FEBRUARY 2009

TABLE OF CONTENTS


Editor Column: Kate Kinkade

How HSAs Can Unshackle Clients From High Health Insurance Costs
Our Captivating Annual Survey
by Leila Morris
• This year marks our fifth annual survey on Health Savings Accounts. Respondents explain the specifics of their California HSA plans and explain how their plans have changed from last year. They also give their take on various aspects of the market and offer some predictions.

Thinking About a Consumer Driven Healthcare Plan? What Your Clients Should Know
by Jane Cooper
• There are many reasons for a company to move to a CDHP.  You and your clients should review their premium or claims-funding increases and what has affected premiums over the past two to three years. Only by looking back can you understand what you projections should be.

Give Clients The Security of Steady Income And High Yields In Retirement
by Thomas OBryon
• Consider real estate mortgage pools for an investment that provides the predictability of monthly cash flow; a high yield; an inflationary advantage that is not affected by market volatility; and a secured principal.

Long Term Care Insurance as a Benefit
by Cory Stepanek, CLTC
• Long-term care insurance is one of the newest employee benefits that employers are offering in order to attract and retain top performers. It is a valuable addition to any benefits portfolio.

Small Group Dental 101: Why Thinking Small Could Yield Big Results
by Renae Styve-Krmpotich
• If you haven’t expanded your business to include small group dental among your product offerings, you’re missing out on an additional revenue stream that could provide a solid return for nominal effort.

Keep Your Clients Smiling During Tough Economic Times
by Laurie S. Laspina
• (Because of formatting problems in January, we are running a corrected version of this article.) As the cost of medical insurance continues to increase, some clients may be tempted to drop ancillary coverage, like dental insurance. It’s during times like these that your clients will be looking to you for informed, intelligent solutions for managing their dental insurance costs.

Why Vision Benefits Can Weather the Economic Storm
by Patrick McClelland
• Businesses with as few as two employees can now benefit from the same quality vision
coverage enjoyed by employers with headcounts of a half million.

Boosting Morale With Eye Care Insurance
by Karen M. Gustin, LLIF
• Producers have an excellent opportunity to underscore the value they provide by identifying eye care insurance options that offer the best solutions for employers, employees, and their families.

Can You Hear Me Now?
by Mike Reha and Dru Volkmer
• As more of the working population retires later in life, employers face a significant increase of employees with hearing issues with little or no coverage for treatment.t.

Best Practices Are Essential for Life Settlements
by Robert Larsen
It is critical for financial professionals to follow best practices to ensure the highest offer and greatest outcome for every client especially in light of the current economy and an increasing need among the senior community and their families to access funds sooner than later.

Life Settlements: Five Lessons for Agents and the Case for Optimism
By Cynthia Poveda
• With attention focused on troubled equity, bond, and mortgage portfolios, barely noticeable to many is that fact that the life settlement market struggled last year.
Looking forward, there are reasons for optimism.

Looking for Recurring Commissions?
by Curtis M. Cole
• Have you been wondering if there are any viable new products that offer recurring commissions? We may have found what you’re looking for.