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

This is a question that many people ask, but the answer is never the same for everybody. This is because there is no "one-size fits all" solution. What you need is going to be completely different than the person next to you, and so on and so on. Everyone's in a different stage of life, some have kids, some have elderly parents they're caring for, some are business owners, some aren't. Sometimes when talking with a client they say something like "I need $100,000 in life in

For the first time ever, more people have life insurance coverage through their employer (108 million), than individually owned policies (102 million). Your first reaction to that might be "is that a bad thing? Coverage is coverage right?" Wrong. What you want is more individually owned policies than group life insurance coverage. This is for many reasons, but today we're going to focus on 4 of those reasons, most of which you likely don't realize about the life insuranc

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

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

Many people confuse disability insurance with long-term care insurance, but they are actually two very different types of coverage. Today we're going to clarify the difference and run through what each one does. Disability Insurance Disability insurance is coverage that replaces up to 60% of your income during your working years, expiring at age 65, if you should become ill or have an injury that prevents you from working for an extended period of time. You can also think o

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

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

Looking to buy life insurance for the first time? If so, you're probably asking yourself questions, such as "How much do I need?" "What's the difference between all the different types of policies out there?" and "Which companies are the best to work with?" There's no question that buying life insurance for the first time, like any other new experience, can be more than a little overwhelming. But it doesn't have to be. Why does having the right agent in your corner make

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

When you think of life insurance, what usually comes to mind is the death benefit -- the amount of money that is paid out to the beneficiary when someone dies. While the death benefit is the main reason most people buy life insurance, it definitely isn't the only thing it's capable of. If you get the right type of life insurance, it can provide numerous "living benefits" that you can take advantage of throughout your lifetime. (Side note: there are two main types of life i

Most people are unaware of the sheer power and benefits that life insurance products are capable of. There are reasons why the top 1%, banks, and businesses have utilized these products for over a century. These powerhouse products have many problem-solving capabilities and benefits that you can take advantage of throughout your life. 1. It's a part of every strong financial plan We all know that we should have an emergency savings, and put money away for retirement. But

Chances are you bought your life insurance policy much earlier in life, and for certain reasons. You had a young family to protect, an unpaid mortgage, future college tuition to pay for, income you needed to protect. For many people, the need to keep life insurance in place long-term, or even permanently is a no-brainer. But what about people who find themselves in another category? The reasons why someone initially purchased their life insurance policy may no longer be r

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

It's a shocking statistic: 64% of women have no back-up plan if they're forced to retire early, according to a Transamerica study. This can happen for multiple reasons: a health condition, company layoffs late in your career, a need to care for a family member, and more. An unexpected retirement can create major challenges for women if they aren't prepared. It's important to have a back-up plan, so here are four strategies to help you avoid finding yourself in this situat