Tiffany Hausmann, CPRM March 1, 2022 4 min read

Key Person Disability Insurance

Most organizations employ at least one individual who is essential to the company’s success. This person may be a partner, majority stockholder, or an individual with expertise that is unmatched throughout the rest of the company.

If this person’s exit from the company is planned, such as retirement or voluntary termination, then you can prepare for the loss and take the necessary precautions to minimize the impact. However, if the departure is unplanned due to a disabling accident or another unexpected occurrence, then the company is exposed to financial risks.

Consider key person disability insurance to offset your risk. This insurance solution can protect your organization’s solvency in the event that you lose the key person or people without warning, and also the investments made by lenders and investors to the company.

Who Needs Key Person Disability Coverage?

Your company may take out key person coverage on you if you fall within the top 20% of the company in terms of salary. Of course, before your company takes out a policy, you must consent to the coverage.

If you fall into any of the forthcoming categories, you may want to bring up key person disability coverage for consideration with your employer or—if you own the business—with your employees. Key person disability coverage is crucial for the following:

  • Employees who would be extremely difficult, time-consuming, or expensive to replace
  • Highly skilled employees with unique training or skills
  • Employees with exclusive ties to key clients, like sports stars
  • Employees who are company leaders and have irreplaceable knowledge
  • Small business owners who would face financial hardship in losing a key staff member, employee, or client

How Does It Work?

Here are the basics of key person insurance:

  • The employer pays the premiums and serves as the beneficiary in the event of the employee’s disability.
  • Tax-free dollars from the policy can be put towards finding, hiring, and training a replacement employee, compensation for lost business during the transition, and/or financing timely business transactions.
  • The policy is used to protect the business, not the key employee—in the event the key person becomes disabled, the policy proceeds can be used by the company for any purpose.
  • Premiums are based on several factors, including the key employee’s age, physical conditions, and health history. The amount of coverage also affects the premium.

Contact us today to learn more.

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Tiffany Hausmann, CPRM

Tiffany joined Hausmann Group in 2012. Since then she has enjoyed getting to know her clients and removing the mystery from the insurance process. She works to create insurance programs that put her clients in a better position than what they were in previously, while educating them about their coverage so they feel confident that their homes, automobiles, and personal property are properly insured. Her clients praise her knowledge, experience, and patience in helping them to straighten out complicated insurance situations. Tiffany holds a Certified Personal Risk Manager (CPRM) designation that focuses on the risk management needs of affluent families. Outside of work, she volunteers for the Gilda’s Club Red Door golf outing each year and looks forward to becoming more involved in their board in the coming years. She has also been involved with the Madison Symphony Orchestra League, helping to educate and enrich the cultural life of the entire Madison community. In her free time, Tiffany enjoys playing tennis, walking her dogs, and having Sunday dinners at her parents’ house.

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