08/21/2026
๐๐ ๐ฌ๐ผ๐๐ฟ ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐๐ฐ๐ต๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ธ ๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐น๐ ๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฐ๐๐ฒ๐ฑ?
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๐๐๐๐ฆ ๐๐๐ข๐๐ก ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
๐ด๐ข๐๐ข๐ ๐ก 22, 2026
Most successful families insure their homes, cars and businesses. Yet one of their largest assetsโtheir ability to earn an income-is often inadequately protected.
๐ญ. ๐๐ป๐ผ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ผ๐๐ฟ ๐ฒ๐บ๐ฝ๐น๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ด๐ฒ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐น๐น๐ ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ถ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐.
Many executives and employees have group long-term disability insurance and assume they are well protected. But employer-paid benefits are generally taxable. While a healthy employee may take home 75-80% of income after taxes, a disability could leave them living on approximately 40-45%. Where would the missing 30-40% of your income come from?
๐ฎ. ๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ ๐๐ผ๐๐ฟ "๐ป๐ถ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฒโโ๐ป๐ผ๐ ๐๐ถ๐บ๐ฝ๐น๐ ๐๐ผ๐๐ฟ ๐ฎ๐ฏ๐ถ๐น๐ถ๐๐ ๐๐ผ ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ธ.
Quality "Own Occupation" disability insurance can supplement group coverage and protect your ability to earn a living in your specific "niche" / specialty. Benefits protect against both total and partial disabilities when illness or injury reduces your ability to work and earn.
๐ฏ. ๐๐ผ๐ป'๐ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐น๐ ๐๐ผ๐น๐ฒ๐น๐ ๐ผ๐ป ๐ฆ๐ผ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฎ๐น ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐ ๐๐ถ๐๐ฎ๐ฏ๐ถ๐น๐ถ๐๐.
Social Security Disability has a restrictive definition of disability and can involve a lengthy application or appeals process of 12 - 24 months. It is not designed specifically to protect your own occupation or professional specialty. Many are not approved for social security disability.
๐ฐ. ๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ ๐บ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ป ๐๐ผ๐๐ฟ ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐๐ฐ๐ต๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ธ.
Our firm has personally guided clients through the claims process. We have witnessed disability benefits preserve a family's lifestyle and dignity-keeping the mortgage and utilities paid, groceries in the refrigerator, children in college and retirement plans moving forward.
Fortunately, you won't need this protection forever. It is most valuable during your working years, while you and others depend on your income and your retirement plan is not yet fully funded. Once your retirement plan is adequately funded to retire, the need for disability protection diminishes.
Disability protection can be surprisingly affordable- only 1-3% of your salaryโand priceless when needed.
"Own - Occupation" disability planning is a specialized area often overlooked in traditional financial planning. For more than 30 years, Landmark Financial Services, LLC has helped clients review their coverage, identify gaps and determine whether their income-and the lifestyle it supports-is properly protected.
Robert G. Land, LUTCF, CLTC, DIA, DIF, is president of Landmark Financial Services, LLC, an executive and employee benefits firm serving Rocky Mount, Raleigh and surrounding communities for 30 years.
