According to Northwestern Mutual’s 2023 Planning & Progress Study, an estimated 37% of American adults work with a financial advisor. The rates certainly are even higher among entrepreneurs, educated professionals, and high wage earners. Financial advisors play a critical role in helping their clients invest, manage risks, and protect their financial future. And that very much includes preparing for the possibility of a long-term disability. If you’re a financial advisor, you likely already have several clients in this exact situation. Long-term disability insurance is a crucial part of ma ..read more

If you’re a physician, lawyer, dentist, or other high-income professional working in a complex field, you shouldn’t go without robust long-term disability insurance coverage. You’ve dedicated countless hours to mastering your craft and worked hard to build a certain standard of life for yourself and your family. Without a comprehensive disability insurance policy, however, a single unexpected illness or accident could mean losing it all. But not all disability insurance policies are created equal—and the worst time to find out that your insurance policy isn’t good enough is when you’re filing ..read more

With more than $23 million in in-force premiums, Guardian Life Insurance Company (often through its subsidiary Berkshire Life Insurance Company) is one of the largest providers of group disability insurance policies in the United States. Physicians and highly educated professionals are especially likely to have disability benefits through Guardian, as it is one of the relatively few disability insurance companies to provide “true” own-occupation policies. While Guardian does offer many long-term disability insurance policies with robust coverage, that does not mean they will handle every disab ..read more

Over the past several decades, advances in health care, hygiene, nutrition, and other factors have helped increase life expectancy. But with longer lifespans also comes a greater need for assisted living facilities, nursing homes, and other long-term care options for seniors. Roughly half of all adults will need long-term care at some point in their lives. That includes roughly 2 out of 3 seniors who are currently 65 or older, according to the Administration for Community Living. One way to help prepare for this possibility is by purchasing long-term care insurance, usually as a component of a ..read more

Whether you’ve just filed a long-term disability claim, or you’ve been on claim for years, chances are sooner or later you’re going to have to talk to an insurance claims adjuster, who will be responsible for approving or denying your claim. Insurance adjusters (often also referred to as claims handlers or claims analysts) are a necessary part of the disability claims process. They help the insurance company evaluate claims and identify potential cases of fraud. But they don’t always make the right decisions, and they’re not necessarily looking out for your best interest. Insurance adjusters c ..read more

In our fast-paced world, the pursuit of success can come at a cost—the silent struggles of mental health. For countless professionals, the demands of work, the pressures of daily life, and the weight of expectations take a toll on mental well-being. Sometimes, that toll is acute enough that it may be impossible to perform your job duties for days or weeks at a time. Perhaps longer. Short-term disability insurance is supposed to be there for you when a medical condition interferes with your ability to do your job. But can short-term disability be denied for mental health issues? The answer is n ..read more

A doctor’s daily responsibilities are physically, mentally, and cognitively demanding. The nature of their work involves being on their feet most of the day, dexterous use of their hands for equipment and procedures, constant communications with patients and colleagues, and even potential exposure to hazardous conditions in their work environments like chemicals, biologics, radiation, and extreme temperatures. Many of these factors can affect your health over time. When you select a disability policy, you are investing in security for your financial future. So yes, doctors absolutely need long ..read more

Crohn’s disease and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are often considered “invisible disabilities,” but they can have profound effects on your life. It can be impossible to work when you need unscheduled restroom breaks and live with chronic pain—not to mention the stress of living with other effects of the disease, like malnutrition and other serious symptoms. If you have Crohn’s disease and are considering filing for long-term disability insurance benefits, the attorneys at Bryant Legal Group are here to help. We guide professionals throughout Chicago, Illinois, and the rest of the coun ..read more

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a relatively common condition that can cause debilitating fatigue. It can last for months or even years. CFS not only prevents many sufferers from maintaining full-time employment, but also significantly impacts the quality of their day-to-day lives. If you currently have a CFS diagnosis and you cannot work, you may be eligible to receive disability benefits under a long-term disability policy from a private insurance company. However, for many reasons, these claims tend to be extremely tough to approve. In this blog post, we’ll explain the challenges that man ..read more

If you’re nearing the end of the coverage period for your short-term disability insurance—and you still can’t work—you might be expecting a smooth transition from short-term benefits to long-term benefits. Unfortunately, it doesn’t always work that way—even if both policies are with the same insurance company and provided through your employer. Although your insurance company approved your short-term disability claim, that does not necessarily mean they will approve your long-term disability benefits. Far too often, claimants are blindsided by an unexpected loss of benefits and income after lo ..read more