When You Need Long Term Care Insurance, Ask Your Bank or Financial Advisor, Expert Advises

(EMAILWIRE.COM, November 19, 2007 ) Kirkland, WA – When Americans worry about being incapacitated for long periods, they should head straight to their bank or brokerage office. This odd-seeming advice comes from LTC Financial Partners LLC, the nation’s leading long-term care insurance brokerage representing multiple carriers. "These days health care affects your pocketbook as much as your health," says Carol Guilbault, a Partner of LTC Financial Partners, with offices in Kirkland, Washington. "And the biggest threat to your money is long-term care, which can drain off all your assets, everything you've built up over a lifetime."Since long-term care needs can quickly wreck the best portfolio, "we're advising people to consult their financial advisors, not just their doctors," says Guilbault. "But make sure your financial advisor can deliver the latest long-term care expertise."Guilbault's organization is fielding a support service that gives financial advisors the necessary training and resources. Financial advisors at key banks, for example, are brining in specialists like Guilbault, much as a family doctor brings in a cardiologist. Guilbault and other experts from LTC Financial Partners deliver arcane facts on the latest laws and tax breaks affecting long-term care; and navigate to myriad options through an ever-evolving computer database of policies and selection criteria.Carol Guilbault is spearheading the support service in this area. "It's really complex to pick the right coverage from the right carrier, based on a person's financial situation, lifestyle, state of residence, and medical condition," Guilbault points out. "The leading advisors are seeking support from top-notch experts who focus on long-term care insurance, and only that, full time."LTC Financial Partners is providing its service to a growing number of financial organizations including major banks, NRL Federal Credit Union, and the National Network of Estate Planning Attorneys. In time, nearly all major financial institutions will serve as front-end conduits to long-term care protection, Guilbault believes. The organization also supports associations that have a special interest in protecting their members' nest eggs, including the National Association of Women in Insurance, and the United Methodist Association (through Anderson and Wayne Insurance Services).A key part of the service is ready access to multiple long-term care options from constantly vetted carriers that have proved sound and stable, including MetLife, John Hancock, Allianz, MedAmerica, Prudential, Physicians Mutual, Unum Provident, and Penn Treaty. "Some well-meaning associations offer long-term care policies from a single carrier, but one size does not fit all," says Guilbault.An informational guidebook, offering asset-protection facts and strategies, may be requested by financial advisors or the public, at 425-641-8502. More information is available at -- http://www.ltcfp.us/CarolGuilbault.Carol Guilbault is a nationally accredited long term care expert; in 2003, she was ranked in the top 100 in the nation and top 5 within Washington State for long term care producers. She serves as an active member of Society of Human Resources Management (SHRM), and the American Association for Long Term Care Insurance. She was the project manager for the rollout of the long term care benefit plan for Swedish Hospital in Seattle. As part of the public education service, Guilbault will make herself available to area groups and companies for briefing sessions and lectures. Program chairs may reach her at 425-641-8502.

Dick Samson

dicksamson@eranova.com