As an independent insurance broker with extensive experience in the Florida market, we offer a comprehensive suite of Disability Insurance Plans designed to protect your single most valuable asset: your ability to earn an income. Our services are centered on a consultative approach, helping you understand and choose from Individual Long-Term and Short-Term Disability policies, as well as specialized coverage for business owners like Business Overhead Expense (BOE) insurance. We represent all the top-rated disability insurance carriers, allowing us to find the best possible plan and rates for your specific occupation and needs.

When choosing an agent, the most critical question you must ask is: “What is the ‘Definition of Disability’ in the policy you are recommending?” You must understand if it is a true “Own-Occupation” definition (the best), which covers you if you can’t perform your specific job, or a more restrictive “Any-Occupation” definition. An expert agent will focus the entire conversation around securing the strongest possible definition for your profession and will meticulously explain the key policy riders, such as the Residual/Partial Disability rider. The right agent is not a salesperson but a long-term risk management advisor who will help you build a rock-solid financial safety net.

---

Disability Insurance Plans We Offer: A Florida Expert’s Guide to Protecting Your Most Valuable Asset: Your Paycheck

Let me ask you a question that gets to the heart of your financial security: What is your most valuable asset? It’s not your home in Citrus Park, your investment portfolio, or your car. Your single most valuable financial asset is your ability to get up and go to work every single day.¹ Your income is the engine that powers your entire financial life—it pays the mortgage, funds your retirement, and provides for your family.

Now, let me ask you a second question: Have you insured it?

You wouldn’t dream of owning a home without homeowner’s insurance or driving a car without auto insurance. Yet, statistically, you are far more likely to experience a long-term disability during your working years than you are to have a major house fire or a total-loss car accident.

As an independent insurance broker who has spent many years helping Florida professionals and business owners build financial safety nets, I can tell you that a high-quality disability insurance policy is the foundation of a sound financial plan. It is paycheck protection. It’s the promise that if you are too sick or injured to work, a portion of your income will continue, allowing you to focus on your recovery without the added stress of a financial catastrophe.

This guide is my comprehensive blueprint for you. It’s designed to demystify the world of disability insurance, explain the critical components of a quality policy, detail the plans we offer, and arm you with the essential questions you must ask to choose the right policy and the right expert agent to be your trusted guide.

---

Part 1: The Anatomy of a Disability Insurance Policy – Understanding the Fine Print

Unlike other types of insurance, the quality of a disability insurance policy is not in the price; it is in the definitions and the details of the contract. An expert agent’s primary job is to help you understand these crucial components.

The Definition of Disability: The Most Important Clause in the Contract

This is the heart and soul of your policy. It defines the exact circumstances under which you will be considered “disabled” and eligible for benefits.

• True “Own-Occupation” (The Gold Standard): This is the strongest definition, especially for specialized professionals. It means you are considered totally disabled if, due to sickness or injury, you are unable to perform the material and substantial duties of your specific occupation, even if you are able to work in another job. For example, a surgeon with a hand tremor could no longer operate but could teach at a medical school. With a true own-occupation policy, they would receive their full disability benefit while earning an income as a professor.
• Transitional “Own-Occupation”: A common variation where the “own-occupation” definition applies for an initial period (e.g., the first 24 months of a claim), after which it may shift to a modified definition.
• “Any-Occupation”: This is the most restrictive and weakest definition. It means you are only considered disabled if you are unable to perform the duties of any occupation for which you are reasonably suited by education, training, or experience. This is the type of definition often found in less expensive or group plans.

The Key Policy Components

• The Benefit Period: This is the length of time you can receive monthly benefits for a single claim. It can be a set number of years (e.g., 2, 5, or 10 years) or, most commonly for long-term disability, it will last until a certain age, typically age 65 or 67.²
• The Elimination Period (or Waiting Period): This is your deductible, measured in time. It’s the number of days you must be disabled before your benefits begin to pay out. Common elimination periods are 90 days, 180 days, or 365 days. A longer elimination period will result in a lower premium.³
• The Benefit Amount: This is the monthly, tax-free (if you pay with post-tax dollars) income you will receive while on claim. It is typically calculated as a percentage of your pre-disability income, usually around 60%.⁴

Essential Policy Riders (The Customizations)

Riders are optional add-ons that allow you to customize your policy to your specific needs.⁵

• Residual or Partial Disability Rider: This is arguably the most important rider you can add. It pays a partial benefit if you are able to return to work part-time, or in your same occupation but with a loss of income. Without this rider, you might have to be 100% disabled to receive any benefits at all.
• Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) Rider: If you are on a long-term claim, this rider will increase your monthly benefit each year (typically by around 3%) to help it keep pace with inflation.
• Future Increase Option (FIO) Rider: This is a critical rider for young professionals. It gives you the right to purchase additional disability coverage in the future as your income increases, without having to go through new medical underwriting.

---

Part 2: A Deeper Dive into the Disability Insurance Plans We Offer

As an independent agency, we have access to all of the top-rated disability insurance carriers in the nation. This allows us to find the best possible policy and rates for your specific occupation.

A. Individual Long-Term Disability Insurance (LTD)

This is the cornerstone of income protection.

• What It Is: An individual policy that you own personally. It is completely portable, meaning it stays with you even if you change jobs. These policies are fully customizable with the strong definitions and riders discussed above.
• Benefit Periods: Typically last until age 65, 67, or even 70.
• Best For: All working professionals, especially high-income earners and those in specialized fields (doctors, lawyers, architects, etc.) who need a strong “Own-Occupation” definition of disability.

B. Individual Short-Term Disability Insurance (STD)

This coverage is designed to bridge the gap until your long-term benefits begin.

• What It Is: A policy with a shorter elimination period (e.g., 7 or 14 days) and a shorter benefit period (e.g., 3 or 6 months). Its purpose is to provide income during the waiting period of your LTD policy.
• The Florida Context: Unlike some other states, Florida does not have a state-mandated short-term disability program. This makes a private individual or group STD plan the only way to cover your income during the initial months of a disability.

C. Specialized Disability Plans for Business Owners

For business owners, protecting their personal income is only half the battle. We offer specialized policies to protect the business itself.

• Business Overhead Expense (BOE) Insurance: If you, the business owner, become disabled, this policy does not pay you—it pays your business’s bills. It provides a monthly benefit to cover expenses like rent, utilities, employee salaries, and insurance premiums, keeping the lights on while you recover.
• Disability Buy-Sell Insurance: For businesses with multiple partners, this policy provides the funds for the remaining partners to buy out the shares of a partner who becomes permanently disabled, ensuring a smooth and fair transition of ownership.

---

Part 3: Our Service Process – A Consultative Approach to Your Financial Security

Our goal is to be your long-term risk management advisor. Our process is designed to be educational, thorough, and completely focused on finding the right solution for you.

1. The Confidential Needs & Income Analysis: We start with a deep-dive conversation to understand your occupation, your income, your monthly expenses, and your long-term financial goals.
2. The Educational Consultation: We explain the critical definitions and riders in simple, clear terms, helping you understand the important trade-offs between cost and quality.
3. The Unbiased Market Analysis: As an independent broker, we take your information and shop the market with all the top-rated, “true own-occupation” disability carriers (like Guardian, Principal, Ameritas, MassMutual, and others).
4. The Side-by-Side Comparison: We present you with a clear, side-by-side comparison of the top 2-3 policy options, highlighting the differences in definitions, features, and price.
5. Application & Underwriting Support: We guide you through the entire application and medical underwriting process, acting as your advocate with the insurance company from start to finish.
6. Policy Delivery & Annual Reviews: Once your policy is approved and delivered, we will sit down with you to explain all of its features. We also offer complimentary annual policy reviews to ensure your coverage continues to meet your needs as your income and life change.

---

Part 4: The Ultimate Vetting Checklist – 10 Questions to Ask Any Insurance Agent

Choosing the right agent is critical. Use these ten questions to find a true expert in income protection.

1. “What is the specific ‘Definition of Disability’ in the policy you are recommending for my occupation? Is it a true ‘Own-Occupation’ definition, and can you show me where it says that in the contract?”

• Why it’s vital: This is the #1 most important question. A true expert will lead with this and will be able to clearly explain the nuances of the definition. You must verify it’s a strong definition.

2. “Are you an independent agent or broker? How many different ‘true own-occupation’ disability insurance carriers do you represent?”

• Why it matters: An independent agent can search the entire market to find the best policy and rate for your specific occupation. A captive agent can only offer you their company’s product.

3. “Which specific policy riders, like the Residual Disability and the Future Increase Option riders, do you recommend for me, and why are they important?”

• Why it matters: This tests their ability to customize a policy to your needs. An expert will almost always recommend a strong Residual/Partial rider as essential.

4. “Can you show me a side-by-side comparison of quotes from several different top-rated carriers?”

• Why it matters: This verifies their independence and their diligence in shopping the market for you.

5. “Is there any cost for your services or for running these quotes?”

• Why it matters: The answer should always be “no.” Agents are compensated directly by the insurance companies. You should never be charged a fee for an agent’s help.

6. “What is your process for helping me through the medical underwriting process? How do you handle clients with minor pre-existing health conditions?”

• Why it matters: This shows how they will support you through the most complex part of the process. An experienced agent will be able to provide guidance and set realistic expectations.

7. “What is the financial strength rating (e.g., from A.M. Best or Moody’s) of the insurance company you are recommending?”

• Why it matters: Disability insurance is a long-term promise. You want an agent who is diligent about only recommending financially sound, highly-rated companies.

8. “What ongoing service do you provide after the policy is in place, especially if I ever need to file a claim?”

• Why it matters: This separates a transactional salesperson from a true relationship-focused agent. A great agent will be your advocate at the time of a claim.

9. “For me as a business owner, do you also offer Business Overhead Expense (BOE) insurance, and can you explain how that would work in conjunction with my personal policy?”

• Why it matters: This tests their expertise in the business owner market. A knowledgeable agent will understand the critical difference between protecting your personal income and protecting your business’s ability to operate.

10. “Why should I work with you instead of just getting a quote directly from a carrier online?”

• Why it matters: This asks them to directly state their value proposition. A great agent will explain that they can provide expert guidance on the complex definitions, access to a much wider market of carriers, and advocacy during the underwriting process that an online tool cannot.

---

Part 5: Red Flags vs. Green Lights – Making Your Final Choice of Agent

🚩 Major Red Flags to Run From 🚩

• They gloss over the ‘Definition of Disability’ or try to sell you a policy with an “Any-Occupation” definition.
• Represents Only One or Two Companies: They are not an independent broker.
• Doesn’t strongly recommend a Residual/Partial Disability rider.
• Uses high-pressure sales tactics or rushes the educational process.
• Cannot clearly explain the financial ratings of the companies they represent.

✅ Bright Green Lights to Look For ✅

• Their conversation is centered on the ‘Definition of Disability.’
• They take an educational, consultative approach, patiently explaining all the riders.
• They are independent and provide you with a full market comparison.
• They act as a long-term risk management advisor, not just a salesperson.
• They have deep expertise in both personal and business disability planning.

Your Final Decision

Disability insurance is the bedrock of a sound financial plan. It is the one tool that protects your ability to fund every other goal in your life. The quality of a disability policy is written in the fine print of its contract, and navigating that fine print requires an expert guide.

When you choose an agent for this critical protection, you are not just buying a policy. You are engaging a professional advisor to help you build a rock-solid financial safety net for you and your family. Use this guide to find a true expert. Forge that partnership, and you can go on with your life and your career with the profound confidence that comes from knowing your most valuable asset is protected.