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

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Key Person Replacement Insurance: Funding Recruiting and Training Costs

September 25, 2026April 21, 2021 by Tim Fuller

Professional working confidently at her desk, representing disability income protection

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.

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.

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

September 26, 2026April 20, 2021 by Tim Fuller

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

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.

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Reviewed by Tim Fuller on 2026-09-26

Tim Fuller

President, SRS Inc.

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

September 26, 2026April 19, 2021 by Tim Fuller

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

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.

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Reviewed by Tim Fuller on 2026-09-26

Tim Fuller

President, SRS Inc.

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Case Placement: Postponed for Anemia, Placed at Standard

September 25, 2026April 16, 2021 by Tim Fuller

Underwriter reviewing medical and financial data with a client during risk assessment

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.

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Reviewed by Tim Fuller on 2026-09-25

Tim Fuller

President, SRS Inc.

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Long-Term Care Costs by Setting: Assisted Living, Nursing Homes, and Home Care

September 25, 2026April 15, 2021 by Tim Fuller

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

No one can predict whether they’ll need long-term care, but the cost of it is predictable enough to plan for. Here’s what care costs today and what clients often get wrong about who pays.

Key takeaways

In 2025, national median costs were $74,400 a year for assisted living and about $129,600 a year for a private nursing home room.
In-home care ran $35 an hour at the median, about $80,000 a year at 44 hours a week.
Medicare doesn’t pay for most long-term care, and relying on Medicaid means spending down assets and limited choice.

Assisted living: $74,400 a year. Private nursing room: about $129,600. In-home care: about $80,000 a year at 44 hours a week. (2025 national medians)

What care costs in 2025

Nursing home, private room: $10,798 a month (about $129,600 a year)
Assisted living: $6,200 a month ($74,400 a year)
In-home care: $35 an hour (about $80,080 a year at 44 hours a week)

Source: CareScout 2025 Cost of Care Survey, national medians. Costs vary widely by state and city, so check local figures. Trends over time are in our cost of care summary.

The Medicare misconception

Many clients assume Medicare will cover long-term care. It covers only limited skilled care, not ongoing help with daily living. Medicaid does pay for long-term care, but only after most assets are spent down, and provider choices can be more limited.

Where insurance fits

Long-term care insurance, including hybrid products, pays for assisted living, home care, and nursing home care so clients can get the care they want without draining savings or burdening family. Our LTC team can quote options based on your client’s location and budget.

Frequently asked questions

How much does assisted living cost per month in 2025?

The national median was $6,200 a month ($74,400 a year), according to CareScout’s 2025 Cost of Care Survey.

How much does a nursing home cost per year?

A private room had a 2025 national median of $10,798 a month, or about $129,600 a year.

Does Medicare pay for assisted living?

No. Medicare doesn’t cover assisted living or most long-term custodial care.

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Reviewed by Tim Fuller on 2026-09-25

Tim Fuller

President, SRS Inc.

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Protecting the Future Your Clients Envision Starts With Income Protection

September 26, 2026April 14, 2021 by Tim Fuller

Advisor presenting a client outreach marketing plan on a whiteboard to a colleague

Most clients have only a vague picture of what their life will look like five or ten years from now. Whatever that picture is, their future income pays for it. Helping clients protect that income is one of the most practical things an advisor can do.

Key takeaways

Over a full career, earned income is often a client’s single largest financial asset.
A 35-year-old earning $50,000 with 3% annual raises would earn about $2.6 million by age 67; a disability can put that at risk.
Simple “what if” questions are the easiest way to start an income protection conversation.

A 35-year-old earning $50,000 a year, with 3% annual raises, is on track to earn roughly $2.6 million by age 67.

Income is the engine behind every plan

Income funds everything: the mortgage, daily living, savings and eventually retirement. When you help a client plan for the future, you are really planning how their income will be used. That makes protecting the income itself the natural first step.

What a disability could cost

Consider a 35-year-old earning $50,000 a year with a 3% raise each year. By age 67, that adds up to roughly $2.6 million in earnings. A permanent disability early in that career could erase most of it.

The risk is not remote. The Social Security Administration estimates that just over 1 in 4 of today’s 20-year-olds will become disabled before reaching full retirement age. And Social Security disability benefits are modest; the average disabled-worker benefit is about $1,630 a month in 2026. For more on why employer coverage often falls short, see the group disability gap.

Questions that start the conversation

Start by asking clients what would happen if they got sick or hurt and couldn’t work:

How long could you cover your bills before your lifestyle changed?
If you have a family, how would they be affected?
Would you have to dip into savings or retirement accounts?
What would you give up to keep things together while you recover?

These questions let clients see the gap for themselves, without pressure.

Affordable plans are available

Individual disability income insurance can be designed to fit a wide range of budgets and occupations. Our DI specialists can help you compare options, riders and benefit periods so the plan matches what your client needs to protect. Learn more about income protection planning.

Frequently asked questions

Why is income a client’s most valuable asset?

Over a working lifetime, earned income usually totals far more than a client’s home or savings, and it funds every other goal in their financial plan.

How likely is a disability before retirement?

The Social Security Administration estimates that just over 1 in 4 of today’s 20-year-olds will become disabled before reaching full retirement age.

Isn’t Social Security disability enough?

For most clients, no. The average SSDI disabled-worker benefit is about $1,630 a month in 2026, and qualifying can be difficult and slow.

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Reviewed by Tim Fuller on 2026-09-26

Tim Fuller

President, SRS Inc.

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Overfunded Universal Life vs. a Roth IRA: How the Two Compare

September 26, 2026April 13, 2021 by Tim Fuller

Clients who have maxed out their retirement plans, or who earn too much to contribute to a Roth IRA, often ask where else they can save on a tax-advantaged basis. A properly overfunded universal life policy shares many of the Roth’s best features and adds a few of its own. Here is how the two compare.

Key takeaways

A Roth IRA has income eligibility rules and annual contribution limits; an overfunded UL has neither, though it requires insurability.
Both grow tax-deferred and can provide tax-free income, the UL through withdrawals to basis and policy loans.
The UL’s death benefit “self-completes” the savings goal if the client dies early, something a Roth can’t do.

An overfunded UL policy has no income test and no IRS contribution cap; the limits come from the amount of coverage and tax rules for life insurance.

The Roth IRA and its limits

A Roth IRA works like a reverse traditional IRA: contributions go in after tax and qualified distributions come out tax-free. The catch is access. Higher earners may be phased out entirely, and everyone faces a relatively small annual contribution limit set by the IRS.

Feature-by-feature comparison

Eligibility: Roth IRA — subject to income limits. Overfunded UL — the client must be insurable.
Contribution limits: Roth IRA — annual IRS limit. UL — no fixed dollar cap; funding is limited by the death benefit and federal tax rules for life insurance.
Deductible contributions: No for both.
Tax-deferred growth: Yes for both.
Tax-free income: Roth — qualified distributions. UL — withdrawals up to basis, then policy loans.
Early access penalty: Roth — possible penalty on early earnings withdrawals. UL — no 10% penalty as long as the policy is not a MEC.
Completes the goal at early death: Roth — no. UL — yes; the death benefit delivers the result.
Estate tax protection: Roth — no. UL — possible with trust ownership.

Design matters

The strategy only works when the policy is funded near the top of what the tax rules allow without becoming a modified endowment contract (MEC). A MEC loses the favorable tax treatment of loans and withdrawals. Clients should also understand that loans reduce the death benefit and an underfunded or over-borrowed policy can lapse, creating a tax bill. Our team can help you model a design that balances accumulation, cost and protection.

Where it fits: executive bonus plans

The same idea strengthens executive bonus arrangements. When the policy is designed as an overfunded contract and the retirement income potential is explained at the start, the benefit feels far more valuable to the executive. Clients are generally more open to using life insurance for retirement once they see how closely it resembles a Roth IRA.

Frequently asked questions

Can a high earner use life insurance like a Roth IRA?

Yes. An overfunded cash value policy has no income eligibility test. With proper design, it can provide tax-deferred growth and tax-free income through withdrawals to basis and policy loans.

What is a MEC and why does it matter?

A modified endowment contract is a policy funded beyond federal limits. Loans and withdrawals from a MEC are taxed less favorably and may face a 10% penalty before age 59½, so overfunded designs stay under the MEC limit.

Is overfunded UL a replacement for a Roth IRA?

Usually it is a supplement. Clients who can contribute to a Roth often do both. The UL adds a death benefit and has no contribution cap, but it has insurance costs a Roth doesn’t.

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Reviewed by Tim Fuller on 2026-09-26

Tim Fuller

President, SRS Inc.

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Lower Term Premiums With an Income Payout Option

September 26, 2026April 12, 2021 by Tim Fuller

Advisor supporting a couple as they review living needs benefits paperwork together

Term life insurance usually exists to replace income and pay off debts. For budget-conscious clients, there is a way to keep the same total protection while lowering the premium: pay part of the death benefit to the family as a stream of income instead of all at once.

Key takeaways

Some carriers offer an income payout option on term policies that pays part of the benefit as a lump sum and the rest as guaranteed annual installments.
In one case we worked, restructuring a $2.5 million term policy this way cut the monthly premium by about 20%.
It won’t fit every family, but a review of recent term cases can uncover clients who would welcome the savings.

Same $2.5 million total payout, about $100 less per month — just by changing how the death benefit is paid.

How an income payout option works

Some term products include a feature, sometimes called an Income Protection Option, that restructures how the death benefit is paid. Instead of a single lump sum, the family receives a smaller lump sum plus a guaranteed annual income for a set number of years — as few as five or as many as 30, depending on the product. Because the carrier pays out over time, the premium is generally lower than for a traditional lump-sum policy. Availability and terms vary by carrier, so confirm current product details.

Case study: 20% lower premium, same total benefit

A 47-year-old male bought a 20-year, $2.5 million term policy at a standard risk class for $577 a month.
A year later, we designed a new 20-year policy with the income payout option: $500,000 at death plus $100,000 a year to the family for 20 years — the same $2.5 million total.
The new premium was $476.73 a month, about $100 less, or roughly 20% lower.

Premiums reflect that specific case and time period; current pricing will differ.

When it fits — and when it doesn’t

An income stream mirrors what the family actually lost: a paycheck. It can also protect heirs who may not be ready to manage a large lump sum. But it isn’t right when the family needs a large sum immediately, such as to pay off a mortgage or fund a buy-sell agreement. For help sizing the lump sum and income portions, see our guide to income replacement multiples.

Turn a review into new business

Look back over term cases you’ve written in the past few years. Ask clients whether an extended payout would work for their family. If it does, the client saves money and you place a new policy. Contact us and we’ll run the comparison.

Frequently asked questions

What is an income payout option on term life?

It is a feature on some term policies that pays part of the death benefit as a lump sum and the rest as guaranteed annual installments to beneficiaries, which generally lowers the premium.

How much can clients save?

It depends on the carrier and design. In one case we worked, the premium dropped by about 20% while the total payout stayed at $2.5 million.

Who should not use an income payout design?

Families that need a large lump sum right away — for a mortgage payoff, estate taxes or a business agreement — are usually better served by a traditional lump-sum benefit.

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Reviewed by Tim Fuller on 2026-09-26

Tim Fuller

President, SRS Inc.

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The NT-proBNP Test: How a Good Result Can Earn Underwriting Credit

September 25, 2026April 9, 2021 by Tim Fuller

The NT-proBNP blood test is now a routine part of many insurance lab panels, especially for older applicants. An abnormal result can derail a case, but a favorable one can help.

Key takeaways

NT-proBNP is a marker of cardiovascular risk and long-term mortality, released when the heart is under strain.
Some carriers decline or require a cardiac work-up when the result is abnormal.
One carrier uses a normal result as a credit for applicants 70 and older, lifting a 75-year-old with a past TIA from mild substandard to Standard.

A normal NT-proBNP turned a mild substandard offer into Standard for a 75-year-old with a prior mini-stroke.

What the test measures

NT-proBNP is released by the heart when it’s working too hard: when it isn’t pumping enough blood to meet the body’s needs, is short of oxygen, or the main heart muscle is enlarged. It’s a marker for overall cardiovascular risk and long-term mortality in people with heart disease.

When the result is abnormal

An abnormal result on an insurance lab panel can lead some carriers to decline automatically, or to require an additional cardiac work-up at the applicant’s expense before reconsidering.

When the result is favorable

One of our A-rated carriers uses a favorable result as an underwriting credit for applicants age 70 and older.

Male, age 75, non-smoker, seeking $500,000 of UL
History of a TIA (mini-stroke) three years ago, followed closely by his doctor
Insurance labs showed an NT-proBNP of 55 (normal)

Normally a mild substandard rating; with the credit, Standard.

Why it matters for older clients

For senior applicants, good lab results can offset history that would otherwise be rated. Ask our Underwriting Team which carriers credit favorable labs before you choose where to submit. For another senior cardiac case, see Standard at 72 with coronary artery disease.

Frequently asked questions

What is NT-proBNP on a life insurance blood test?

A marker the heart releases when it’s under strain. Insurers use it to assess cardiovascular risk, especially for older applicants.

What happens if NT-proBNP is high on an insurance exam?

Some carriers decline or ask for further cardiac testing. Others may still consider the case, so it’s worth shopping.

Can a good NT-proBNP improve a life insurance offer?

Yes. One carrier uses a normal result as a credit for applicants 70 and older, which can improve the rate class.

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Reviewed by Tim Fuller on 2026-09-25

Tim Fuller

President, SRS Inc.

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Asset-Based Long-Term Care With Guaranteed Premiums: No “Use It or Lose It”

September 25, 2026April 8, 2021 by Tim Fuller

The biggest objection to long-term care insurance isn’t that clients don’t want it. It’s paying for something they may never use. Asset-based LTC with guaranteed premiums removes that objection.

Key takeaways

Asset-based LTC pays for qualified care if needed, and leaves a death benefit or cash value if not.
Some designs offer premiums that are guaranteed never to increase, even when paid for life.
The guaranteed life insurance amount can be used for qualifying long-term care expenses.

If they need care, the policy pays for it. If they don’t, their family gets the death benefit. Either way, the premium did its job.

The “use it or lose it” objection

Long-term care is a risk, not a certainty, and many clients hesitate to put money toward something they might never need. Traditional LTC premiums can also rise over time, which adds to the hesitation.

How asset-based LTC with guaranteed premiums works

Clients receive a guaranteed amount of life insurance, all of which can be used for qualifying long-term care expenses.
If care isn’t needed, the death benefit or remaining value passes to heirs.
Some designs, such as OneAmerica’s Asset Care, offer premiums guaranteed not to increase, including pay-for-life options, and credit a guaranteed interest rate to build cash value.

Who it fits

Clients who want certainty about cost, dislike the idea of “wasted” premiums, or have assets they’d like to reposition. See four client profiles for asset-based LTC. Contact our LTC team for a quote and a client-friendly summary.

Frequently asked questions

What happens if I never use my asset-based LTC policy?

The death benefit or remaining value passes to your beneficiaries.

Can long-term care premiums be guaranteed?

Some asset-based products guarantee premiums will never increase. Traditional LTC premiums generally aren’t guaranteed.

What is asset-based long-term care?

A life insurance or annuity product that includes long-term care benefits, so the money provides value whether or not care is needed.

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Reviewed by Tim Fuller on 2026-09-25

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Tim Fuller

How it pays

Definition of total disability

Key features

Related coverage

Frequently asked questions

Tim Fuller

We’re Here to Help

Death isn’t the only exit

Scenario 1: Remaining owners buy out a departing partner

Scenario 2: A key employee buys out a retiring owner

Keep the plan current

Frequently asked questions

Tim Fuller

We’re Here to Help

“Old insurance” vs. “new insurance”

What a policy review can uncover

Cash value as part of the retirement picture

How to start the conversation

Frequently asked questions

Tim Fuller

We’re Here to Help

The case

What the underwriter needed

The outcome

The lesson for advisors

Frequently asked questions

Tim Fuller

We’re Here to Help

What care costs in 2025

The Medicare misconception

Where insurance fits

Frequently asked questions

Tim Fuller

We’re Here to Help

Income is the engine behind every plan

What a disability could cost

Questions that start the conversation

Affordable plans are available

Frequently asked questions

Tim Fuller

We’re Here to Help

The Roth IRA and its limits

Feature-by-feature comparison

Design matters

Where it fits: executive bonus plans

Frequently asked questions

Tim Fuller

We’re Here to Help

How an income payout option works

Case study: 20% lower premium, same total benefit

When it fits — and when it doesn’t

Turn a review into new business

Frequently asked questions

Tim Fuller

We’re Here to Help

What the test measures

When the result is abnormal

When the result is favorable

Why it matters for older clients

Frequently asked questions

Tim Fuller

We’re Here to Help

The “use it or lose it” objection

How asset-based LTC with guaranteed premiums works

Who it fits

Frequently asked questions

Tim Fuller

We’re Here to Help

Tim Fuller