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In todays Long Term Care world, many people promote themselves as specialists. I contend that there are Long Term Care specialists and then there are those who are specializing in a specific LTC product or product line.
A person specializing in a product, and who is in fact a "product specialist," is extremely familiar with an individual product or product line. A "Long Term Care specialist" has a much more in-depth knowledge of the myriad facets involved in the LTC field that goes well beyond product knowledge.
As such, product specialists are often most successful when limiting themselves to direct client work, whereas Long Term Care specialists services and expertise are most beneficial to other professionals–those people who provide certain services to clients but dont have the time to become proficient in the complexities of Long Term Care.
While it is essential that LTC specialists be well acquainted with the different types of coverage available in the marketplace and the companies offering those products, they must also have a thorough understanding of the various LTC services available in both the public and private sectors, a working knowledge of the related legal and tax issues, and an exceptional overall grasp of finance.
It is also imperative to keep abreast of the constantly changing industry, in general. Long Term Care as a whole can include numerous funding methods for the many different types of services available for people in need of care. Therefore, it takes a great deal of initial education and research, as well as a willingness to maintain an ongoing education process, for one to truly become and stay a Long Term Care specialist.
One of the vehicles people turn to in an effort to increase their knowledge and professionalism is a designation. I know a lot of people who claim to be Long Term Care specialists and proudly display designations that have little or nothing to do with Long Term Care to support their claims.
Now dont get me wrong. Im a huge believer in the value of a designation, and would encourage any person taking the time and making the effort required to get any designation. However, getting a designation never made anyone a specialist, especially in the Long Term Care field. What an LTC designation course can offer (and the good ones do) is providing an elevated insight on what it takes to become and maintain the level of competence required to be a Long Term Care specialist. Sadly there are very few that truly fall into that category.
Unfortunately, what we find instead is an ever-increasing number of individuals who specialize in one companys product or one type of LTCI getting a designation and using it as the platform from which they present themselves as LTC Specialists.
When someones product line is limited to one company or type of coverage, they are specializing. What they know is one particular type of insurance. What they dont know, and in many cases are not even aware of, are the numerous other LTC funding vehicles available. Worst of all, in some cases, they arent even open to other possibilities. These individuals are Product Specialists (persons specializing in a particular product). They are not Long Term Care Specialists.
Let me give an example. I know a gentleman who considers himself a Long Term Care Specialist, and he promotes his services as such. Unfortunately he doesnt know anything about life- or annuity-based Long Term Care insurance. This, in reality, greatly limits his ability to offer alternatives other than one companys traditional health-based LTCI over anothers, and even then he is limited to the five companies he promotes.