re: Long-Term Care Insurance

"It really depends on your financial situation. If you expect to have a sizable estate ($3 million +?), or a high value home that will be paid off, you’re probably better off self funding."

I have never quite understood this. Nobody tells someone with a high net worth to self insure their homes or cars. I have a policy because I want to be able to spend as much of my money as possible, without keeping an extra $700K lying around in case I need substantial care. (That's roughly my lifetime benefit when I am in my early eighties) I don't have children to take care of me, nor do I have anyone that I am compelled to enrich greatly upon my death. I also hope to have help in my home for as long as possible.

I do agree that higher premiums have made this a tough decision, as paying years of high premiums and not utilizing the policy creates a huge difference in one's nest egg. Conversely, not having LTC addressed can be devastating to your legacy goals, your children's quality of life, and how you are remembered.

This is correct. However if you use a GVUL policy then it is invested in the market and that is your inflation protection. The guaranteed portion of it is putting in more premium to make sure that even with a 0% return it’ll provide a benefit (although in that case there would be no inflation adjustment).

But yes, it’s leveraged to either provide a LTC benefit or life insurance, you will lose if you take the cash value for something else (on this type of policy at least).