Provided by Danijel Velicki, Founder/Senior Partner with The Opus Group of Virginia, who represents MassMutual and other companies; courtesy of
Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual)
In times like these, good decisions matter. And when it comes to protecting a portion of your income from disability risks, it’s important to base your decision on the facts. In the case of disability, some of those facts might surprise you.
For example, more than one-quarter of today’s 20 year-olds will become disabled before they retire.1 And if you are covered by a group disability income policy through your employer, you might not know about the likely gap between your policy’s benefits and your family’s actual needs.
To start with, the typical group plan only covers 50-70% of income. And benefits are often taxable, have maximum limits, and don’t cover bonuses, commissions or 401(k) contributions. In some cases, worker’s compensation helps bridge the gap, but less than 5% of disabling accidents and illnesses are work related. 2
If you run a business, your insurance protection should help cover its operating costs, possibly provide the funds for a partnership buyout, and protect a portion of lost earnings – either yours or your employees’.
The most common way to close the gap between existing coverage and actual needs is to obtain a supplemental individual disability income insurance policy. Because you own it, you can take it with you throughout your career.
And the best way to make a good decision about that policy is to work with a trusted, trained financial professional. No surprise there.
© 2011 Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company 01111-0001
1 Social Security Administration, Fact Sheet March 18, 2011
2 Council for Disability Awareness, Long-Term Disability Claims Review, 2011 http://www.disabilitycanhappen.org/research/CDA_LTD_Claims_Survey_2011.asp
Disability income insurance products issued by Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company, Springfield MA 01111-0001. These polices have exclusions and limitations. For costs and complete details of coverage, please call me at 757-227-5000. CRN201312-153928
Danijel Velicki, CFS, CIS is a senior partner with The Opus Group and a registered representative of and offers securities through MML Investors Services, LLC, Member SIPC. Supervisory Office: 222 Central Park Ave, Suite 1100, Virginia Beach, VA 23462 757-490-9041. The Opus Group of Virginia is not a subsidiary or affiliate of MML Investors Services, LLC, or its affiliated companies.
