Disability Insurance & Income Protection
Why Disability Coverage Matters
Your income is your most valuable asset
For most working professionals, your ability to earn an income is the foundation of your entire financial life. Yet the odds of becoming disabled—temporarily or permanently—are higher than many realize. Whether due to illness, injury, or chronic conditions, a loss of income can quickly derail retirement plans, debt repayment, and your family’s lifestyle. Disability insurance helps protect against this risk and ensures your financial progress continues uninterrupted.
Types of Disability Insurance
Understand what coverage you already have—and what you may still need
Many people have some disability insurance through their employer, but it’s often limited in scope. We help evaluate the full picture:
- Group Disability Insurance: Employer-provided policies typically cover 50–60% of income, and those benefits may be taxable. These plans are rarely portable and may not account for bonuses or commission-based pay.
- Individual Disability Policies: These are purchased personally, offering more customization and often more comprehensive coverage. They can be tailored to your specific occupation, income level, and needs.
- Short-Term vs. Long-Term: Short-term disability covers a few months; long-term policies may provide benefits for years—or even through retirement. Most people need both, but especially long-term protection to guard against serious disruptions.
- Supplemental Coverage:
High earners or professionals with fluctuating income may layer group and individual coverage to fully protect earnings.
We help you identify gaps in your current coverage and explore options that fit your goals.
Policy Features to Consider
The fine print matters in a claim scenario
When choosing or reviewing disability insurance, these key features play a critical role in how and when benefits are paid:
- Elimination Period: The waiting period before benefits begin—often 60 or 90 days. A longer elimination period reduces premiums but may require larger emergency savings.
- Benefit Period: How long you’ll receive benefits (e.g., 2 years, 5 years, or to age 65). Longer periods provide more protection but increase cost.
- Own-Occupation Definition: Ensures you’ll receive benefits if you can’t perform your specific job, even if you could work elsewhere. This is critical for physicians, attorneys, and other specialized professionals.
- Cost-of-Living Adjustments (COLA): Helps benefits keep pace with inflation—especially important for younger clients who may need coverage for decades.
- Partial Disability Riders:
Provide benefits if you can still work part-time or in a reduced capacity due to illness or injury.
We guide you through these provisions so you understand what your policy will—and won’t—cover.
Specialized Coverage for Professionals
Tailored income protection for high earners and specialists
Not all policies are created equal, and for certain professionals, standard group coverage simply doesn’t go far enough. We work closely with:
- Physicians and Medical Professionals: Many rely on highly specialized skills that must be protected with true own-occupation coverage. We also help assess group policy limitations and layer supplemental protection as needed.
- Attorneys and Executives: Those in high-income roles or with irregular bonus structures often need customized policies to cover full compensation.
- Self-Employed Professionals: Business owners and freelancers may lack employer coverage altogether. We help structure portable, comprehensive policies to ensure uninterrupted income.
- Dual-Income Families:
If your household depends on both incomes to meet goals, we help ensure each partner has appropriate coverage to maintain stability.
Our process accounts for both your personal and professional realities.
Integrating with Your Plan
Disability insurance is a cornerstone of long-term financial resilience
Income protection doesn’t exist in a vacuum—it’s part of a broader strategy. We help integrate disability coverage with emergency savings, life insurance, and your overall financial plan. If you do experience a disability, having the right coverage in place can preserve your retirement contributions, protect your family’s daily expenses, and give you peace of mind during recovery.
