Fiduciary Blog

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently announced the 2018 Medicare Part B premiums.  In addition, the Medicare Part A deductible and coinsurance amounts, and Part B deductible were released.  Check out the summary below: Medicare Part B Premiums Those who have been "held harmless" from higher Part B premiums in the last two years...

On September 14, 2017, CMS (Medicare) revealed its new Medicare card design.  Instead of using a Social Security number as the Medicare identification number, Medicare will now use a random 11-character mix of numbers and capital letters.  As per the CMS...

  Income is critical to most employees' financial security, yet few employees think about how an illness or accident could put their income at risk. Learn the facts about the causes and odds of experiencing an income-interrupting disability. [pdf-embedder url="http://fiduciaryinsurancegroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/CDA_Infographic_Print.pdf"]

Every January 1st, Medicare Part D prescription drug plans reset.  This means if your plan has a deductible to reach (prior to when the plan kicks in coverage), you will possibly incur higher drug copays in the early part of the year.   The maximum Part D plan deductible in 2017 is $400.  Some plans have a $400 deductible -- some have a $0...

On November 10th, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) officially announced the 2017 Medicare Part B premiums.  In addition, the Medicare Part A deductible and coinsurance amounts, and Part B deductible were released.  Check out the summary below: Medicare Part B Premiums Those already receiving Social Security retirement benefits who...

It can be very easy to make mistakes when becoming eligible for Medicare.  Medicare enrollment is incredibly time-sensitive, so that’s why it’s important to be fully informed on your options. Here are the most common Medicare misconceptions we see on a regular basis that could cause trouble for Medicare beneficiaries:   Medicare Misconception...

Each year, the Medicare Annual Open Enrollment Period (AEP) runs from October 15th through December 7th.  This is the special time frame when Medicare beneficiaries have the option to make changes to certain types of Medicare health insurance plans.  Any changes made during AEP will take effect January 1st of the upcoming year (January 1st,...

The Health Savings Act of 2016 (H.R. 4469) was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives on February 4th, 2016 by Rep. Erik Paulsen of Minnesota.  The bill's summary and full text can be accessed here.  So, why is this relevant?  Because this proposed bill has...

You've worked 40+ years to prepare for retirement, and are now 66 years old.  You're still not ready to hang it up, though.  You may even work to age 70, if you can physically.  But you decide to begin receiving your Social Security retirement benefits, as you are now at Full Retirement Age (FRA), and your income won't reduce your Social Security benefits.  No problem,...

Should you purchase a traditional long-term care (LTC) policy or a hybrid long-term care policy?  This is a common question many ask when considering a long-term care insurance policy purchase.  Unfortunately, the answer is not so simple.  Each family has unique circumstances, and our recommendation will vary.   We always feel...

If you were asked whether you had insurance coverage for a disability, you might respond that you have some coverage through your employer's benefits package.  It's a common response -- but do you know any of the coverage details?  Many aren't able to accurately summarize the basics of this coverage.   A typical group long-term disability plan will...

The month of May is Disability Insurance Awareness month.  Yes, there is an entire month devoted to spreading the message about the importance of protecting your income!  The likelihood of a disabling injury or illness is 3-4 times higher than dying prematurely (depending on your age), yet many ignore the risks of becoming disabled.   According to...

  ANNOUNCEMENT   Fiduciary Insurance Group is now offering property & casualty insurance! Whether it’s homeowner’s, auto, or business insurance, we will use our same independent and objective philosophy to find you the best value. Check out our new Property &...

It's expensive...It's hard to get approved for coverage...It's possible I might never use it.  Right?  Right?  Well, maybe not... These are very typical comments about long-term care (LTC) insurance.  But let's look at each of these on a deeper level, and then finish up with a...

What is your life insurance age?  Well, if you are within 6 months of your next birthday, most insurance carriers act like you already blew out the candles.  What this means is you will be paying higher insurance premiums for your life insurance coverage if you are past your half-birthday.  

When applying for life insurance, there are many factors that determine the ultimate premium rate you pay for the coverage.  Medical history, height & weight, medications, family history, driving record, income, and more -- all these paint a picture for an insurance carrier’s underwriting department whether you are a good insurance...

There has been a lot of buzz surrounding the recent Social Security retirement strategy changes, since the enactment of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015. As with any wide-reaching law change such as this, it can take time for governmental agencies to formulate and release guidelines for us to...

In 2014, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the Department of Treasury revised rules regarding RMDs (required minimum distributions). These rules may provide you with greater flexibility for a portion of your pre-tax assets (i.e. Traditional IRA), allowing you to delay taking income payments beyond the typical requirement at age...

The long-term care insurance industry has had a rough go the past 10-15 years.  Stories of dramatic premium increases have shaped the perceptions of long-term care insurance, and forced many to hesitate or entirely bail out on obtaining the insurance...

The Genworth Cost of Care Survey has been a resource for long-term care planning since 2004. Knowing the costs of different types of care — whether the care is provided at home or in a facility — can help you plan for these expenses and build a plan for long-term care. The 2015 survey, covered 440 regions...

Genworth recently released the findings from their Beyond Dollars research project. The research focuses on the impact of long-term care: financial, logistical, emotional and health related. Lets take a look at some of the key findings:   The changing face of long-term care 62% of caregivers are between ages...

On November 10th, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) officially announced the 2016 Medicare Part B premiums.  In addition, the Medicare Part A deductible and coinsurance amounts, and Part B deductible were released.  Check out the summary below:   Medicare Part B Premiums Remember that those already receiving Social Security...

On October 30th, the Senate approved the House-passed budget/debt ceiling limit deal (H.R. 1314).  President Obama is expected to sign the bill into law this week.  This bill avoids a default and government shutdown, but the Medicare premium updates and Social Security benefit changes are quite possibly the most important to the average...

  How much life insurance do I need?   This is not easy to answer. There are so many variables to consider that affect how you approach a decision like purchasing life insurance coverage. Many of us...

Each year, the Medicare Annual Open Enrollment Period (AEP) runs from October 15th through December 7th.  This is the special time frame when Medicare beneficiaries have the option to make changes to certain types of Medicare health insurance plans.  Any changes made during AEP will take effect January 1st of the upcoming year (January 1st,...

It can be very easy to make mistakes when becoming eligible for Medicare.  Medicare enrollment is incredibly time-sensitive, so that’s why it’s important to be fully informed on your options. Here are the most common Medicare misconceptions we see on a regular basis that can cause trouble for...

  For most people, innovation and insurance don’t go hand-in-hand - and for good reason. The insurance industry has historically been slow to innovate and adopt new technology. But in the words of the great Bob Dylan, “ The Times They Are a-Changin’ “.   An example of this innovation comes from John Hancock Life Insurance Company...

When you add up your income throughout your career, it will most likely be your single biggest asset. Without it, your ability to support yourself and your loved ones, as well as the future you envision, may be at risk. Even if you have group long term...

A no-cost luxury car lease. An all expense paid African safari. A luxury cruise vacation for your entire family. No, these incentives didn’t come from a car dealership or travel agency, rather from an insurance company. These are the kinds of perks an insurance agent can receive for selling a lot of policies with a particular insurance company. It sounds crazy, but these...

Welcome to the new Fiduciary Insurance Group website! We have updated our site to better reflect our unique philosophy to insurance planning. We feel the new content will provide you the information necessary to understand how we approach insurance.   From time to time, we will include new blog entries about insurance products, industry topics, as well as links to...