Holiday Office Closure: Christmas Day
The OUH Office will be closed on December 25, 2023 for Christmas. Our office will reopen with normal business hours on Tuesday, December 26, 2023 from 8:00 am – 4:30 pm. Mahalo!
2023
Holiday Office Closure: OUH Office Christmas Party
The OUH Office will be closed on Friday, December 23rd at 10:00 am for our Annual Office Christmas Party. Mahalo!
Hawaii’s Exceptional Life Expectancy: Ensuring a Graceful Journey with Retirement Planning Solutions
Hawaii has the highest life expectancy in the United States, with an average of 80.7 years as of 2020. Factors contributing to this longevity include active lifestyles, dietary habits, and culture. There are challenges associated with an aging population, emphasizing the need for life insurance with long-term care, long-term care insurance, and retirement planning to enable aging in place gracefully.
Hawaii’s Longevity Secrets
Hawaii’s exceptional life expectancy can be attributed to various factors:
Active Lifestyles
Asian Americans living in Hawaii tend to lead more active lifestyles. The pleasant climate and natural beauty encourage outdoor activities, including swimming, hiking, and surfing. Such activities contribute to better physical health and, consequently, longer life expectancy.
Dietary Habits
A diet rich in fruits, vegetables, fish, and low-fat meats is typical of 80 and 90 years old in Hawaii. This diet, combined with the cultural emphasis on a balanced and nourishing way of life, and physical activity are essential.
Brain Activity
Keeping a brain active with crosswords, sudokus and reading keeps it growing, and slows dementia. Hawaiian and Asian culture emphasizes community, family, and respect for elders. The strong social support systems foster emotional well-being among the elderly including social interaction, contributing to their longevity.
Aging Challenges
While Hawaii’s high life expectancy is undoubtedly something to celebrate, it also brings certain financial challenges, particularly for individuals approaching retirement age. Planning for a longer life expectancy is vital for several reasons:
1. Retirement Savings
Many people face challenges related to insufficient retirement savings. It’s essential to save adequately for retirement to maintain the same standard of living.
2. Social Security
Relying solely on Social Security may not provide enough income to cover living expenses. Social Security payments may not keep pace with inflation, leaving retirees with a reduced purchasing power.
3. Inflation
Inflation erodes the real value of money over time. Retirees on a fixed income may find it challenging to maintain their desired lifestyle when the cost of living rises.
4. Debt
Carrying debt into retirement can be burdensome. Mortgage payments, credit card debt, or student loans can deplete retirement savings.
Managing Financial Risks by Planning
To navigate the challenges of aging gracefully and enjoy the benefits of a long life, it’s essential to consider various solutions.
Life Insurance with Long-Term Care Riders
Life insurance policies with long-term care riders provide financial support for both the insured and their beneficiaries. These policies allow policyholders to access a portion of their death benefit to cover long-term care expenses, offering financial flexibility and security.
Long-Term Care Insurance
Long-term care insurance policies are designed specifically to cover the costs associated with long-term care services. These policies can alleviate the financial burden on individuals and their families.
Annuities and Retirement Planning
Annuities can provide a source of income in retirement, helping seniors maintain their standard of living. Proper retirement planning, which may include annuities, is essential to ensure financial security in old age.
Income-Generating Investments
Consider investments that provide regular income, such as dividend-paying stocks, bonds, or real estate investments. These can supplement your retirement income.
Estate Planning
Create a comprehensive estate plan to minimize estate taxes and ensure your assets are distributed according to your wishes. This may involve using trusts and wills.
Social Security Optimization
Understand how to maximize your Social Security benefits by delaying your claim if possible, as this can increase your monthly benefit.
Diversify Investments
Diversification can help manage investment risk. Spread your investments across different asset classes to reduce exposure to any single risk.
Conclusion
As individuals approach retirement, it is essential to consider these challenges and plan accordingly.
Financial professionals can play a pivotal role in guiding individuals toward suitable solutions, such as life insurance with LTC riders and standalone LTCI. Contact a financial professional to review your options. Hawaii’s exceptional life expectancy serves as a model for the rest of the nation, emphasizing the importance of combining healthy living, cultural values, and the right financial strategies to ensure a longer and more comfortable life for our aging population.
TLDR; Be Proactive
Addressing these challenges requires proactive financial planning. Insurance products, such as life insurance with long-term care riders and long-term care insurance, can provide a safety net for aging individuals and their families, allowing them to age in place gracefully without the burden of exorbitant healthcare costs.
Holiday Closure: Day After Thanksgiving
The OUH Office will be closed on Thursday, November 23, 2023 and Friday, November 24, 2024 for Thanksgiving. Our office will reopen with normal business hours on Monday, November 27, 2023 from 8:00 am – 4:30 pm. Mahalo!
Holiday Closure: Thanksgiving Day
The OUH Office will be closed on Thursday, November 23, 2023 and Friday, November 24, 2024 for Thanksgiving. Our office will reopen with normal business hours on Monday, November 27, 2023 from 8:00 am – 4:30 pm. Mahalo!
Survivorship Life Insurance: A Unique Solution for Estate Planning
Survivorship Life Insurance, also known as “second-to-die” or “joint” life insurance, is a unique type of policy that covers two individuals under a single policy. Unlike traditional life insurance, which pays out upon the death of a single insured person, survivorship life insurance pays out upon the death of the second insured individual. This insurance type is particularly valuable in estate planning.
Table of Contents
Purpose of Survivorship Life Insurance in Estate Planning
Estate planning is a critical aspect of financial management, ensuring the efficient distribution of assets upon the death of the policyholder. Survivorship life insurance serves as a valuable tool for achieving estate planning goals, including preserving wealth, minimizing estate taxes, and providing financial security to beneficiaries.
Benefits of Survivorship Life Insurance
Survivorship life insurance is a powerful tool in estate planning, providing cost-efficiency, estate tax benefits, guaranteed payouts, and flexibility.
Cost-Efficiency
Survivorship life insurance policies are often more cost-effective than insuring two individuals separately. The premiums for this type of policy are typically lower, making it an attractive option for couples.
Estate Tax Benefits
One of the primary advantages of survivorship life insurance is its ability to help minimize estate taxes. When the second insured individual passes away, the policy’s death benefit can be used to cover estate tax liabilities, ensuring that the estate’s assets remain intact.
Guaranteed Payout
Survivorship life insurance guarantees a payout upon the death of the second insured person, providing peace of mind that the intended beneficiaries will receive the death benefit. This payout is typically income-tax-free, further protecting the estate.
Flexibility
These policies offer flexibility in terms of the death benefit, allowing policyholders to adjust the coverage amount as their needs change. This adaptability is especially useful for estate planning, where asset values may fluctuate over time.
Estate Planning and Survivorship Life Insurance
On Estate Taxation
Estate taxes can significantly reduce the value of an estate left to heirs. When an individual dies, their estate may be subject to federal and state estate taxes. These taxes can be substantial, potentially eroding a significant portion of the assets intended for heirs.
How Survivorship Life Insurance Fits In
Survivorship life insurance plays a crucial role in estate planning by providing a financial safety net. It can help cover the estate taxes when the second spouse passes away. This means that heirs can inherit the entire estate without the burden of a hefty tax bill.
While survivorship life insurance is cost-effective when compared to insuring each spouse individually, it is essential to consider the premiums and the overall financial situation of the couple. A thorough financial analysis with a professional is necessary to determine the right coverage and premium structure.
Choosing the Right Survivorship Life Insurance Policy
Types of Policies
There are various types of survivorship life insurance policies, including universal life, whole life, and variable universal life. Each has its unique features and benefits. It’s crucial for couples to understand the differences and choose a policy that aligns with their financial goals and estate planning objectives.
When selecting a survivorship life insurance policy, it’s essential to consider factors such as the coverage amount, premium payment structure, and the insurance company’s reputation. Couples should assess their financial situation, including current and future financial needs.
Working with a Financial Advisor
Given the complexity of survivorship life insurance and its integral role in estate planning, working with a knowledgeable financial advisor is highly recommended. An advisor can help assess your unique situation, identify the right policy, and ensure it aligns with your estate planning goals.
TLDR; Recap on Survivorship Life Insurance
Survivorship life insurance is a valuable tool for estate planning, offering cost-efficiency and estate preservation benefits. It helps protect heirs from the burden of estate taxes and allows couples to leave a lasting legacy.
Understanding Life Insurance Underwriting: What to Expect in the Application Process
Life insurance stands as a cornerstone of financial security, safeguarding your loved ones’ future. Navigating the path to the perfect policy can be intricate, with underwriting as the linchpin in gauging your eligibility and premiums. We will unravel the intricacies of life insurance underwriting, helping you understand what to expect during the application process.
The Application Process: Setting the Stage
Begin the journey with honesty. Expect a comprehensive questionnaire that dives into your medical history, lifestyle, and more. Honesty is key here, as providing accurate information ensures a smooth underwriting process. For instance, if you smoke but fail to disclose it, it can lead to complications when the underwriter discovers the truth resulting in delayed policies, and possibly rejection by insurers. The application and review process is handled in two parts:
-
-
- Part 1 – Medical Questionnaires
- Part 2 – The Medical Exam
-
Part 1: Medical Questionnaires
1. Review of Medical Records
Evaluating Your Health History
Begin the journey with honesty. Expect a comprehensive questionnaire that dives into your medical history, lifestyle, and more. Honesty is key here, as providing accurate information ensures a smooth underwriting process. For instance, if you smoke but fail to disclose it, it can lead to complications when the underwriter discovers the truth resulting in delayed policies, and possibly rejection by insurers.
2. Lifestyle and Hobbies
Gauging Risk Factors
Insurance underwriters assess lifestyle choices and hobbies to gauge potential risks. For instance, if you’re passionate about skydiving, your premium could be higher due to the increased risk of fatal accidents associated with this hobby. Similarly, your occupation may also impact your premium. Maintaining honesty and providing additional information to your agent can be beneficial, potentially leading to reduced premiums or a better health class rating, among other benefits.
3. Financial Background
Gauging Your Economic Stability
Your financial situation, including income and debt, may be assessed. If you’re applying for a substantial coverage amount, underwriters want to ensure your beneficiaries won’t face financial hardship upon your passing. For instance, if you have a lot of debt and limited income, it may impact the policy’s approval.
4. Family History
Genetics and Inheritance
Some policies require information about your family’s medical history. If you have a family history of certain hereditary diseases, it could affect your premium. For example, if cancer runs in your family, it may lead to a higher cost.
Part 2: The Medical Exam
Medical Examinations Provide Insight into Your Health
In the life insurance underwriting process, a crucial step often involves a medical examination. Proper preparation is essential. Following your application, you may be required to undergo a paramedical exam. This can be arranged at your home or a local clinic, depending on your preference. During the examination, various health metrics will be assessed, including cognitive ability tests, blood pressure, cholesterol levels, as well as blood and urine samples.
Your insurance agent will likely offer guidance on how to prepare, which may include staying well-hydrated and ensuring a good night’s rest prior to the paramedical exam. They will also provide any additional information you might need to make the process as smooth as possible such as bringing:
- Your driver’s license or valid photo ID, or a copy
- A list of prescriptions including dosage amounts
- Names of your doctors you have seen in the past (most recently, 5 years)
- Types and dates of any surgeries you have had recently
Preparing for Your Exam: One Week Before
- Maintain a Healthy Diet: Limit high-cholesterol foods, salt, sugar, and fats.
- Review medications: Avoid non-essential over-the-counter medications like antihistamines and decongestants, as they can affect blood pressure and glucose levels.
- Decrease alcohol: Steer clear of alcohol, which can have adverse effects on liver enzymes and lead to dehydration.
- Hydrate: Increase your water intake to stay well-hydrated, flushing toxins from your body that could impact your blood and urine samples. Proper hydration also makes blood draws more manageable.
Preparing For Your Exam: One Day Before
- Avoid strenuous exercises as it can impact blood pressure readings and cholesterol levels negatively.
- Ensure a good night’s sleep for improved vitals.
- Some agents may recommend fasting for 8 hours prior to the exam for blood draws.
Day of Medical Exam
- Best practice is to schedule your medical exam earlier in the day, especially if fasting
- Steer clear from caffeine
- Drink a glass of water shortly before your exam
- Dress in lightweight clothing for weigh-in and a short-sleeve shirt for the blood draw.
Once your exam is finished, the results are sent to the insurance company’s underwriting team. The underwriting process may take anywhere from a couple of days, up to a few weeks; though it is typically the latter. During this time, an underwriter examines your application, health data, and lifestyle to determine your insurance risk class. For larger policies, the underwriting process may be more detailed.
Underwriting Decisions
Approval or Rating
Upon completion of underwriting, you will receive your results—an approval and rate information. Based on the gathered information, the underwriter will determine your eligibility and premium. You may receive a standard rating (the norm), a substandard rating (higher risk, higher premium), or even a preferred rating (lower risk, lower premium). For example, if you’re in excellent health, you could secure a preferred rating and lower premiums.
5 stars – preferred plus (excellent health, ideal height/weight ratio, clean family history, non-smoker)
4 stars – preferred (very good health, minor health conditions, non-smoker)
3 stars – Standard Plus (good health, good height/weight ratio, good family history)
2 stars – standard (average height/weight ratio or worse, complicated family health history)
1 star – substandard (complicated family health history, recent serious health issues)
What are Life Insurance Classifications
Preferred Plus
- Excellent health
- Ideal height/weight ratio
- Clean family history
- Non-smoker
Preferred
- Very good health
- Very good height/weight ratio
- Minor health conditions
- Non-smoker
Standard Plus
- Good health
- Good height/weight ratio
- Good family history
- Typically non-smoker
Standard
- Average health
- Average height/weight ratio
- Complicated family history
- Non-smoker or Smoker
Sub Standard
- Complicated health
- Recent serious health issues
- Below average height/weight ratio
- Complicated family history
- Non-smoker or Smoker
If you’ve been working with an experienced agent and there are no health surprises, your premiums should align with your expectations. However, there may be cases where approval is granted, but the coverage amount is adjusted due to risk factors discovered during underwriting.
Negotiating Your Policy
Options and Riders
After underwriting, you can discuss the policy options and riders that best suit your needs. Riders can provide additional coverage for specific scenarios, such as critical illness or accidental death. Be sure to inquire about these options to tailor your policy.
The underwriting process is a critical step in securing the right life insurance policy. Be transparent about your health, lifestyle, and financial situation to ensure a fair evaluation. Remember, life insurance underwriting is not about excluding individuals but determining the most accurate premium rates to protect you and your loved ones. So, when you embark on your life insurance journey, you can now face the process with confidence, knowing what to expect.
Long-Term Care Planning Workshop
Enjoy complimentary refreshments and pupus while you learn. This workshop offers a perfect blend of valuable information and a friendly atmosphere.
Long-Term Care Planning Workshop
Tuesday, October 3, 2023
5:30 – 6:30 p.m.
Occidental Underwriters of Hawaii
1163 S Beretania Street
Honolulu, Hawaii 96814
What will you get?
- Empowerment – Gain strategies on how to manage rising costs of care
- Clarity – Understand the truth behind long-term care and busting common myths
- Support & Knowledge – How to handle emotional and financial aspects of long-term care
- Personalized Guidance – Get answers to questions during the Q&A session. Our team of professionals are here to provide tailored solutions to your long-term care concerns.
Ken Herlihy, CLTC
Ken Herlihy, CLTC, boasts a career spanning back to 1984 in the insurance industry, with significant leadership experience in sales and marketing. Over the past three decades, he has specialized in the Long-Term Care (LTC) market, refining his expertise.
Click to view or download
This workshop is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or legal advice. Please consult with a qualified professional for personalized guidance related to long-term care planning.
Life Insurance Awareness Month 2023
Life Insurance Awareness Month (LIAM) is a campaign that occurs every year during the month of September. The nonprofit organization, Life Happens, sponsors LIAM—a month-long campaign dedicated to helping consumers take personal financial responsibility through the ownership of life insurance and related products. This is the perfect time to take full advantage of LIAM resources to get educated about life insurance. What better time than now to get started on securing your future!
Get Educated: Statistics and Studies
Talk with your financial professional about life insurance.
Benefits of Life Insurance
Life insurance is an essential part of any financial plan. While life insurance provides security and protection for your loved ones when you are no longer here, it can also provide a reservoir of cash in some policies. Strategically planning for your future with life insurance ensures that you will have a well-rounded plan for years to come. If plans change, you can buy another policy or cancel an old one.
Protection
Wealth Creation
Savings
Tax Savings
Who needs life insurance?
Life insurance is an essential part of any financial plan. While life insurance provides security and protection for your loved ones when you are no longer here, it can also provide a reservoir of cash in some policies. Strategically planning for your future with life insurance ensures that you will have a well-rounded plan for years to come. If plans change, you can buy another policy or cancel an old one.
Living life with life insurance means that you can fully enjoy your time here without worrying about the what-ifs in life, and by providing peace of mind with life insurance, the burden of the unknowns is relieved from your shoulders.
- Homeowners
First-time homeowners carry a lot of debt. If you were to pass away while still paying for your mortgage, how would your loved ones pay for the additional cost of owning a house? Life insurance provides protection from life’s unknowns and big what if’s. Instead of your family struggling to pay for your funeral payments, credit card debt, car payments, and mortgage, the insurance company will provide a benefit amount upon your passing which can pay for the entire amount of the house or condo and may even cover your additional debts.
- Newlyweds
Married couples and life partners are likely to both work and contribute to the household income. What happens when one person passes away and the household income decreases, but the same amount of bills need to be paid, plus funeral costs? The survivor is left with the burden of the loss of a loved one and the harsh reality of increased financial obligations. A life insurance policy’s death benefit can be spent in any way the beneficiary likes. Proceeds from a life insurance policy would help the surviving partner maintain their lifestyle by helping to pay bills and debt including mortgage payments, car payments, student loans, and credit card debt.
- New Parents
Taking on the new role of parenting, or adding an extra bundle of joy in your life can be both challenging and rewarding. Having a child can also be quite expensive with the typical American family spending $233,000+ raising a child from birth to age 18. For a middle-income family, housing accounts for 29% of costs, 18% for food, 16% for child care/education, according to the USDA.
Life insurance provides an income should one, or both parents pass away. The life insurance benefit can be used for costs of living including food, housing, child care, and education. If you are a single parent, the life insurance benefit is a financial lifeline for your child should you pass away.
See this Bankrate guide that covers which financial expenses soon-to-be parents can expect. It includes a breakdown of the different costs to consider when raising a child.
- Highly-paid employees
Many employers now offer group life insurance with a few thousand dollars of benefit to cover a small funeral cost, sometimes more. However, this is often not enough coverage especially if you have a family. If you are looking to move jobs, your group life insurance coverage will likely end creating a gap in coverage for you and your loved ones. Having your own individual life insurance policy means you won’t have a gap in coverage when you switch jobs.
If you’re starting your own business, a “key person” insurance coverage will help to protect your business by providing a benefit to replace the lost income and pay for business expenses in case of death or disability. Valued partners and employees have an enormous impact on your business both positively, but also negatively if they cannot perform their job. With a “key person” coverage you can use the benefit to buy out a partner without depleting company cash reserves, or use the cash to pay for expenses and buy time to fill in the gap.
- Individuals Looking Towards Retirement
Life insurance is important in creating a well-structured and well-rounded retirement plan. Permanent life insurance policies provide a reservoir of cash that you can use during retirement through the cash value component. Life insurance is also used for estate planning and may help your beneficiaries pay taxes and legal fees. Consult with your financial advisor on the best plan for your retirement needs.
- Caregivers
The aging population is living longer, and many people in the United States rely on family members to care for them. This puts an enormous financial and emotional burden on loved ones as they try to cope with their ailing relatives. If you’re providing care for an aging relative, a life insurance policy is essential in making sure you have a backup plan to protect their continuity of care if you pass away.
- Divorcees
Ending a relationship is a good time to reevaluate your existing life insurance before a divorce is finalized. If your current life insurance coverage lists an ex as a beneficiary, consider excluding them from your list. Don’t forget to review your beneficiaries after splitting up. In addition, consider purchasing your own life insurance policy, or adding a new one.
NationwidePresents : “Land as Your Legacy” Program (Agricultural Workers)
Join Chris Chertboonmuang, RVP and Timothy Kohl, RVP with Nationwide as they present a special program to help various stakeholders in the agricultural industry (produce delivery, farmers, local produce companies, and more) to both plan for their future and receive underwriting concessions.
Nationwide’s Land As Your Legacy® Program (LAYL) is specifically tailored for agricultural workers, including those involved in food distribution, fishing, and chocolate growing, aims to provide flexible underwriting benefits and support to this vital sector.
The Land As Your Legacy® program, reduces barriers to life insurance. Individuals must disclose tobacco use (chew, snuff, cigars) for the potential non-tobacco rating. Enjoy flexible build rates and a possible 50-credit rating upgrade on build or BMI. APS is only based on age and insurance amount.
Land As Your Legacy®
Discover the benefits of Nationwide’s program for agricultural workers including food distribution, fishing, and chocolate growing. Get flexible underwriting with the Land As Your Legacy® program.