This piece encourages clients to take a step back and meet with you to review their existing annuity contracts. It highlights the potential benefits of newer products, as well as when it's a good time to perform a review. See how the Ash Annuity Audit can help start a conversation.

Social Security is misused and it’s up to you to shift the risk of Social Security benefits and help clients plan better. With benefits estimated to potentially reduce by 79% within the next decade, now is the time to bring additional value — before a reduction occurs.

Unique businesses need unique plans, which includes creating plans that allow business owners to fund retirement. Use this reference sheet to learn three strategies to monetize a closely held business and the advantages and disadvantages for each approach.

Just because an estate is too small to get taxed doesn’t mean it is too small to cause problems with heirs ill-equipped to handle wealth, sibling rivalries, divorce, lawsuits and more. Using a trust, you can give your heirs the benefit of wealth without direct ownership of wealth.

Women pay more than men for disability insurance coverage. Blame statistics and underwriting. Fortunately, there are multi-life options that help level the playing field. By purchasing coverage on multiple employees, female business owners can save money while protecting more lives.

When corporate tax rates are lower than individual income tax rates, owners seek to retain capital in their businesses. Many keep a large part of their working capital in conservative, liquid assets but should consider maximum funding corporate-owned cash value life insurance.

Three plans. One goal: help a business owner retain key employees. Moving from simple to more complex, these plans include and an endorsement split dollar plan, executive bonus plan with option to add restriction and defined contribution supplemental retirement plan.

This a client-facing overview of ways a business owner can retain key employees. Moving from simple to complex, it covers endorsement split dollar, executive bonus with an option to add restriction and defined contribution supplemental retirement plan.

Part of business is mitigating risk. But many business owners haven't considered what they would do if a partner was too sick or hurt to help run the business. It's critical to have a written disability buy-out (DBO) plan before something happens – even if the plan is not funded.

Businesses rely on people. If someone were unable to perform their role due to illness or injury, would the business continue to run smoothly? The risk of losing a key employee — someone essential to the success of the business — can be reduced through disability insurance.

Your client is ready to grow their business. Maybe start an expansion, or bring on a new partner. You can help provide them with a safety net in case they get disabled along the way. With a business loan protection (BLP) rider, a disability insurance policy can keep the doors open.

A Restricted Bonus Plan is a combination of three planning tools: a Section 162 bonus plan, a restricted endorsement and an employment contract. The combination of these elements creates an attractive benefit for key employees while providing the employer with control.