The best way to get started is to schedule an appointment with one of our agents to discuss the unique needs of your business. As an independent agency, we provide you with multiple health insurance policy options and discuss variables to your plans, such as the number of employees, benefit offerings, and pricing. Once we go over the available options, we help walk you through which plan will best suit your unique business needs and best serve your employees.

Life insurance is the best way to ensure that your survivors remain financially secure. Life insurance serves several purposes. It can provide mortgage protection, ensuring that your family would not need to give up their home. It serves as a replacement for income lost by a family wage earner and helps pay for services they provide. The amount of life insurance an individual needs varies. Suppose the goal of a life insurance policy is to provide for loved ones over a period of time. In that case, generally, ten times the annual contribution an individual makes to their family is recommended. If the goal is to leave your family debt-free, any outstanding mortgage balances or other large debts must be calculated and considered in purchasing a policy. As your life changes, so do your needs. We recommend that you review your life insurance protection at least every five years or sooner if you experience a major life event such as marriage, divorce, a new child, a home purchase, a new job, starting a business, or retirement. Life insurance is a final gift of financial protection and security to your loved ones. We would love the opportunity to sit down with you and discuss what life insurance policies would best serve you.

Yes, we provide consultation and available resources to every client we meet, always free of charge. Whether you are searching for your first insurance plan or looking for better coverage, our goal is to help find the best policy for you. Our agents have over two decades of experience in the insurance industry and can help point you in the right direction for successful life and retirement planning. Give us a call at (479) 857-2810 or (888) 360-8611, and let us assist you with your insurance needs.

Our agency represents over 50+ top rated insurance carriers to provide you with coverage options that fit your insurance needs. We offer a free analysis of your insurance needs to help you make an informed decision on the coverage that is best for you. When you book an appointment with us we present you with all available options for your specific situation and help you weigh components such as affordability, coverage, and network

For decades now, healthcare costs have been on the rise. In our current economy, the cost of healthcare is growing faster than the bank accounts of Americans. With healthcare being a necessity, many are often overburdened with extensive medical bills that can compromise their financial success. In 2020 alone, healthcare-related spending in the United States increased 9.7%, reaching an astonishing $4.1 trillion, averaging $12,530 a person. When an individual purchases health insurance, they are protecting themselves from these rising cost. It is often stated that even the healthiest of individuals are only one medical emergency away from bankruptcy. Whether it's an accident that occurs or a medical emergency, in an instance, we can go from working to a bedbound recovery. Not only do we miss out on a paycheck while we recover, after recovery, we receive an invoice. Without insurance, the invoice is much greater than any of us would like to pay. With health insurance, you no longer have to worry about skyrocketing medical prices and the risk of an emergency causing a hefty bill.

We are always open for phone calls to schedule appointments in our office. Still, if a phone conversation, web meeting, or home visit is more convenient for you to discuss your insurance needs, we are happy to make the necessary accommodations to meet with you.

Long-term care insurance is becoming increasingly essential as the cost of providing health care rises. Families are going bankrupt paying the long-term care expense for elderly loved ones that can no longer make it on their own. Long-term care doesn’t just provide coverage for the nursing home or facility. Long-term care policies can also provide coverage for in-home care and many other benefits. It is very common these days for children to pay long-term care policies on their parents to protect their assets in the event their parents someday need long-term care services. We have many options for long-term care policies and are always available to discuss them with you and your family.

It’s always a good idea to review your disability insurance with a licensed insurance agent whenever you experience a life change. This can include accepting a new job, getting married, welcoming a baby, assuming new debt or receiving a substantial raise at your job. It’s also a good idea to review your disability insurance benefits once a year with an agent to make sure everything is in good shape. Weather you've purchased a policy through us before or you are just looking to have an insurance professional review you coverage, we would be happy to schedule an appoint with you.

There is no one-size-fits-all answer for how much disability insurance a person needs. That’s because that number is dependent on many personal factors. That said, an easy way to get a general idea of how much disability insurance you follow the three step calculation below: 1. Add up all your monthly living expenses. Keep in mind that some expenses may go down if you can’t work. These can include expenses for commuting, a professional wardrobe and meals out. Important expenses to include in this total are: Rent or mortgage Groceries Health insurance and health care expenses Utilities Car expenses like auto payments, auto insurance, gas and car maintenance Food and groceries Childcare and/or education expenses Household maintenance like cleaning and upkeep Subscriptions and memberships Entertainment Travel and leisure expenses Clothing expenses Savings, investment and retirement contributions Debt payments for student loans, personal loans and credit card debt Charitable contributions 2. Add up how much income you can expect to continue receiving. This includes income from any existing disability insurance policies. Also add in income from other sources like savings and investments. 3. Subtract the second figure from the first figure. The difference is the amount of disability insurance you should consider purchasing. Keep in mind that doing your own calculation or using a disability insurance calculator are only meant to give you a general idea of how much disability insurance income you would need if you became injured or ill. To get a more precise idea, it’s a good idea to give us a call or schedule a meeting so we can walk through and discover the right amount of coverage for you .

To receive disability insurance benefits, you will have to meet the disability definition as it’s defined in your policy. Both long-term and short-term disability insurance have a waiting period before you can receive benefits after suffering an injury or illness. It’s known as the “elimination period” and you can think of it as a deductible measured in time instead of money. The elimination period can last anywhere from a few days for short-term disability insurance to two years for long-term disability insurance. The process of filing a claim for disability insurance starts with submitting a claim packet. It typically includes a: Claimant statement that asks you personal information as well as details about the disability you suffered. Employer statement that asks your employer questions about the nature of your job, how your disability affects your ability to do your job and if you qualified for any other disability benefits. Physician’s statement from the doctor treating you for your disability. Your doctor will be asked about your disability, how long you’ve had it, treatments you’ve undergone and their thoughts on when (or if) you can return to work. Bank information form so you can receive your disability insurance payments via direct deposit. It can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months to hear back about your disability insurance claim. Common reasons for why disability insurance claims are rejected include: You didn’t meet the disability definition as spelled out in your policy. You misrepresented key information in your disability insurance application. The injury or illness is excluded in the disability insurance policy. (A common exclusion is for pre-existing conditions.) The illness or injury arose from an excluded cause such as drug use. If your disability insurance claim is rejected, you may be able to file an appeal with the disability insurance company.

The cost of disability insurance depends on several factors. Just some include your benefit amount, benefit period, occupation, health status, age and terms of the policy. As a general rule of thumb, the disability insurance cost for a long term individual policy is 1% to 3% of your annual salary. As always, we would be love the opportunity to walk you through your different options and provide you with a free quote and consultation regarding disability insurance.

Your ability to earn a living is your most important asset. And one of the best ways to protect it is with disability insurance. Think of it as insurance for your paycheck. Disability insurance provides you with a percentage of your income if an illness or injury prevents you from working and earning a living. You don’t hesitate to insure your home, car and phone, so why wouldn’t you also protect what pays for all those things—your paycheck.

There are two main types of disability insurance: short-term disability insurance and long-term disability insurance. Short-term disability insurance covers lost income for about three months while long-term disability insurance typically pays a portion of your lost income for anywhere from one year to your entire life. Short-term disability insurance replaces a percentage of your lost income for a brief amount of time—typically, between three to six months. Many short-term disability policies are automatically offered by employers as a benefit to their employees. Long-term disability insurance replaces a percentage of your lost income for an extended period of time. That amount of time, which is known as the benefit period, can last anywhere from about a year to until you reach retirement age. Long-term disability insurance usually replaces between 40% and 65% of your income. Like short-term disability insurance, this coverage may be automatically offered by your employer. You can also buy your own policy if your employer doesn’t offer coverage (or you’re self employed) or to supplement what your employer offers. In general, the cost of a disability insurance policy becomes less expensive the longer the elimination period is. That’s one reason why many people pair a short-term disability insurance policy with a long-term disability insurance policy. A short-term disability policy lets you increase the elimination period of your long-term disability policy. This can save you money on premium payments and give you needed financial support while you wait for your long-term disability insurance to kick in. Many people assume government-provided disability benefits will help them weather a tough time, but those benefits are usually not enough to maintain your quality of life. Likewise, employer-sponsored disability insurance is often not enough.

Disability insurance is something anyone who works and has earnings should consider. That’s because one in four people today will become disabled and potentially face financial hardship at some point during his or her working life. Disability insurance income helps cover expenses if you can’t work because of an illness or injury. There are disability insurance policies tailored to workers in specific professions as well as disability insurance for self-employed individuals.

Annuities are income-guarantee contracts offered by life insurance companies that are customized just for you. Many annuity applications can be submitted electronically, but a consultation with an insurance professional or advisor is required to help you determine which features are right for you, including: Access to funds Level of market exposure Desired payment periods Beneficiary options Tax-advantaged features Annuity company and product Our team will explain your options, help you understand long-term financial impacts, and guide you to a solution that maximizes your guaranteed income and supports your overall financial goals within your budget. Call us at (479) 857-2810 to speak to one of our agents and determine in an annuity is right for you.

Retirement should be carefree — but as it approaches, many people find the thought of maintaining and possibly running out of money over time stressful. Enter annuities. These financial instruments provide you with a guaranteed income stream, either for a fixed length of time or for the rest of your life, depending on the annuity you choose.

It’s good to understand that an annuity transfers the risk of you outliving your assets to an insurance company. In turn, they guarantee a stable income for a specific length of time, or for as long as you live. Depending on the type of annuity you purchase, there may be fees involved in providing this guarantee. How costs are calculated: An insurance company prices its guarantee based upon your life expectancy at the time of application, and the payout period you desire. Generally, the more risk you transfer to the insurance company, the higher the fees.

These days, annuities have many options, which requires planning and a long-term commitment to make the most of the benefits. As licensed insurance professional, we help you understand all the factors to take into consideration. Here are a few points to keep in mind: Limited access to funds. There may be limitations on your access to the cash value of the annuity. Fees and penalties may apply for early annuitization, or liquidation. Taxation. The taxable portion of an annuity payment is generally taxed as income, not capital gains. Inflation. Ask about options many annuities offer to ensure your payments keep pace with rising costs.

One of the best things about an annuity is that you never have to lose what you put into it. Continuing payments. Payments cease upon death, but most annuities have options to continue payments to the surviving spouse or another loved one. Distributions. If your annuity has remaining cash value, it can be distributed to your beneficiaries—the people you specify to receive your assets when you pass away. Beneficiaries receive payment via a lump sum or installments. Distribution terms are private with no need for probate (a court proceeding) if beneficiaries are family members. This makes annuities a useful tool for transferring wealth to heirs.

You first need to meet the elimination period before your long-term care insurance policy starts to pay for care. The elimination period can be thought of as a deductible measured in time instead of money. A typical elimination period for a long-term care insurance policy is 90 days. Once that is met, you typically need to experience either severe cognitive impairment or be unable to perform two activities of daily living such as dressing or feeding yourself. It’s always best to read over your individual long-term care policy to understand the exact conditions that trigger long-term care benefits. That said, the tax-qualified long-term care policies sold today start to pay when the elimination period is met and one of the two following criteria are met: You have severe cognitive impairment, such as Alzheimer’s Disease or other forms of dementia, that make it impossible for you to safely live independently. You’re unable to perform two of the six activities of daily living (ADLs) without assistance or supervision. These ADLs include being able to: Control your bladder and bowel movements Dress yourself Use the toilet and attend to your personal hygiene Feed yourself Bathe yourself Move yourself into and out of a bed and chair

There is no way to know for certain if you will someday require long-term care either in your home or in a specialized facility. But it’s likely when you consider that people are living longer than ever and that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reports that 69% of people will use long-term care services at some point. Many people find long-term care insurance worth it because it offers peace of mind knowing that they won’t drain their assets or put undue pressure on family members.

Because almost all long-term care policies are now hybrid policies that also include life insurance coverage, you will want to review your policy whenever you experience a major life change like a marriage, divorce or death in the family. It’s also a good idea to schedule an appointment to review your coverage once a year. This is especially true if your long-term care coverage includes a compound inflation rider or a purchase option.

While the cost of long-term care varies by facility and by where you live, it’s safe to say the cost is considerable. Long-term care costs range from $19,240 per year for adult day care to $105,850 per year for a private room in a nursing home. This kind of expense can quickly deplete your nest egg, which is why long-term care insurance is such an important coverage to consider. Many people are surprised to learn that long-term care coverage costs less than they imagined. You may even be able to deduct the cost of long-term care insurance premiums from your state and federal taxes.

There is no one-size-fits-all answer to the question of how much long-term care insurance you need. That’s because everyone’s situation is different, and the amount of long-term care insurance you need will depend on several different factors. They include your budget, you and your family’s health history, your financial situation and the cost of care where you reside. Also, because almost all long-term care insurance policies are bundled with life insurance coverage (or an annuity), you will also want to consider that coverage level as well. At MSOA, we offer a 100% free consultation to sit down with you to review your situation and retirement goals. We will show you what is available and help you make an informed decision that best meets your needs.

Long-term care insurance typically covers a comprehensive array of care in either your home or at a specialized facility. The exact type of covered varies by policy, but it often includes: Home health care such as skilled in-home nursing care; occupational, speech, physical and rehabilitation therapy; and help with activities of daily living like bathing and eating. Some policies may also include homemaker services like meal preparation and house cleaning services. Respite care that provides temporary care at a home, adult day care or nursing home. It’s meant to relieve a primary caregiver of responsibilities for a span of a few weeks per year. Adult day care centers Assisted living facilities Nursing homes Alzheimer’s special care facilities Memory loss units Long-term care insurance typically doesn’t cover care provided by family members. It also usually doesn’t cover medical care costs⁠—those are typically covered by private health insurance and/or Medicare.

Today, most long-term care insurance policies come bundled with life insurance coverage. Because both long-term care insurance rates and life insurance rates generally increase with age, it’s best to start shopping for a hybrid life insurance and long-term care policy when you’re in your 40s or 50s. That said, you can still buy a policy if you’re in your 60s or older⁠—just know that you’ll probably pay more than someone who’s younger. If you're ready to purchase long-term care insurance or not sure if it's time to buy yet, reach out to us at (479) 857-2810.

There are three main types of long-term care insurance: traditional long-term care insurance, hybrid long-term care insurance and life insurance with a long-term care rider. Each type of coverage has different pros and cons worth considering. Traditional long-term care insurance: Also known as standalone long-term care insurance, traditional policies exclusively cover long-term care expenses in your home or a facility. Hybrid long-term care insurance: Also known as linked benefits or combo policies pair long-term care with life insurance or an annuity. A hybrid policy provides coverage for both extended care in your home or a facility along with a death benefit. If you never need long-term care, your loved ones would benefit from a life insurance payout after you pass away. Hybrid policies have become increasingly popular in recent years. Life insurance with a long-term care rider: Some life insurance policies let you add on additional coverage for long-term care via a rider. A long-term care rider lets you use some of the life insurance policy’s death benefit to pay for long-term care needs while you’re still alive.