Professional Planning Group

09/02/2026

Do I need a broker to buy disability insurance?

Yes, and the bigger question is whether your broker is actually earning their role.

If you contact one of the major specialty disability carriers directly, you will still be connected with a broker or agent.

That broker should do much more than send you a quote.

A disability insurance specialist should help you:
✅ Structure the policy correctly for your specialty
✅ Understand the definitions and riders that affect your coverage
✅ Navigate increases and changes later in your career
✅ Advocate for you if you ever need to file a claim

Billy explains why the person behind the policy matters in this video. And the relationship should not end once your policy is issued. The right broker should still be there years from now when you actually need help. https://hubs.li/Q04wbXsT0



For a deeper look watch : Avoid becoming an “orphaned” disability policyholder!
https://hubs.li/Q04wbX6k0

Do I need a broker? Yes you do! If you contact carriers directly, t...

08/27/2026

A policy review should answer more than “How much coverage do I have?”

Your monthly benefit is important, but it does not tell the whole story.

A useful disability policy review should also examine:
✅ Your definition of disability
✅ Your specialty protection
✅ Partial or residual disability benefits
✅ Your benefit period
✅ The elimination period
✅ Benefit increase options
✅ Cost-of-living provisions
✅ Any exclusions or limitations
✅ How private coverage works alongside employer group LTD

These provisions shape how the policy would actually respond during a claim.

As August comes to a close, take a few minutes to find your policy and identify the areas you understand and the ones you do not.

You should not have to wait for an illness or injury to learn how your coverage works.

Request a review:
https://hubs.li/Q04tqlZ20

08/25/2026

Disability does not always mean you stop working completely

An illness or injury may allow a physician to continue working, but not at the same capacity as before.

You might need to:
✅ Reduce your schedule
✅ Stop performing certain procedures
✅ Give up call responsibilities
✅ Change your duties
✅ Work fewer days
✅ Move into a lower-paying role

You may still be employed while experiencing a significant loss of income.

That is why partial or residual disability benefits can be so important. These benefits may provide support when a medical condition limits your work and reduces your earnings without causing a total disability.

When reviewing coverage, do not only ask what happens if you cannot work at all.

Ask what happens if you can still work, but cannot earn what you did before.

Learn more about the Enhanced Residual Benefit:
https://hubs.li/Q04tqhCJ0

In this episode of Cover Your Assets, host Billy Gwaltney explains the crucial elements of a well-structured disability policy, focusing on the often-misunderstood Enhanced Residual Benefit. Billy explores why this benefit is a non-negotiable part of any physician’s robust disability insurance pla...

08/21/2026

Changing jobs can change more than your schedule

Employer group long-term disability coverage is tied to your employment.

That means a job change can affect:
✅ The amount of coverage you receive
✅ The definition of disability
✅ The maximum monthly benefit
✅ Whether benefits would be taxable
✅ The riders and features available to you

Your next employer may offer a different plan, a lower benefit, or no group disability coverage at all.

Private individual coverage is generally portable. It is designed to remain with you when you change employers, provided you continue paying the premium.

Before accepting a new role, add disability coverage to the list of benefits you review. Your income protection should not become an afterthought during a career transition.

Learn more about policy portability:
https://hubs.li/Q04tq3lc0

Some physicians rely on group insurance policies from employers. This saves money in the short term, but what happens when you move on to an employer that doesn’t offer coverage? Or open your own practice? Many times the cost of disability coverage has skyrocketed, making it a financial burden. Bu...

08/20/2026

Ten years into practice isn’t too late to protect the next twenty

Disability insurance is often discussed with residents, fellows, and new attendings. That doesn't mean physicians who are further into their careers have missed their opportunity.

In fact, a mid-career physician probably has has more at stake:
✅ A higher income
✅ Greater family responsibilities
✅ A larger mortgage or other ongoing obligations
✅ More savings and retirement goals dependent on future earnings
✅ A lifestyle built around a physician’s income

Coverage options will depend on your age, health, specialty, location, and existing insurance. But assuming it is too late can prevent you from learning what options are still available.

The best time to explore coverage may have been earlier. The next best time is before another health or career change narrows your choices.

Learn more: https://hubs.li/Q04tqfns0

08/19/2026

The rate is the rate, but the coverage may not be

Private specialty disability insurance is not like negotiating the price of a house or car.

The rates are filed with state insurance regulators. An adviser cannot simply negotiate a secret lower price for the exact same policy.

When one quote appears noticeably less expensive, look carefully at what is different.

The lower quote may include:
❌ A smaller monthly benefit
❌ A weaker definition of disability
❌ Fewer policy riders
❌ A shorter benefit period
❌ Different policy features or limitations

Price matters, but comparing premiums without comparing the underlying coverage can be misleading.

Billy Gwaltney explains why a lower rate often means something important has been changed or removed.

Watch the short:
https://hubs.li/Q04tqh7r0

Then read more about why disability quotes can look different even when the rates themselves are not negotiable:
https://hubs.li/Q04tq56f0

The rate is the rate. The only way to get a lower rate is to remove...

08/18/2026

Help a physician protect their income and receive $150

Disability insurance can be difficult to navigate without someone who understands the needs of physicians.

A referral can help a colleague get clear answers about:
✅ Specialty own-occupation coverage
✅ Employer group LTD
✅ Policy definitions and riders
✅ Available discounts
✅ How much coverage they may need

Through the Professional Planning Group referral program, you can receive a $150 Amazon gift card for every qualified physician referral.

A simple introduction could help another physician make a more informed decision about protecting their career and financial future.

Learn more about the referral program:
https://hubs.li/Q04tpR-t0

08/07/2026

What’s the Benefit Increase Rider?

Your income will probably increase throughout your medical career. Your disability coverage needs a way to keep up.

The Benefit Increase Rider allows you to apply for additional coverage later as your income rises.

When the rider is structured properly:
✅ You can increase your benefit without repeating medical screening
✅ Trainee discounts secured with the original policy can also apply to future increases
✅ You can begin with a manageable amount of coverage and increase it as your career develops

This can be especially valuable for residents, fellows, and early-career physicians who expect their income to rise significantly.

In this short video Billy Gwaltney explains why this rider is such an important feature to consider: https://hubs.li/Q04s9SQP0

For a deeper explanation of how disability coverage can grow with your income, read:
https://hubs.li/Q04s9K-Y0

What’s the benefit increase rider? You’ll want to increase coverage...

08/06/2026

Having disability insurance is a good start. But the benefit amount alone doesn’t tell you whether the policy is built to protect a physician’s actual career and income.

Three features can make a major difference:
1) True specialty own-occupation coverage: Designed to protect you if you cannot perform the duties of your medical specialty, even if you are able to earn income in another occupation.
2) Enhanced residual disability benefits: Can provide support when an illness or injury allows you to keep working, but reduces your duties, schedule, or income.
3) Recovery benefits: May continue providing support after you medically recover if your income has not yet returned to its previous level.

These details determine how your coverage may respond in situations where a disability is not as simple as being either completely able or completely unable to work.

Read more about the three pillars of a strong private specialty disability policy: https://hubs.li/Q04s9RxB0

In this episode, host Billy Gwaltney takes a deep dive into the three key elements that make up a top private specialty disability policy and why they’re essential for physicians looking to safeguard their financial security and maintain peace of mind. Billy breaks down each element in detail, off...

07/30/2026

Has your coverage kept up with your career this year?

By the second half of the year, a lot can change for physicians.

Income may be higher. Roles may shift. New contracts, side work, family responsibilities, or job changes may all change what your financial protection needs to look like.

That is why mid-year is a good time to ask a few simple questions:
✅ Is my current benefit amount still in line with my income
✅ Am I relying too heavily on employer group LTD
✅ Is my Benefit Increase Rider still active
✅ Is my policy portable if I change jobs or move
✅ Do I still have the right definitions and riders in place

A disability policy should not stay stuck in an earlier stage of your career.

📌 If your income and responsibilities have changed, your protection may need to change too.

👉 Learn more: https://hubs.li/Q04q0qrG0

Specialty-focused disability insurance guidance for physicians. Own-occupation definitions, riders, and concierge support — from Billy Gwaltney, ChFC, CLU.