When talking with a client, the question of whether or not they have a trust is always part of the first conversation we have. Why is a trust so important? Plain and simply because without one, you're leaving a nightmare for your family to deal with. Someday when you pass away, your estate will automatically pass through probate court. This is a process that happens with everyone if you live in a probate state, regardless of your situation and it can be an extreme nightmare

A beneficiary is an individual, institution, trustee, or estate which receives or may become eligible to receive benefits under a will or insurance policy, retirement plan, trust, annuity or other type of contract. The entire point of naming a beneficiary is to ensure that your assets go where you want them to when you die. So whether you want to leave the proceeds from your life insurance policy to your family, surviving spouse, charity, or a trust, or you're wanting to ens

If life insurance wasn’t a priority before, it will quickly become one if your health changes or you have a scare. Realizing the most important people in your life are financially dependant on you and receiving a reminder that you are not untouchable is a big wake-up call for most people. Having a health condition prompts us to think of what would happen to our family left behind if we were no longer around to take care of them. The hard reality is that when these health co

Small businesses are the backbone of our economy. As a small business owner, you know how important your business is not only to you and your family, but also to your employees and your community. It's more than just your family that counts on your business to continue operating. That's why including protection into your business plan is one of the most important things you can do. Life insurance can help protect you and your partners in a variety of ways, and help ensure

While the term estate planning may sound like it's only for the wealthy, it's really about managing and preserving the assets you have and passing them on according to your wishes after you pass away. This can and should be done, even with smaller estates as well. When this type of planning isn't done, things go through probate, and drag on through the system, which means more of your hard earned money and assets will go to the government in the process of "figuring out" wh

Nearly 80 million boomers are now reaching retirement age, and they make up nearly one-fourth of the U.S. population. The oldest of this group are likely contemplating retirement, or have already done so. Roughly 10,000 a day qualify for Social Security payments, and many of them have done a poor job in preparing for the years that are still ahead of them. The question is, why haven't they planned? Thirty-four percent of older Boomers said that they did not understand the

If you, and/or your family depend on your paycheck to keep the monthly bills paid, and everything running smoothly, then the need for disability insurance is a no brainer. The most overlooked of the major types of insurance coverage is the one that actually covers a far more common risk--loosing your paycheck for a period of time because of a temporary illness or injury. In a nutshell, if you suffer an illness or injury that prevents you from being able to work for a period

Life insurance isn’t an option that many people tend to think about as a vehicle for saving for retirement. But it’s an option that should definitely be on the list of things to consider. If you are an employee, there’s a good chance that your employer will give you an option of having a 401(k). But is it the best avenue to take to help you build your savings? Or should you pass? After all, 401(k)’s aren’t as popular as they used to be. So what can life insurance offer t

Are you one of the millions of Americans who owns a permanent life insurance policy, or are thinking about getting one? You’ve probably done it primarily to protect your family and their future. But over time, many of those financial obligations may have ended. This is a great time to step back and reassess what your goals are moving forward and look at what you can do with this powerhouse tool to make your retirement more secure and enjoyable. There are 3 unique ways that

You may have heard of annuities for retirement income, but they can be leveraged to fulfill other financial planning goals as well, making your money work for you. Read on to hear about 3 other ways you can use an annuity. It just might surprise you how flexible annuities can be . . . USE #1 - It can be used as an alternative to life insurance This isn't an option that makes sense for every situation, but depending on your needs, goals, and whether or not you have any curre

With the different types of life insurance products out there on the market, they can seem like very convoluted, confusing products to understand, and because of this there are a lot of widely believed myths flying around out there about them. Believing these myths can cause you to miss out on the incredibly powerful benefits that these products can provide you. So let’s jump in and call out the top 5 offenders. Myth #1 - It’s Just a Death Benefit FACT: The above statemen

When most people think of life insurance they automatically think that it’s just a death benefit. This is understandable because for decades, this is the way that life insurance was marketed to the public, was as death benefit policies. But in reality, it is SO much more than that. It's a tool that like a Swiss Army knife, has many options and ways that you can utilize it to help you solve a problem that you have, or fulfill a need. It's not a one trick pony. There are di

Identity theft is something that we are increasingly hearing more and more about, and it's scary. This typically occurs when thieves get a hold of your personal information such as your name and social security number to commit fraud, or drain your bank accounts. Apparently not everyone feels that they should work for a living . . . Common ways that identity thieves get your information include: A stolen wallet or credit cards Documents or receipts in the trash Phone or ema

Life insurance can be one of the most important purchases you ever make. After all, it can protect your families future, help you build wealth over your lifetime, and ensure financial security to name a few. But for many people it seems like such a confusing, convoluted topic to tackle, leaving them confused about where to start. Sound familiar? And let's be honest, if you've ever read a policy, it can feel like it's written in another language. But it can be a great sol

Many people easily see the need for life insurance when they have young children still at home, an unpaid mortgage on the house, future college tuition that would need to be paid, or their career is still in full swing. But when you reach retirement age, it’s sometimes wondered if life insurance is still needed. The short answer is . . . YES! But let’s get a little bit more specific as to why this is the case. Check out the answers to the most common questions below: Do I

Last week we kicked off the conversation about long-term care in our quest to dispel the mystery around what many find to be an intimidating subject. It doesn't have to be so scary, and we're committed to simplifying it for you. Since November is Long-Term Care Awareness month, we're rolling out Part 1 of our month-long series about long-term care. THE BASICS Say the words long-term care and chances are you think "nursing home". The reason so many people have this idea in

When I was a teenager, my father and I were in the kitchen one day when he told me that him and my mother were purchasing long term care insurance. In my young, oblivious mind, I asked my dad “why are you buying that? You have four kids who could take care of you or pay for things if something ever happened to you guys.” My dad’s response was “Because it’s not your responsibility. Mom and I can make sure we’re taken care of so you kids don’t have to worry about anything.

When you’re just starting your family it can seem like money flies out the door before it barely hits your bank account. With new financial commitments like buying your first home or starting your family, comes the responsibility to protect your loved ones, making sure they will be provided for financially no matter what happens. If you were to die unexpectedly, life insurance is there to make sure that money is one less thing that your family will have to worry about when t

Time's have changed and women are redefining their roles at work and at home with more options than ever before. Women are achieving unprecedented levels of work-life balance and financial independence, and from a fellow woman, it's about time! But there's one glaring piece that is missing in many financial plans. When thinking about what we need to do to protect ourselves financially, there are certain things that immediately come to mind that we all think of like health,

When you are a small business owner, your family members aren't the only people depending on you. You have employees, partners, and all of their families that would be significantly affected if something should happen to you. Not to mention that the company that you have worked so hard to build could be destroyed. In a nut shell, that's the short explanation of why a small business owner needs life insurance. But there's a lot more to know, so let's go over the main points.