2010 Long-Term Care Sales Achievement Awards Announced

"Rookie of Year" Category Added To Recognize Industry's Newer Producers

Insurance and financial professionals who market long-term care insurance protection are invited to enter the Eighth Long-Term Care Sales Achievement Awards. The annual program, conducted by the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance, recognizes producers based on sales made during 2009.

"Awards are given for sales of individual long-term care insurance policies as well as multi-life long-term care," explains Jesse Slome, the organization's executive director. A new category has been added to recognize producers who began selling long-term care insurance in 2009.

Award recipients are ranked on a national as well as a state-by-state basis with their names published in the Association's annual LTCi Sourcebook. "This is an excellent way for agents and brokers, even those who have just started selling, to show prospects they have been recognized as a leading producer in the industry," Slome notes. The minimal placed premium for 2009 is $2,500. "All those who enter and qualify are recognized," he adds.

Information and the entry application can be accessed online via the Association's website: http://www.aaltci.org/awards. Established in 1998, the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance is the national association serving insurance and financial professionals who provide long-term care financing solutions.

New Guides Address Increased Tax Deductions For Long-Term Care Insurance

Two new guides explain 2010 tax deductibility rules and limits for individuals and business owners purchasing long-term care insurance.

The "Guide To Tax Deductible Long-Term Care Insurance" was published by the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance, the industry trade group.

"Tax deductions and credits are going to be increasingly important and a most significant selling point insurance and financial professionals can use to encourage long-term care planning," states Jesse Slome, Executive Director of the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance. To encourage individuals and small business owners to purchase long-term care insurance the federal government and many states have started offering tax deductions and tax incentives.

The 2010 version of the guide explains tax rules for individuals as well as those who are self-employed or own small businesses. The applicable rules vary including limits for allowable tax deductions.

Tax-deductible limits for individuals can be as much as $4,110 per-individual starting in 2010 based on age. "Small business owners can take advantage of special tax rules that may make the full cost of long-term care insurance tax deductible," Slome adds. "The business can even pay for spouses and designate coverage for selected employees on a tax-advantaged basis."

A second booklet, "Accountant's Guide To Long-Term Care Insurance" provides comprehensive information including Internal Revenue Codes pertaining to various tax deductibility rules and the new 2010 aged-based limits for long-term care insurance tax deductions.

Copies of the 2010 editions of both brochures can be ordered by calling the Association at (818) 597-3227 or by visiting the organization's website: http://www.aaltci.org/tools.

LTC Association Membership Counts For MDRT

To be a member of MDRT (Million Dollar Round Table) one has to belong to at least one qualifying organization.

We are very pleased to advise you that Membership in the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance qualifies.

And, because AALTCI membership currently costs $49 for a year a number of members have found it possible to join MDRT. If you belong to MDRT, you can certainly indicate you are an AALTCI member to meet their qualification.

If you know or work with other agents or brokers who qualify for MDRT membership but have put off joining because of the expense of belonging to other industry organizations, you have a solution to remove that objection. Of course, there are many other benefits available to members of the nation's only industry trade organization focused exclusively on long-term care insurance.

Please feel free to forward this information to others.

Membership in the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance is $49 for 1-year. (Please note that dues will increase to $99 in January 2010.)

Here is the link to see all benefits of AALTCI membership:
http://www.aaltci.org/ltc-marketing/membership/benefits.php

Here is the link to our online membership application:
https://www.aaltci.org/ltc-marketing/membership/