The One Big Beautiful Bill Act presents significant opportunities for financial advisors to enhance client strategies through life insurance, according to NAIFA Trustee Andrew Rinn. The law, which includes a $15 million federal estate and gift tax exemption, allows for predictable estate planning. Strategies such as irrevocable life insurance trusts, spousal lifetime access trusts and intentionally defective grantor trusts can provide estate liquidity and tax efficiency, Rinn notes.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced that the standard monthly premium for Medicare Part B will rise to $202.90 in 2026, up nearly 10% over the previous year. The annual Part B deductible will also increase by 10%, reaching $283. The Senior Citizens League notes that this marks the third consecutive year in which Part B premiums have outpaced Social Security cost-of-living adjustments.

Many baby boomer business owners lack succession plans, posing risks to their families, employees and local economies. With nearly 80% of these owners lacking a written transition plan, financial advisors must take the initiative to guide clients through the process, ensuring business continuity and value preservation. "Advisors shouldn't wait for permission to bring up exit planning," write David Winslow and Clint Costa of Choreo. "Start the conversation, repeat it often and guide clients through the steps."

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners' Life Actuarial Task Force has recommended requiring 10 years of historical data for illustrating index components in life insurance policies, a move aimed at curbing unrealistic life insurance illustrations. The 10-year standard, which must be approved by additional NAIC committees, aligns with indexed annuity illustration requirements.

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Financial advisors are facing a "visibility crisis" as artificial intelligence search results significantly reduce web traffic, with a Pew Research Center study noting a decline of up to 50%. FMG Suite's Samantha Russell offers five strategies to address this issue, including building authority through client reviews, sharing expertise in the media and creating FAQ pages that match common search queries.

Estate planning is a critical component of financial advice for all clients, not just the ultra-wealthy, and allows advisors to deepen client relationships, improve retention and manage more assets over time, writes attorney Patrick Carlson. He notes that while some clients may view the topic as morbid, advisors can reframe the issue by asking spouses about how they met or using humor.

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