One of the most frequently asked questions the Ashar team receives when speaking with advisors is “How do I identify life settlements cases?” Financial professionals and fiduciaries want to know how to best serve their clients but aren’t sure what situations are a good fit for a life settlement.

The great news is, you don’t have to become an expert in the secondary market to identify opportunities in your current practice. In most cases, existing life insurance is an aspect of every planning discussion you have with a client. (more…)

As the current year draws to a close, many financial advisors are busy planning for the one to come.

For many advisors specializing in retirement planning, that means building their client base, learning new skills, or venturing into new financial territory. If you’re looking to attract more retirement clients in 2018, here’s a checklist to guide you. (more…)

Experienced financial advisors have handled all sorts of situations throughout their careers. From weathering economic ups and downs, to helping individual clients with unusual life circumstances or needs, financial advisors know that versatility and a wide knowledge base are key to earning and retaining their clients. (more…)

As a responsible financial advisor, you know that protecting your client’s best interests throughout a life settlement requires working with a licensed life settlement broker.

But once you’ve decided to work with a life settlement broker, how do you decide on the right one? Here are a few guidelines that can help you ask the right questions, and ensure you find an experienced, compliant, and ethical broker. (more…)

Two provisions in the Tax Cuts and Job Act Law of 2017 (TCJA) have captured the attention of planners and fiduciaries working with senior clients.  As a result, Ashar Group is receiving a flood of inquiries from estate planners wanting to know the fair market value (FMV) of life insurance policies owned by their high net worth (HNW) clients. (more…)

Rising longevity and a stagnant economy over the past several years have combined to create an uncomfortable reality for many adults in their middle age.

While they’re still providing for their own children, they’re often also providing care for their aging parents. This is why so many experts have taken to calling people in their 40s and 50s “the sandwich generation”: financially (and emotionally), they’re sandwiched between two different groups, both of whom are dependent on them. (more…)

Are you inadvertently ignoring one of your clients’ biggest assets?

Houses, trusts, businesses, retirement funds, and other equities - doubtless, you’ve discussed each of these assets with your clients at length. But what about their life insurance policy?

Despite the fact that life insurance is an asset, many financial advisors, not to mention policyholders, don’t think of it that way. This is why seniors are leaving such huge amounts of money on the table through lapsed or surrendered life insurance policies. Approximately $112 billion in death benefit is lapsed by seniors annually, according to the latest research on the topic. (more…)

Becoming a full- or part-time caregiver to a loved one may have been something you saw coming years ago, or it may have been a sudden surprise.

Whether or not you prepared yourself for the possibility that someone you love would need your care, caregiving can come with a whole lot of uncertainty. How will you keep track of your loved one’s appointments, medications, etc.? How do you protect your own emotional health? How much financial information do you need to know or have access to? (more…)

The start of a new year is always a great opportunity to reevaluate and recharge your business, whether that means adopting new technologies or learning about a new industry niche.

Continuing to grow and evolve is especially important for those in the insurance industry, as the industry itself is changing from year to year. Here are just a few tips on growing your business this year. (more…)