Questions, answered

We are a family-owned insurance and financial services practice that has been helping families since 2000. Founder Gautam Shah and Shweta Shah Amin help with life insurance, annuities, IRAs, 401(k) rollovers, health insurance, Medicare plans, long-term care, disability income and travel insurance. We are licensed in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Maine, North Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, Florida and Texas.

Book an appointment online, or call Gautam at (973) 722-9191 or Shweta at (732) 543-9835. Tell us a little about what is on your mind, and we will find a time to talk.

Bring any policies or plan documents you already have, your Medicare card if you have one, a list of your doctors and prescriptions (for health and Medicare questions), and any questions you have jotted down. Don’t worry if you can’t find everything — we can start with a conversation.

Of course. Many people bring a spouse, a son or daughter, or a trusted friend. Decisions are easier when the people you rely on hear the same explanations you do.

No. Our job is to help you understand your options clearly. You decide if and when to move forward.

Term life insurance covers you for a set number of years and usually costs less to start. Whole life is a type of permanent insurance that lasts your lifetime, has level premiums and builds cash value. Many families use term for needs that end — like a mortgage — and permanent coverage for lifelong goals. Read more about life insurance.

Often, yes. Depending on your health, there may be policies with simplified health questions, or policies whose full benefit phases in over the first few years. Your options depend on your age, your health and the amount of coverage you want.

Not necessarily. Many insurers offer coverage well into retirement, including smaller final expense policies designed to cover funeral costs and final bills. Premiums are higher at older ages, so we look at what fits your budget and goals.

Most people name a spouse, children or a trust, and add a backup (contingent) beneficiary. Review your choices after major life events. If you are leaving money to young children, it is wise to ask an attorney about a trust or guardian arrangement.

Term coverage typically ends after the policy’s grace period. Permanent policies may offer other options, such as using cash value to keep coverage going or reducing the death benefit. Please call us before you stop paying — there may be choices you haven’t considered.

No. An annuity is a contract with an insurance company. Fixed and fixed indexed annuities are designed to protect your principal from market losses, credit interest over time and can offer lifetime income options. They also have surrender periods and limits, so they are meant for long-term money. Read more about annuities.

Sometimes it makes sense, and sometimes it doesn’t. An IRA can offer more choices and simplify your accounts, but some workplace plans have features worth keeping. We compare both with you before you decide, and use a direct rollover to avoid tax withholding. Read more about rollovers.

It comes down to when you pay tax. Traditional IRA contributions may be tax-deductible now, and withdrawals are taxed later. Roth IRA contributions are made with money you have already paid tax on, and qualified withdrawals in retirement are tax-free. Income limits and other rules apply.

Generally from age 59½. Earlier withdrawals from a Traditional IRA may face a 10% additional federal tax unless an exception applies. Roth IRA contributions can usually be withdrawn at any time, while earnings have their own rules. A tax professional can confirm how the rules apply to you.

Yes. We map out where your monthly income will come from — Social Security, pensions, savings and annuities — and look at timing, taxes and protection against market downturns. Then we review the plan with you as life changes.

Most people should look at Medicare during their seven-month Initial Enrollment Period: the three months before the month they turn 65, that month, and the three months after. If you are still working with employer coverage, your timing may be different. Find your dates in our Medicare 101 guide.

Medicare Advantage plans are all-in-one plans from private insurers that usually include drug coverage and use provider networks, with copays as you go. A Medicare Supplement (Medigap) works alongside Original Medicare to help pay your share of costs, and lets you see any provider that accepts Medicare; you add a separate Part D drug plan. Compare them side by side.

Yes. During the Annual Enrollment Period, October 15 to December 7, you can change Medicare Advantage and Part D plans for the next year. If you are in a Medicare Advantage plan, you can also make one change between January 1 and March 31. Certain life events open Special Enrollment Periods.

Options include continuing your employer coverage through COBRA, joining a spouse’s plan, or buying an individual plan through your state’s marketplace (in New Jersey, that is Get Covered New Jersey). We compare costs and networks with you and plan your move to Medicare at 65. Read more about health insurance.

We check before you enroll: we look up your doctors, hospitals and pharmacy in each plan’s network and confirm how your prescriptions are covered. Because networks can change, it is still wise to confirm with your doctor’s office, and to check again each year.

No. We represent a number of insurance companies, but not every plan available in your area. For information on all of your options, contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY 1-877-486-2048), or your local State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP).

Often not fully. Original Medicare generally does not pay for care outside the U.S., and many health plans offer limited coverage abroad. Travel medical insurance can help with emergency care and evacuation, and trip cancellation coverage protects the prepaid cost of your trip. Read more about travel insurance.

Medicare may cover skilled nursing care for a limited time after a qualifying hospital stay, but it does not pay for long-term custodial care — help with everyday activities like bathing and dressing. That is the gap long-term care planning is designed to fill. Read more about long-term care.

A hybrid policy combines life insurance (or an annuity) with long-term care benefits. If you need care, the policy helps pay for it; if you never do, your beneficiaries receive a death benefit.

Many people start planning in their 50s or early 60s, while they are healthy enough to qualify for coverage. The earlier you look, the more options you are likely to have.

Savings can cover a short setback, but a longer illness or injury can drain them quickly. Disability income insurance replaces part of your paycheck, so your savings can stay put for retirement and emergencies. Read more about disability income insurance.

New Jersey’s Temporary Disability Insurance program pays short-term benefits to many workers for disabilities that are not work-related. Those benefits are limited in amount and length, so private coverage can help protect you for longer.

Open 7 days a week, 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM Eastern. Closed on U.S. federal holidays.

Yes. Appointments are available in person, by phone or by video call — whichever is most comfortable for you.

Use our online booking page to choose a day and time, or call Gautam at (973) 722-9191 or Shweta at (732) 543-9835.

We host free seminars and client gatherings during the year, from educational presentations to member appreciation events. There is no cost to attend. See upcoming events.

Yes, please — it helps us plan seating and food. You can RSVP on each event’s page or by calling us.