Is Health Insurance the Next Real Estate in Terms of Investment?Health insurance-related investments/startups are poised to be the next gold rush, not least for one reason: lifetime renewals.

ByJustin Brock

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

升值的资产,更新收入和资本ins tax rates are all hot topics in the investment and entrepreneur space, but most people's explorations of where to invest to capitalize on them are tired. One wildly undersung option is in the health insurance and associated Medicare sectors, which are on fire because of a maturing Affordable Care Act market and the surge of people aging into Medicare (frequently referred to as the "silver tsunami".) Why are most investors letting a few people with flimsy business strategies steal this thunder, seemingly overnight? Well, it's simple really: Insurance is not viewed as an attractive medium.

Here's why that's wrong.

Appreciating assets

An appreciating asset is simply something you own that goes up in value over time. It's a subjective concept, too, because typically, an asset that appreciates can also depreciate. Someone who's owned real estate over the last 10 years would likely have experienced appreciation, but if they owned it in 2008 might have seen value decrease. Over time, however, there are certain assets that go up much more often than they go down. Medicare and health insurance renewals, for example, are valuable due to the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services raising commission guidelines to keep up with the cost of doing business over time. Also, some commissions are based on percentages of premium; as inflation occurs, they do, too.

Related:5 Reasons Why the Individual Health Insurance Market is on Fire (In a Good Way)

Renewal income

This term essentially means getting paid (typically for an extended period of time) for something you did once. That isn't necessarily as simple as it sounds, because in the health insurance and senior financial markets, businesses that do best provide lifetime service to their clients. However, this can be relatively low-service work, and involve heavy renewal commissions, regardless of need for ongoing services. Some plans like ACA plans, Part C Medicare Advantage Plans, and Medicare Part D prescription drug plans can pay lifetime renewals. Others, like Medigap or Medicare Supplement policies, may have six-year renewal chains. There are also some heaped compensation products like life insurance, annuities and ancillary plans that have the majority of the compensation tied up in the first year of the policy's existence.

Capital gains tax effects

There are many ways to be taxed on income or assets, and capital gains are currently taxed less than earned income. This disparity is relevant here because your business or book of business in insurance is an asset that, if sold, would be taxed as capital gains, which could be of huge benefit. A frequent occurrence in this industry is the building of a solid book of business, then selling it to a private equity backed group.

Related:Biden's Capital Gains Proposals Will Have Massive Impact on Businesses Earning More Than $1 Million

The quick takeaway is that if you are looking for a profitable and meaningful business opportunity, exploring health insurance and Medicare-associated products could be an attractive option. If you have just a little capital to invest, it may be better to reach out to someone with a profitable model and hire them as a consultant to get you started, or you could find someone to work for in these sectors. But technically, all you need to get started as a solopreneur is a life and health insurance license,Federally Facilitated Marketplace Certificationand theAmerica's Health Insurance Plans certification. The learning curb can be steep, however, so make sure to seek support from one of the many Facebook Groups, likeMedicare Gurus.

Wavy Line
Justin Brock

Entrepreneur Leadership Network Contributor

President

Justin Brock is the president of Bobby Brock Insurance, one of the oldest Medicare-focused nationally licensed insurance agencies, President of Safe Harbor Insurance and the founder of MedicareCon.

Editor's Pick

Related Topics

Business Culture

The Newest Workplace Trend Has HR Sounding The Alarm

HR departments are still figuring out how to handle "quiet quitting," but a new trend is taking over.

Business News

An 81-Year-Old Florida CEO Just Indicted for a $250 Million Ponzi Scheme Ran a Sprawling Senior Citizen Crime Ring

Carl Ruderman is the fifth senior citizen in the Miami-Fort-Lauderdale-Palm Beach metropolitan area to face charges in connection with the scam.

Money & Finance

Want to Become a Millionaire? Follow Warren Buffett's 4 Rules.

企业家是不能过度指狗万官方望太多a company exit for their eventual 'win.' Do this instead.

Business News

Taco Bell Slammed With Lawsuit Over 'Especially Concerning' Advertisements, Allegedly Deceiving Customers

The class action lawsuit claims the chain is advertising more than they deliver.

Business News

Body of Missing 27-Year-Old Goldman Sachs Banker Found in Nearby Body of Water

John Castic, a 27-year-old Goldman Sachs employee, went missing around 2:30 a.m. on Saturday after attending a concert at the Brooklyn Mirage in East Williamsburg.