Guest interview: Mike Simenstad with NGL - How LTC plans and planning has evolved

Guest interview: Mike Simenstad with NGL - How LTC plans and planning has evolved

Author: Diane Stoddart, Certified Long Term Care Consultant, CLTC May 1, 2025 Duration: 17:16
This week, I interviewed Mike Simenstad, an LTC veteran with 34 years of experience working for several LTC carriers and distributors. He currently works for National Guardian Life (NGL), a traditonal LTC company across the United States. Mike, and others in his role help me and other LTC specialists to be able to work smarter for our clients. We all work together as a team to find the best solution for each family. Mike answers questions about tools/resources consumers use to research and why that can get confusing. We discuss actions people are taking today to plan, and we discuss how the traditional LTC industry has evolved and gotten much healthier over the last 50 years. Learn costs of care where you live here Estimate LTC premiums for plans with a 6 year benefit period and 3% compounding inflation here When we talk we will decide if larger or smaller plans will meet your needs better, but this a good start. Learn what you state's Medicaid program will currently let you keep and access the state Medicaid sysytem for care here Schedule a phone or Zoom meeting with me here

Diane Stoddart brings a professional yet deeply personal perspective to the complex world of long-term care planning in Preparing For Tomorrow podcast. As a Certified Long Term Care Consultant, she understands that preparing for future care needs involves more than just finances-it's about safeguarding your family's well-being and peace of mind. Each conversation cuts through the industry jargon to clarify the real options available, from insurance products to legal strategies, all aimed at protecting your life savings from being depleted by unexpected care costs. You'll hear Diane break down essential concepts and terms, making a daunting subject feel manageable and urgent. Alongside expert guests, she explores the emotional and physical dimensions of caregiving, offering a holistic view that acknowledges the full weight of these decisions. This isn't about fear; it's about empowerment through knowledge. Tuning into this podcast provides a straightforward guide to creating a practical plan, ensuring you can face tomorrow with confidence rather than anxiety, knowing your loved ones and your legacy are secure.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Preparing For Tomorrow podcast
Podcast Episodes
Some of what I'm thankful for... [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 3:20
Thank you all who are listening to these podcasts and for the great feedback you've shared over the years. I can't believe we're in our sixth year already. I'm so thankful that these poscasts are helping so many people l…
Nov. is LTC Awareness Month & Family Caregiver Month - coincidence? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:01
We need to recognize the contributions and sacrifices that family caregivers make to help those they love who can't provide for their own daily needs. The reason most people own LTC insurance is to help those caregivers…
Who is the LTC insurance really for? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:09
This week, I'm kind of on a soapbox. It seems that some people will keep asking about LTC insurance until someone tells them they don't need it. No one knows if we'll need help living at some point or not. We need to ask…
Questions we don't get as often but very relevant [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 9:22
This week, we decided to answer some questions that we don't get as often as some others, but they're still very relevant. When plannng for long term care needs, we need to gather enough information to be able to decide…
Which hybrid plan do I recommend most? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:43
It seems that with nearly every person or couple I work with, a version of this question comes up. Which plan do I recommend most often? Although all LTC plans are similar in how to qualify for benefits, each company and…
Poor decisions when planning cause BIG problems later [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:05
This week, after hearing from a client who wishes she would have bought more insurance a decade ago, Diane shares decisions that others have made in the past and now regret it. These people, if they had thought through t…
Start Young & Get it Done Part 2 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:30
This week, we look at premiums of traditional, stand-alone LTC plans. Diane shares a plan that her clients designed 10 years ago when they were 49 and compares that to the same plan for a 49 year old couple today, a 59 y…
Start Young & Get it Done! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:59
This week, Diane compares 10 year hybrid Life/LTC plans with 10 year paid up funding for a couple age 50, age 60, and age 70 to share why it's so much better for everyone when we plan early. Even though we don't want to…