Erin Wilichowski

2024 Volume 2

Med Mal 101 Refresher for All Physicians

By Shawna Bertalot, CIC, ACI, WisMed Assure President

Graphic explaining Claims-Made and Occurrence Med Mal

The WisMed Assure team spends a lot of time the first half of the year doing Medical Student and Resident education on topics especially important to those who are completing their education and heading off to their first jobs. Part of that education is Medical Professional Liability (Med Mal) 101.

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An Invaluable Secret for Residents and Fellows

Disability Insurance

By Tom Strangstalien, Insurance Advisor

I recently spoke with a physician regarding an eye condition that he has developed. He doesn’t know his prognosis, but there’s a strong possibility that it could be debilitating and threaten his ability to practice medicine in his specialty. He inquired if there’s any way to increase his disability insurance coverage as his current limits are significantly below his income.

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WisMed Assure clients benefit from access to Zywave solutions

Vector illustration of an abstract scheme, which contains people icons.

By Martin Hurst, Insurance Service Representative

At WisMed Assure, we are committed to providing more than just insurance solutions; we are dedicated to fostering the success and prosperity of our valued customers. That’s why we proudly provide our customers access to Zywave free of charge, as a testament to our unwavering commitment to your organization’s success. Zywave provides HR solutions that assist with employee benefits management, compliance tracking, and HR administration.

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Essential Estate Planning Documents in Wisconsin

Information about Estate planning and old glasses.

By Mark Ziety, CFP®, AIF®, Senior Advisor, WisMed Financial

Planning your estate isn’t just about paperwork; it’s about giving your loved ones peace of mind. Here’s a breakdown of key documents in a Wisconsin estate plan.

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Practice managers: join us for virtual discussions!

Virtual meeting with laptop and notebook on table.

By Chris Noffke, GBDS, CSFS, Vice President of Employee Benefits

In the constantly changing field of health care management, it is crucial to collaborate and share insights to achieve success. With this in mind, we are pleased to announce that we will be hosting virtual discussions for practice managers.

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Artificial Intelligence (AI)-Generated Healthcare Content; Understanding the Limitations

Futuristic AI icon processing data

by Kaelin O’Reilly, ProAssurance communications specialist

Artificial intelligence (AI), including chatbot tools like the popular ChatGPT, has made possible many useful applications in the healthcare sphere. ChatGPT’s ability to generate human-like responses to natural language inputs has made it an attractive tool for professional and student writers. The application can help develop quality and informative content in the form of articles, reports, blogs, tweets, and emails.

Read More…


Life, Death and Taxes

By Lisa Koerner, Insurance Advisor

If you are looking for some creative ways to avoid paying taxes, don’t overlook the benefits of life insurance. There are several different types of life insurance policies that serve different objectives, the greatest is a tax-free death benefit for your beneficiaries. Also, the death benefit does not go through probate, so only your beneficiaries can receive the money. There are a few things to look for when searching for the right life insurance.

When choosing life insurance programs, term life policies are typically the most popular. Term policies offer a larger death benefit for a smaller premium, however, the rates are only locked in for a certain number of years and don’t provide any cash return if you outlive the term or cancel the policy.

The advantage of a permanent policy is that it can build cash value in the policy that you can access tax-free while you are living and still provide a tax-free death benefit for your beneficiaries.

Universal life plans offer more flexibility but are also driven by interest rates. When setting up this policy, it is very important to work with your agent to make sure it is properly funded in the beginning to avoid the need to put more money into it later on.

Whole life policies can also be a good option for cash value growth, but there are things to look for here as well. If you choose a policy that has dividend options, you can set up the policy to allow you to access the dividends tax-free in the future without worrying about having a loan on the policy that could affect how the policy pays out. The biggest thing to be aware of with cash value policies is that if you take out more money than what you put in, the gains would be considered taxable income.

To learn more, reach out to Lisa Koerner or the WisMed Assure team at insurance@wismedassure.org, complete this quick online form or call 608.442.3810 for help with your insurance needs.

Note: This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as insurance advice related to your specific policy or situation. Please consult with a qualified insurance advisor or professional before making any policy decisions. Full disclaimer and contact information.

Your Medicare Update

By Mary Krueger, Medicare Specialist

It’s early 2024 and its already time to explore Medicare options for 2025. Many Medicare enrollees want to look at what is suitable for their needs in the Medicare market. If you have started looking for yourself or someone else, there are many different ways to procure coverage. Let’s explore some ideas for the 2025 Medicare Advantage programs that are being considered by medicare.gov.

Medicare Advantage

One of your options is the Medicare Advantage program. Insurance companies have slightly different copays and out-of-pocket maximums, so it’s very important to look at those. Additionally, some of your coverages are limited to in-network clinics and hospitals. Out-of-network procedures may require you to pay more or all of the bill. This is why it is critical to understand what your plan covers. Medicare pays the insurance companies for your care, so you do not need to show your Medicare card to the provider, you only need your insurance card.

Medicare Supplement (Medigap)

Your other options are the Medicare Supplement (also known as Medigap) policies which do not have networks. This seems to be the most popular option with our members with plans written through WisMed Assure. The freedom to choose where you get care (as long as the facility accepts Medicare) has been a very important benefit for those who are semi or fully retired.

Losing coverage

If you are age 65 or older, you have a right to guaranteed issue within 63 days of when you lose or end certain kinds of health coverage. When you have a guaranteed issue right, companies must sell you a Medigap policy at the best available rate, regardless of your health status, and cannot deny you coverage.

Choosing to enroll

Under federal law, you get a 6 month “Medigap Open Enrollment” period. It starts the first month you have Medicare Part B and you’re 65 or older.

Disability eligibility

Options are also available for those under age 65 who are eligible for Medicare because of a disability.

We are here to help you. Contact the WisMed Assure team at insurance@wismedassure.org, complete this quick online form, or call 608.442.3810 for help with your insurance needs.

Note: This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as insurance advice related to your specific policy or situation. Please consult with a qualified insurance advisor or professional before making any policy decisions. Full disclaimer and contact information.

Tax Treatment of Long-term Care Insurance a Game Changer

By Tom Strangstalien, Insurance Advisor

We put my dad into a nursing home on Monday. My mom had been his caretaker since he was diagnosed with a somewhat rare neurological disorder. My mom has been superwoman, a real- life example of a family member caring for a loved one. However, even superwoman has a kryptonite, hers being a diagnosis of breast cancer with an impending dual mastectomy this Friday. In need of her own care, our family had no choice but to concede to the fact that dad needed continuous care from qualified professionals. The cost? $8,000 per month, and that does not include costs for prescription medications and other needed skilled medical treatments. My parents are faced with a common long-term care phenomenon, which asset do we liquidate first?

As part of our financial planning, we should all anticipate being faced with this conundrum. Which asset should we set aside to be liquidated first in the event of the need for exorbitant long-term care expenses? In considering the tax treatment of “qualified” long-term care insurance products, we may be able to make this decision much easier.

Qualified long-term care insurance premium deduction

First, the IRS allows a tax deduction for qualified long-term care insurance premiums. These premiums could be in the form of a traditional long-term care policy or for the prevalent “hybrid” life insurance with long-term care benefits available today. In essence our premiums can be combined with our unreimbursed medical expenses to the extent that they do not exceed 7.5% of our adjusted gross income. The maximum we can deduct is subject to age limits, but this by itself can be significant, especially if we combine the sum-total over a respective number of years. If we do not claim the deduction on our Federal return, we can claim the expense of our premiums on the State of Wisconsin income tax return. All states vary with how these premiums are treated, so you need to check with your individual state.

The 2024 federal IRS deduction limits are:

Age 40 and below       $470

Age 41-50                    $880

Age 51-60                    $1,760

Age 61-70                    $4,710

Age 71 and over          $5,880

How are long-term care insurance payments for care treated by the IRS for tax purposes?

When determining which asset to liquidate first, this can be the determining game changer! If the policy is “qualified” per IRS guidelines, typically the payments for any level of care including home health care, assisted living or skilled nursing home care are not taxed. For my parents that would mean an estimated $96,000 in annual benefits received that would not be taxed. If assets were set aside and allocated to a taxable investment for future long-term care, it likely would need to achieve a significant rate of return to compete and almost certainly involve volatility and risk. I would say most of the time it makes much more sense to purchase “tax qualified” long-term care protection. My grandmother was in a home with cognitive impairment for 12 years. In her case at an average nursing home cost of $100,000 per year, she would have received $1,200,000 in tax-free benefits. Can a savings account or investment compete with that? And how will inflation and supply and demand affect future costs?

Using a Health Savings Account for long-term care insurance premiums

Another tax consideration worth mentioning is that qualified long-term care insurance premiums can be funded with Health Savings Account (HSA) assets. As we know, our health savings accounts accumulate on a tax-free basis, are deductible for individual contributions and can be funded with employer contributions. This fact can further enhance the benefits of purchasing long-term care protection.

I work with insurance planning for our physicians every day. Yet, the value of proper planning still resonates with an abrupt wake-up call when faced in real life. How much expense will accrue with my dad’s nursing home stay? Only the future holds the answer. One fact is undisputable, knowing which asset we will liquidate first should be planned well in advance. That asset may very well be and should be a tax qualified long-term care insurance policy.

For help with your insurance planning, contact Tom Strangstalien at 608.442.3730 or the WisMed Assure team at insurance@wismedassure.org, complete this quick online form or call 608.442.3810.

Note: This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as insurance advice related to your specific policy or situation. Please consult with a qualified insurance advisor or professional before making any policy decisionsFull disclaimer and contact information.

Tornadoes Can Strike in Seconds. Are You Ready?

By The Hartford, reposted with permission

     
 
Tornado season is upon us and could bring more storms in the months ahead. In fact, the U.S. experiences the most tornadoes of anywhere in the world.1 Last year alone 1,197 tornadoes tore through the country, costing over $1 billion in property damage.2
 
While we can’t prevent tornadoes, we can help you craft a safety plan and prepare. And know that if a tornado has damaged your property and you need to file a claim, we’re here to help you online or by phone (800 243 5860).
 
 
 
Before a Tornado
 
     
     
Designate a Shelter
     
The best shelters are sturdy, windowless spaces with room for you, your family, and pets.
     
A basement is ideal, though any low level, windowless room works, including closets, hallways, interior stairwells, or a bathtub if you have a heavy blanket or mattress as cover.
     
     
     
Create an Emergency Kit
     
Be sure your kit includes:
     
Food & Water Icon   Food and Water for 72 hours, such as canned soup, granola bars, or shelf stable goods, plus a can opener
     
Whistle Icon   Whistle or horn to attract attention should you become trapped
     
Flashlight Icon   Battery or generator powered lights to conserve mobile phone power
     
First aid kit Icon   First aid kit that includes bandages, antiseptic, and essential medicines
     
Radio Icon   Battery or crank radio because cell towers may be down
     
Money Icon   Important documents, including copies of your ID, insurance information, Social Security cards, a small amount of cash, and other legal documents, such as wills
     
Pet food Icon   Extra pet food if needed
     
     
 
During a Tornado
 
     
 
Know the signs of a tornado:
 
  Dark green or sickly looking sky
 
  Large hail
 
  Low clouds, especially if they’re rotating
 
  A roar often compared to a train whistle
 
If you hear or see these signs, or there’s a local tornado warning, shelter with family and pets.
 
If you’re far from that shelter, try to find a sturdy community building, such as a church or office building nearby.
 
If you’re in a vehicle and can’t find shelter, stay inside, and cover your head.
 
     
 
After a Tornado
 
     
 
  Use your horn or whistle, or another implement to attract help if trapped.
 
  Check your structure’s integrity. If you see cracks, rubble, or fallen beams, exit until it’s deemed safe to return.
 
  You may need shelter. If so, text "Shelter" and your zip code to FEMA (43362).
 
  Avoid downed powerlines. Even if they look inactive, wires may still carry a live current.
 
  Avoid using lighters or flames. Even if you don’t smell gas, there may still be a leak.
 
  Use generators safely. Vent generators outside. Carbon monoxide poisoning comes fast and can be deadly.
 
  Monitor the radio. Stay informed and safe by tuning your radio to reliable local news or emergency services.
 
     
 
File your claim with The Hartford
 
     
 
We want to help you get your life back on track as fast as possible. We’ll be there after a disaster – and anytime you need us. You can reach us 24/7 online or at our toll free number 800 243 5860.
 
     
 
Thank you for your business.
 
Steve Deane Signature
Steve Deane
Chief Claims Officer
 
     

Please reach out to the WisMed Assure team at insurance@wismedassure.org, complete this online form or call 608.442.3810 to explore your insurance options.

Note: This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as insurance advice related to your specific policy or situation. Please consult with a qualified insurance advisor or professional before making any policy decisionsFull disclaimer and contact information.

Disability and Life Insurance Taxation

By Chris Noffke, GBDS, CSFS, Vice President of Employee Benefits

Chris Noffke

Taxation of benefits is a unique and important topic. Many groups I work with want to make sure their employees are not taxed for an employer paid life insurance benefit and other clients want to ensure that if an employee becomes disabled, they do not have to pay taxes on their already reduced income. Making sure these benefits are set up correctly, both by the insurance carriers and in your payroll service, is vital to tax-free benefits for employees.

Life insurance

Life insurance is the easier of the benefits to establish correctly. If an employer provides up to a $50,000 benefit to each employee, then this benefit and premiums paid for it can be excluded from an insured employee’s taxable wages. If you offer coverage to employees for a benefit over $50,000 and it is employer paid, you are required to tax premiums for the amount above $50,000.  

Disability insurance

A bigger discussion happens regarding disability insurances (both Long-term and Short-term). When an employee or owner/partner is out of work due to a disability, they will receive only a fraction of their pre-disability earnings, the average benefit being 60% of pre-disability earnings. If an employer is paying 100% of the disability premiums, the employer can decide to offer these benefits as a “gross-up” to employees. A gross-up is structuring the premiums paid by the employer to be a taxable benefit on the employee payroll. The benefits received by the disabled employee (disability income) will then be tax deferred. The rule is direct, if employees are paying payroll taxes on the premiums that the employer is paying, the benefit will be tax free – however – it is very important that the payroll taxes begin prior to the benefits being received.

When premiums are split between the employer and employee, we need to make sure there are a few rules followed. If a benefit has a premium contribution of 50% paid by the employer and 50% paid by the employee, the setup will determine if the benefit is partially or fully taxable. If in this situation the employee pays their premiums pre-tax and there is no gross-up for the amount the employer pays, this full benefit will be taxable income. Another example is if the employer pays 50% of the benefit (not grossed-up) and the employee is paying for 50% of the benefit with post-tax dollars, then when the employee receives this disability income benefit, 50% of the benefit will be taxable. So, to make the full benefit tax deferred, you need to have the employer premiums paid be grossed-up and the employee portion needs to be paid with post-tax deductions.

This can get a bit confusing, and I would love to talk if you have any questions. Please email me at chris.noffke@wismedassure.org or call 608.442.3734.

Note: This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as insurance advice related to your specific policy or situation. Please consult with a qualified insurance advisor or professional before making any policy decisions. Full disclaimer and contact information.

Change Healthcare ™ Attack Highlights Often Overlooked Cyber Insurance Coverage

By Shawna Bertalot, CIC, ACI, WisMed Assure President

Shawna Bertalot

Many health care practices rely on a third party for access to their EMR and for billing. This creates a “contingent” or “dependent” risk. The February 21 cyberattack on Change Healthcare changed the world for many patients and health care providers. The March 14 and March 28 issues of Medigram included resource links and information on potential payment programs for Part A and Part B providers impacted. For practices and organizations that contracted with Change Healthcare™ to facilitate the electronic transfer of medical documentation and billing for all their insurance claims, revenue stopped, expenses continued and funding programs from Optum and CMS/Medicare have not been comprehensive solutions.

Cyber Insurance programs can provide additional coverage for a scenario like this, but only if the policy includes Business Income or Business Interruption coverage and includes Contingent Business Interruption or Dependent Business Interruption coverage. Without contingent or dependent coverage, your policy would only respond if the cyberattack were on your organization and would not respond if the attack were against a third party upon whom you are dependent. We discussed the importance of comprehensive cyber insurance in the November 2, 2023 issue of Medigram and the Fall 2023 issue of The Antidote.

Important Considerations for Cyber Insurance Coverage:

  • Cyber insurance policies do not always include contingent or dependent coverage.
  • Cyber coverage included as an add-on to other policies, like a business owners’ package or medical professional liability, typically do not include this coverage.
  • Business Interruption or Business Income options are not automatically covered.
  • Paying claims for cyber policies is complicated and typically requires forensic information technology and legal review to confirm the breach or attack. This can take weeks or months before any payment will be made.
  • Policyholders must provide proof of loss and that the incident in question directly resulted in the policyholder’s loss of income, without regard to whether an event has been widely reported in the news.
  • Deductibles and waiting periods will apply.
  • Reach out to the insurance carrier as soon as you become aware of an incident, before you hire your own consultants, and respond promptly and completely to their requests for supporting documentation. Your insurer will have specialized relationships at pre-negotiated rates.

If you are concerned about your Contingent or Dependent Risk and wondering if your current cyber insurance policy has coverage, how that coverage works or if you can obtain coverage, contact your WisMed Assure agent or shawna.bertalot@wismedasure.org.

Note: This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as insurance advice related to your specific policy or situation. Please consult with a qualified insurance advisor or professional before making any policy decisions. Full disclaimer and contact information.

Don’t Let Taxes Take a Bite Out of Your Finances: Common Errors to Avoid

By Mark Ziety, CFP®, AIF®, Financial Advisor, WisMed Financial

Investing is a smart way to grow your wealth, and keeping more of it from taxes is even smarter. Let’s explore some common tax mistakes investors make and how to avoid them:

  • Right Investment, Wrong Account: Investment growth, dividends and interest can be taxed as ordinary income, short or long-term capital gains or tax-free. Similarly, investment accounts are treated as tax deferred, taxable or tax-free. Holding tax efficient and inefficient investments in the right accounts can improve net returns.
  • Short-Term Gains Trap: Selling an investment held less than a year triggers short-term capital gains taxes, typically at your ordinary income tax rate. This can be much higher than the long-term capital gains tax for assets held over a year. Consider waiting to sell until you hit that long-term mark.
  • Neglecting Tax-Advantaged Accounts: Contributing to IRAs, 401(k)s and other tax-advantaged accounts, like a health savings account, allows your investments to grow tax-deferred or tax-free until withdrawal. This can significantly boost your returns in the long run.
  • Letting Losses Linger: Selling investments at a loss can offset capital gains and reduce your tax bill. This is called tax-loss harvesting. Don’t miss opportunities to claim these deductions! However, be mindful of the wash-sale rule, which limits claiming losses if you repurchase a similar investment within 30 days before or after selling.
  • Forgetting IRA Contributions: Investment companies typically don’t send the supporting tax document 5498 until May each year (because investors have until April 15 to make their IRA contribution for the prior year). This leads many investors to forget to record their IRA contribution on their tax return.

Wisconsin Specifics:

  • Missing Long-Term Care Premiums: Wisconsin allows a deduction for qualified long-term care insurance premiums on the state income tax return, even if you don’t claim an itemized deduction on the federal return. Plus, you won’t necessarily get a supporting tax document from your insurance company, so this is easy to miss.
  • Missing Edvest Contributions: Wisconsin residents contributing to an Edvest college savings plan may qualify for a state tax deduction on contributions. This is another one that’s easy to miss; there’s no supporting tax document sent out by Edvest.

Please note, this is not professional tax advice. For specific guidance on your situation, consult a tax professional. By being aware of these common pitfalls, you can keep more of your hard-earned investment returns come tax time, especially when considering Wisconsin’s unique tax landscape.

For personalized help eliminating debt, investing smart and securing retirement, please contact Mark Ziety, CFP®, AIF® 608.442.3750.

Mark Ziety, CFP®, AIF®

WisMed Financial, Inc. part of the Wisconsin Medical Society

Note: This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial or tax advice. Please consult with a qualified financial advisor or tax professional before making any financial decisions. Full disclosures.

2024 Volume 1

Don’t Let Taxes Take a Bite Out of Your Finances: Common Errors to Avoid

By Mark Ziety, CFP®, AIF®, Senior Advisor, WisMed Financial

Crumpled tax form with money, calculator and notepad on the table.

Investing is a smart way to grow your wealth, and keeping more of it from taxes is even smarter.  Let’s explore some common tax mistakes investors make and how to avoid them.

Read more…


Change Healthcare™ Attack Highlights Often Overlooked Cyber Insurance Coverage

illustration of umbrella protecting computer screen from an attack

By Shawna Bertalot, CIC, ACI, WisMed Assure President

Many health care practices rely on a third party for access to their EMR and for billing. This creates a “contingent” or “dependent” risk. The February 21 cyberattack on Change Healthcare changed the world for many patients and health care providers.

Read more…


Disability and Life Insurance Taxation

Tax payment concept. State Government taxation, calculation of tax return. Blank tax form, calendar, magnifier, money, notebook, calculator, coins, glasses, watches, documents, computer.

By Chris Noffke, GBDS, CSFS, Vice President of Employee Benefits

Taxation of benefits is a unique and important topic. Many groups I work with want to make sure their employees are not taxed for an employer paid life insurance benefit and other clients want to ensure that if an employee becomes disabled, they do not have to pay taxes on their already reduced income.

Read more…


Tornadoes Can Strike in Seconds. Are You Ready?

photo of tornado

By The Hartford

Tornado season is upon us and could bring more storms in the months ahead. In fact, the U.S. experiences the most tornadoes of anywhere in the world.

Read more…


Tax Treatment of Long-term Care Insurance a Game Changer

Nurses, doctor and caregivers in nursing home take care of old men and women. Volunteers help aged people at home and hospital.

By Tom Strangstalien, Insurance Advisor

We put my dad into a nursing home on Monday. My mom had been his caretaker since he was diagnosed with a somewhat rare neurological disorder. My mom has been superwoman, a real- life example of a family member caring for a loved one.

Read More…


Your Medicare Update

Open Enrollment concept.

By Mary Krueger, Medicare Specialist

It’s early 2024 and its already time to explore Medicare options for 2025. Many Medicare enrollees want to look at what is suitable for their needs in the Medicare market. If you have started looking for yourself or someone else, there are many different ways to procure coverage.

Read More…


Life, Death and Taxes

Photo of a grandfather and his granddaughter loving autumn. Throwing leaves in the air.

By Lisa Koerner, Insurance Advisor

If you are looking for some creative ways to avoid paying taxes, don’t overlook the benefits of Life Insurance. There are several different types of life insurance policies to serve several different objectives, the greatest being a tax-free death benefit for your beneficiaries.

Read More…


Fall 2023 Issue

Peace of mind this holiday season

By Martin Hurst, Insurance Service Representative

desk covered in policies to compare

The agents here at WisMed Assure do not focus solely on revenue, our agents go that extra mile to address individual and specific concerns and provide coverage within each customer’s budgetary needs. By putting clients’ needs first, our agents demonstrate their commitment to providing excellent service and building trust with physicians.

Read more…


Helping clients with strategies, not just quotes

photo of calculator and stethoscope on top of graphs

By Chris Noffke, GBDS, CSFS, Vice President of Employee Benefits

Managing the costs of employee benefits while still providing robust resources for your employees can be a challenge. If your insurance agent just gives you a few quotes to compare, you might not be getting the best plans for your team.

Read more…


Consolidation leads to $600,000 student loan forgiveness – a case study

'Case Study' written on chalkboard

By Mark Ziety, CFP®, AIF®, Senior Advisor, WisMed Financial

Good financial planners do much more than help with investments. They look at the entire financial picture, which includes debts too. Today’s case study shows how a unique rule, available until December 31, is facilitating more than $600,000 in student loan forgiveness.

Read more…


Nightmare before Christmas success story: cyber hacker stopped

By Shawna Bertalot, CIC, ACI, WisMed Assure President

Message from IT Manager: “Unusual activity has been detected on your exchange and our files cannot be backed up.”

This is not how any clinic administrator or managing partner wants to start their Monday morning, but exactly what happened to a long-time WisMed Assure client last December. This highly experienced, professional administrator of a 15-physician independent clinic with over 50,000 patient records was facing a situation she had never experienced before.

Read more…


Finding insurance and financial advisors I trust

By Tim Bartholow, MD

I have several connections to our Wisconsin Medical Society, and I’d like to share some good and bad  experiences with on the street financial advising and insurance advising, and how  WisMed Financial and WisMed Assure cut through market confusion.

Read More…


Should I convert my term life insurance policy?

photo of a young family looking out the window at fresh snow

By Tom Strangstalien, Insurance Advisor

As we celebrate the holiday season, we’re especially thankful for our loved ones. It’s the most popular time of year to reflect on our life insurance needs to determine whether we have the right coverage and enough coverage to protect our loved ones. The most common form of life insurance protection is term life, and a planning tool that often gets overlooked is the potential to convert your term life insurance coverage to some form of permanent life insurance, without any medical underwriting requirement.

Read More…


Protecting your most important asset can be a daunting task

Calendar full of appointments

By Lisa Koerner, Insurance Advisor

What is your most important asset? It’s your ability to earn an income. When choosing disability programs to protect your income, there are a number of different companies and benefits. It’s often a task that takes time and research, along with several discussions with an insurance agent.

Read More…


Making Part D of Medicare brighter

photo of an elderly man looking at medications with his physician

By Mary Krueger, Medicare Specialist

As many of you on Medicare know, October 15 to December 7 is the Annual Election Period for Medicare Part D and Medicare Part C (Medicare Advantage). This often coincides with a flurry of research needed and concerns expressed by client recipients and this year was no exception.

Read More…