During the accumulation phase, assets invested in the market can often recover from losses by simply waiting for a market recovery. Losses are not "realized." But at retirement, even a few down-market years can have a dramatic effect on your clients' portfolios.

Your client is ready to grow their business. Maybe start an expansion, or bring on a new partner. You can help provide them with a safety net in case they get disabled along the way. With a business loan protection (BLP) rider, a disability insurance policy can keep the doors open.

Here's a funding solution for clients who seek the protection of permanent life insurance, with the added benefits of an indexed universal life. Using a SPIA to fund the IUL, they can potentially increase death benefits while maximizing cash value for withdrawal opportunities.

If you have middle-aged clients looking for term life, a guaranteed universal life policy with a return of premium rider could be a better option. They could surrender the GUL at year 25 for 100% of premiums paid, with the same death benefit coverage as the 25-year term.

Many advisors assume that once a client reaches 70 years old, long-term care insurance becomes too restrictive and hard to sell. Higher pricing. Stricter underwriting. But now you can turn tax-deferred dollars into tax-free coverage with a linked-benefit LTC annuity.

Women pay more than men for disability insurance coverage. Blame statistics and underwriting. Fortunately, there are multi-life options that help level the playing field. By purchasing coverage on multiple employees, female business owners can save money while protecting more lives.

When a business owner has significant idle cash and no clear succession plan, life insurance can help. A one-way buy-sell agreement, tied to a high cash value policy can help an owner to protect their business while simultaneously increasing value in a low-risk manner.

Life insurance may be your client's most valuable asset class. It has tax-deferred growth, tax-free income and a tax-free death benefit, with no annual IRS contribution limits or RMDs. See how the benefits offer risk protection from losses, to lock in gains in a sideways market.

As a key employee retention strategy, a defined contribution deferred comp plan can be established with select employees. The business owner can design plan options such as implementing a vesting schedule and determining payout terms based on company performance.

Clients can withdraw income from any retirement account to provide income, but annuities create an important guarantee that other products do not offer. Check out this multiple-product allocation strategy that combines a SPIA, fixed or indexed annuity and mutual fund.

Businesses rely on people. If someone were unable to perform their role due to illness or injury, would the business continue to run smoothly? The risk of losing a key employee — someone essential to the success of the business — can be reduced through disability insurance.

Part of business is mitigating risk. But many business owners haven't considered what they would do if a partner was too sick or hurt to help run the business. It's critical to have a written disability buy-out (DBO) plan before something happens – even if the plan is not funded.