Base salary & benefit caps
Review the relationship between compensation, group LTD maximums and the portion of earnings included in benefit calculations.
All servicesProtection that keeps pace
Disability income protection
Protection that keeps pace
with compensation.
Completion and supplemental disability strategies that look beyond a group plan’s benefit cap and bring the full compensation picture into focus.
Let’s talkThe bigger picture
A shared plan doesn’t always mean a shared level of protection.
Group long-term disability coverage provides an important foundation. But monthly benefit caps and definitions of covered earnings can leave higher earners with a smaller percentage of income protected.
Caliber helps employers evaluate completion benefits and supplemental disability programs designed to address those gaps. The goal is a more equitable approach to income replacement across different compensation levels, with a clear understanding of what the coverage can and cannot do. Our expertise also includes Lloyd’s of London and the excess disability marketplace, where additional capacity may help address needs beyond traditional coverage limits.
Look beyond base salary.
The right review starts with how people are paid and how each policy defines eligible earnings.
Bonuses & commissions
Evaluate variable compensation, how it is documented and whether available policies can account for it.
Equity-based compensation
Review restricted stock units (RSUs), stock options and other equity arrangements against policy definitions rather than assuming they are covered.
Partner & owner income
Examine income reported on Schedule K-1, profit distributions and other non-traditional compensation with the carrier’s financial underwriting requirements in mind.
How we help
From exposure review to an informed decision.
Specialty expertise, clear communication and practical support at each step.
Understand the gap
Review current coverage, benefit maximums, eligibility and compensation data to identify where protection may fall short.
Consider the options
Compare completion and individual disability strategies alongside the existing group plan, considering benefit equity, funding and the employer’s and employees’ needs.
Explain the details
Make covered-earnings definitions, benefit limits, waiting periods, underwriting and exclusions understandable before enrollment.
Support implementation
Coordinate communication, enrollment and ongoing questions so the program works as part of the broader benefits strategy.
A little more clarity
Questions worth asking.
What are completion benefits?
Completion benefits help build more equitable income protection for people whose earnings exceed a group disability plan’s monthly benefit cap. A coordinated supplemental program can help higher earners work toward a replacement percentage comparable to colleagues whose income is fully within the group plan’s limits.
Plan design also matters to the employer. When protection is strategically allocated between group and individual coverage, a completion strategy may help manage concentrated exposure and claims-related rate volatility in an experience-rated group LTD plan. Results depend on the design, carrier and claims experience; lower premiums or renewal rates are not guaranteed. Caliber evaluates the whole structure, including coverage terms, eligibility and underwriting.
Can bonuses, RSUs or K-1 income be covered?
Yes, solutions can be available for bonuses, restricted stock units (RSUs) and certain income reported on Schedule K-1, depending on the compensation arrangement, carrier and program. Complex and non-traditional earnings are a core area of Caliber’s specialty focus.
We draw on deep underwriter relationships and strategic partnerships to define what income can be considered and how coverage may be structured. We work through the earnings history, documentation and financial underwriting with the carrier.
What should partnership groups consider?
A partner’s disability can affect more than personal income. Depending on the partnership agreement and the firm’s structure, it may also affect ongoing financial commitments, distributions, ownership transitions and business continuity.
Caliber helps partnership groups consider personal income protection alongside relevant firm obligations and continuity arrangements. We coordinate with your legal and tax advisers so any disability, overhead or buy-sell strategy considered aligns with the actual agreements and available coverage.
Let’s start a conversation
Let’s look at the full
compensation picture.
Start with your current plan, your people and the protection they may need.