By Rick Law, Estate Planning Attorney And Senior Advocate In The West Suburbs Of Chicago
There?s no use in looking back, so let?s look at the road ahead.
Here are some key facts about basic investment instruments to keep in mind as you begin your Elder Care journey. It pays to learn the pros and cons of each?it may really cost you if you don?t.
Number one: ?Annuities.
A quick note ? As a lawyer, I believe that no one should purchase an annuity without having it reviewed by an attorney who is familiar with how to read and understand an annuity contract.
Annuities are among the most misunderstood investments.? Annuities are investment contracts. They are not equity investments like stock. They are not debt investments like bonds. They are contractual agreements between an insurance company and
the purchaser. These contracts are written by insurance company lawyers, who often write in a way that?s difficult for the layperson to understand.
Too many annuities are sold based on YTB, not ROI. ?YTB? is our acronym for ?yield to your broker.? ?ROI? stands for ?return on investment.? ROI is return on investment to you.
Annuities are often misinterpreted by the buyer. The annuity salesperson often points out a bonus incentive, called a ?bump,? to buy the product. The salesperson tells the buyer that he/she will receive a 5 percent, 7 percent, or more bonus. The buyer mistakenly believes that the bonus is an actual cash value increase of added dollars.
In reality, the bonus is an additional accounting ledger increase for determining the amount to be used for income payouts. It?s a real bonus, but not as valuable as it?s made out to be.
Insurance companies are required to maintain enormous capital reserves, and for that reason they have a historical record of surviving and thriving in both good times and bad. They are far better capitalized than any government, any bank, or almost any other type of company.? (Apple or Google may have as high a percentage of reserves.)
For investors with a low to moderately low risk tolerance who want to sleep soundly, life insurance company-underwritten annuities may be a safe choice.
When money is invested, the insurance company is forced to set aside legally defined reserves to underwrite the company?s contractual obligation to pay you either for an insurance policy risk or for a contractual amount of dollars as defined in the annuity contract.
Reserves are specific to the individual insurance company?s financial reserves and current surplus. State law governs the amount of reserves that are required to be held. It?s not unusual for state regulators to require insurance companies to maintain a cumulative combination of both a reserve, plus a surplus (cushion) of $1.10 for every dollar received as a premium.
Life insurance companies have another advantage over banks and corporations as investments. Insurance companies do not pay taxes on their reserves, which are their invested assets. While they do pay taxes on their operating net income, the accumulations necessary to cover the policy obligations are treated as tax exempt investments. This tax advantage provides the life insurance companies a significant benefit compared to banks, which must pay income tax on their investment-related profits.
Next time: Bonds and other fixed income debts.?
If you?re ready to start getting your estate in order and secure your assets for the ?worst-case? scenario, please give our office a call at 800-310-3100. Your first consultation is absolutely free.? We?ll let you know what steps you need to take, right now, to protect yourself and your family.? Call now.
Sincerely,??
Rick L. Law, Attorney, Estate Planner for Retirees.
Rick was named the #1 Illinois elder law estate planning attorney by Leading Lawyer Magazine. He has been quoted in the Wall Street Journal, AARP Magazine, TheStreet.com, and numerous newspapers and articles. Rick is the lead attorney for Law ElderLaw, LLP, focusing in Estate Planning, Guardianship, and Nursing Home Solutions. His goal is to give retirees an informed edge when it comes to dealing with an uncertain future.? Get flexible retirement strategies that work during good times and bad, plus information on how you can save your home and assets from being used to pay for long term care.? Appointments available in Chicago, Aurora, Oak Brook, Schaumburg, and Joliet.? Call 800-310-3100 for your free consultation now!
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