Her doctor identified the cause as iron deficiency. She started iron supplements, the anemia resolved, and a new CBC came back normal. With the updated evidence, the carrier offered Standard and the case was placed.

The lesson for advisors

An unexplained lab result is a question mark; an explained and resolved one often isn’t a problem at all. When a case is postponed, ask what would change the decision. We do this on every difficult case. See another example where a declined LTC rider was approved on reconsideration.

Frequently asked questions

Can you get life insurance with anemia?

Often, yes. Underwriters want to know the cause. Anemia from a treatable cause, such as iron deficiency, that has resolved may have little effect on the offer.

What does a postponed life insurance application mean?

The carrier won’t make an offer yet, usually because a condition needs more time or information. It isn’t the same as a decline.

What is a CBC?

A complete blood count, a routine blood test that measures red and white blood cells and platelets, used to check for conditions like anemia.

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

Reviewed by Tim Fuller on 2026-09-25

Tim Fuller

President, SRS Inc.

Connect on LinkedIn →

Tim Fuller

How to Start the Long-Term Care Conversation: 8 Ways to Ease Into the Talk

Why the conversation matters now

8 ways to get the conversation started

Turning the conversation into a plan

Frequently asked questions

Tim Fuller

We’re Here to Help

Loss of use: presumptive disability

Loss of ability: total disability

Loss of income: partial disability

Why residual benefits matter

Frequently asked questions

Tim Fuller

We’re Here to Help

Tim Fuller

We’re Here to Help

Tim Fuller

Tim Fuller

Tim Fuller

Tim Fuller

Tim Fuller

Tim Fuller

Tim Fuller