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todays savings
impact!
• SWARTZBAUGH-FARBER & ASSOCIATES, INC.
WHY YOU SHOULD want TO PAY FOR
ARE WE
there yet?
• YOUR DENTAL HEALTH
david baumann
FOR ANYONE
on a family vacation, at some point there inevitably is one question voiced by an individual in the back seat: “Are we there yet?” You can almost hear the lack of enthusiasm/patience in the voice the closer you get to the destination. My Dad made us look at the road map so we would have a better understanding of where we were going and what path we were taking to get there. That way, when we asked, “Are we there yet?” Dad would tell us to “Check the map!”These days, technology allows you to plug in your destination, receive multiple choices of routes to help you reach your destination and avoid the attempts to fold that crazy map. For business owners, farmers and entrepreneurs, a similar question may come to mind: “When can I retire?” a.k.a. “Are we there yet?” Like a road trip, you can choose from several routes on the map. Many questions need to be addressed, What are we doing with our business? Who are the potential buyers? What is a good price evaluation? Am I liquid enough? Do I have the right planning in place? What are my capital gains or estate taxes going to look like? And these are just a few of the items you need to review. One option to address a number of these concerns is a more advanced planning vehicle called Premium Financed Life Insurance. In order for businesses and high-net-worth individuals to continue to grow and protect their wealth, they may need to take advantage of leverage and actively look for investment opportunities that can potentially yield returns greater than the cost of capital. Life insurance can address inheritance, business and estate tax issues and provide tax deferred growth while being a very tax efficient income supplement in retirement. Premium Financed life insurance is not free insurance and is not without some risk. The insurance premium is typically paid by a bank. The owner of the policy pays interest back to the bank annually, and a smaller portion of net assets are collateralized to the bank until loan repayment. It is an efficient tool to reduce the out-of-pocket expenses related to purchasing higher, more significant life insurance planning. For the owner of the policy, it offers the potential to keep more of their money working for them in either the business or other investments of their choice. Family businesses account for 50% of the gross domestic product and are responsible for 60% of the nation’s employment. Despite those great numbers, family-owned businesses face difficult challenges and hurdles. One of the most difficult on the list is generational transition. Premium financing can incorporate a well-rounded strategy without having to liquidate a portion of the business to help support the next generation. It incorporates a multi-purpose design by offering death benefit protection, wealth accumulation and tax efficiencies. What is the best route for you to take? Does this planning make sense for you? We don’t know, but we would be happy to look at your road map, your financial strategy, and identify if Premium Financing is a viable solution. So…”Are we there yet?” Not yet, but we are getting closer. For more information, please contact your trusted advisor at Swartzbaugh-Farber – ‘Client Centered – Client Advocates™’. This material is intended for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal or tax advice and is not intended to replace the advice of a qualified attorney, tax advisor or plan provider. Securities Offered through M Holdings Securities, Inc., a Registered Broker Dealer, Member FINRA/SIPC. Swartzbaugh-Farber & Associates, Inc. is independently owned and operated.
dental care
stephanie vondrak d.d.s.
AS THE TIME draws near to “sign up” for 2016
dental plans…the importance of this article is clear: Why you should want to pay for your dental care. My answer: “Maintain your freedom of choice! “ As individuals we choose who cuts our hair, where we buy groceries, what clothes we wear and what cars we drive. We make these choices based on personal values. Some choose fancy cars and cheap haircuts. Others desire name-brand clothing and generic cheese. The point is that as Americans…we get to choose. Dental insurance plans, network provider plans, and corporate-owned dental offices choose for us. Restrictions are placed on the patient and on the dentist. They limit the dentist’s choice of materials, like silver mercury (almost universally regarded in the profession as less effective and less healthy) versus white composite fillings. They dictate when a filling (less expensive copay) is “acceptable” verses a crown (more expensive copay). Insurance and network providers change the rules frequently and without warning, reimbursing the provider (the dentist) and the patient for pennies on the dollar. Dentists bound by these plans are obligated to treat as many patients as possible as rapidly as possible to cover expenses and maintain profitability of their practices. Corporate dentistry, masked behind large lush offices, operates in a similar manor. These offices, often owned by hedge fund managers – as opposed to health-care providers – dictate the same procedural limitations found in network provider plans but also require that their employees (the dentists) fulfill quotas based on strict production directives like “x” crowns per month or day. This volume based, corporate model of “the more dentistry completed (or paid for by insurance) the better” is not found in the oath we take as doctors. It is simply not possible for these plans and corporations to consider your longterm, individual health. By design, they consider the bottom line before any specific dental needs. But remember, you have a choice. As a patient, you can choose your dentist based on care, skill and judgement. You can weigh the costs and benefits of a network provider plan verses the care you wish to receive. You can choose what is right for you. As a health-centered dentist, I am among those in the profession who are committed to long-term solutions according to individual dental needs. We spend time with our patients and give them the opportunity to choose how and when their dentistry is completed. Don’t misunderstand, we still honor insurance benefits and provide financial assistance but our decisions are based on specific circumstances rather than an insurance mandate. By maintaining our freedom of choice, we have the opportunity to treat one patient at a time, use the materials we deem best and offer both short-term and long-term dental solutions. We are a small, tight-knit, highly educated team of dental professionals. As an example: our office is cozy and comfortable, a living room-like setting designed for individualized care. By understanding the connection between excellent dental health and overall systemic health, the relationships we have with our patients and the range of services we provide offer a clear alternative to the latest assembly-line approach to general dentistry. The choice is yours. Who do you trust with your dental future? *Look for our ad in this issue of mQUARTERLY Dr. Stephanie Vondrak has been treating TMJ and head and neck pain in her private practice for over 10 years. She has completed Residency and earned Fellowship status with the American Academy of Crainofacial Pain. She is also Board Certified by the American Academy of Craniofacial Dental Sleep Medicine and the American Academy of Facial Esthetics
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mQUARTERLY • NOV/DEC/JAN 2015/16