The challenges seniors have met throughout their lives have made them wiser and stronger, preparing them for the unique challenges that come with aging.
As we age, the potential for cognitive decline increases, ranging from simple forgetfulness to dementia. Long-term illness can sap time and energy from tending to your financial affairs in retirement. Even a decline in vision may make it harder to manage your financial affairs.
Fortunately, you can look ahead to help protect yourself and your family against the financial consequences of deteriorating health, and in many cases, insurance may play a significant role.
Let’s examine some of the ways you can employ insurance to help protect your financial health.
Healthcare Costs
For some, healthcare costs represent a larger share of their budget as the years pass.
Recognizing this, you may want to consider Medigap insurance to cover the expenses that Medicare does not, which can add up quickly. You also might want to consider some form of extended-care insurance, which can be structured to pay for nursing homes and home healthcare services—two services that Medicare doesn’t cover.
Managing Your Wealth
The involvement you have with managing your investments may change as you age. For many seniors, that day-to-day responsibility is unattractive and even untenable.
If that is the case, you may wish to consider what role annuities can play. Annuities can be structured to pay you income for as long as you live, relieving you of the concern of outliving your retirement money. Certain annuities even offer extended-care benefits, which allow you to address two concerns with one decision.
Transferring Your Estate
If you are like many seniors, you have a desire to leave something to your children, grandchildren, and a favorite charity. Using life insurance, you can pursue these objectives. For example, life insurance can be used to create an estate or to equalize an estate transfer among your heirs.
Insurance will never be able to prevent the health issues that come inexorably with age, but it can be used to help mitigate their potential financial consequences.
Disclosures:
Because investor situations and objectives vary this information is not intended to indicate suitability for any individual investor.
This is for informational purposes only, does not represent legal or tax advice does not indicate suitability for any particular investor, and does not constitute an offer to purchase or sell investments.
Fixed Annuities are long term insurance contacts and there is a surrender charge imposed generally during the first 5 to 7 years that you own the annuity contract. Withdrawals prior to age 59-1/2 may result in a 10% IRS tax penalty, in addition to any ordinary income tax. Any guarantees of the annuity are backed by the financial strength of the underlying insurance company.
Indexed annuities are insurance contracts that, depending on the contract, may offer a guaranteed annual interest rate and some participation growth, if any, of a stock market index. Such contracts have substantial variation in terms, costs of guarantees and features and may cap participation or returns in significant ways. Any guarantees offered are backed by the financial strength of the insurance company. Surrender charges apply if not held to the end of the term. Withdrawals are taxed as ordinary income and, if taken prior to 59 ½, a 10% federal tax penalty. Investors are cautioned to carefully review an indexed annuity for its features, costs, risks, and how the variables are calculated.
Investors are advised to consider the investment objectives, risks, and charges and expenses of the variable annuity and its underlying investment options carefully before investing. The applicable prospectuses for the variable annuity and its underlying investment options contain this and other important information. Please call the product sponsor for free prospectuses. Read them carefully before investing or sending money. Products and features are subject to state availability.
The investment return and principal value of the variable annuity investment options are not guaranteed. Variable annuity sub-accounts fluctuate with changes in market conditions. The principal may be worth more or less than the original amount invested when the annuity is surrendered.
Advisory Services are offered through Asset Strategy Advisors, LLC (ASA), a SEC Registered Investment Advisor. Securities offered through registered representatives of Concorde Investment Services, LLC. (CIS) or RCX Capital Group, LLC (RCX), both members of FINRA/SIPC. Insurance Services offered through Asset Strategy Financial Group, Inc. (ASFG). ASA, CIS, RCX and ASFG are independent of each other. All research reports from third parties are for informational purposes only.
