We all know that a parent who works outside the home and brings in an income to support the family needs life insurance to protect their loved ones in case something were to happen. But just because you don't get a paycheck for what you contribute to the family, it doesn't mean that you don't need life insurance coverage also. Here are 9 reasons why. 1) To replace the value they bring to the family Stay-at-home parents are cooks, tutors, housekeepers, caretakers, chauffers

This week we're kicking 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 can't think of a better time to start the conversation. 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 thi

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

Life insurance has played a key role in either the creation or survival of some of the most iconic American institutions that we all know. If it wasn't for life insurance, many of us would have never experienced the magical world that we all loved and grew up to take our own kids to, a man's personal struggles during the Great Depression would have prevented a major store chain from coming into existence, and the golden arches would have served a few hundred thousand people

The latest Transamerica Retirement Survey in 2016 found that women save significantly less for retirement . . . a lot less, than men. The survey found women have a median of $34,000 in household retirement savings (the same as in 2012), while men boast a whopping $115,000 (up from $50,000 in 2012.) We need to change this. This gap can have a huge effect on when and how women retire, and what their quality of life will be in retirement. So why the gap? Men have prioritized

Running out of money in retirement is the #1 financial fear of Americans, and it's understandable why. With advances in medicine and technology, we're living longer than ever before which means that your money has to last you that much longer. When you hear the phrase "guaranteed income for life", you might wonder what that means or how that's possible. Simply put, it means setting up a vehicle with your own money that will act as your own "pension plan", providing you inco

As a parent or guardian of a child with special needs, you have unique challenges that you’re dealing with, and it can seem overwhelming. You have to find the right schools, doctors, caretakers, and other professional services that will help give your child the best possible chance of living a long, happy life. This also means that your child might outlive you, and that’s a scenario that most parents of special needs children don’t like to think about, and understandably so.

We always receive a number of questions from people about replacing or changing their life insurance policy. Whether they can no longer afford the premiums on their policy, or a recent widow is wondering whether she needs to beef up her existing coverage, or they are just unsure if they have enough coverage to suit their needs. Even though the scenarios that surround each person is different, there are specific life events that should always trigger a review of your life in

Many people in their 40's are facing an uncomfortable reality: They just aren't where they hoped to be financially. Fortunately, you can always hit re-set and start going in the right direction. 40-something's can find themselves in a variety of "life stages". Some are just starting their families, while others are sending their kids off to college, or starting a business. They're married, single, divorced, and everything in between. Even though these different stages wil

Every year, the government (the USDA to be exact) publishes how much it costs to raise a child to the age of 18. The numbers are shocking! It is an amount that most families would have a hard time coming up with if things suddenly changed in their life. But even more so, if something were to happen to you that would take you, as well as your paycheck away from your family, how would your children be taken care of? Enter life insurance. For a small premium, you can ensure

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

Shopping for long term care insurance can be difficult, and confusing. Between policy options, coverage estimates, inflation riders, spousal options, and other additional riders that are available, it can make your head spin. It can be easy to throw up your hands and say you'll deal with it later. But this would be a costly mistake, especially if you've reached your 50's. Many people have heard how expensive long term care insurance is, so they just write it off and assume

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

You’ve worked hard your entire life to create a lifestyle, and build an estate. Over the years you’ve made tough choices, done without at times for the benefit of the long-term goal. Your retirement is the much-deserved portion of your life where you get to enjoy the fruits of your labor. We all have dreams and goals for our lives. But there is a very real, very serious threat out there just lurking in the future that threatens all of your best laid plans. But there’s goo

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

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.