The Worst Part of My Job is….
Want to know the worst part of my job? Telling people it’s too late. Here’s a fact. We will ALL die. Everyone of us. We will get sick and assuming we aren’t killed in an accident we will be too sick for anyone to insure us at some point. And you know who will be left to figure out the puzzle?
YOUR KIDS. YOUR HUSBAND. YOUR WIFE. YOUR FAMILY.
DO NOT do this to them. The most heart breaking of conversations that happen in my office are the ones that are too late. Work life insurance policies are great, but they don’t last beyond retirement, OR if you get sick, OR if you quit them OR if they let you go. Does that seem like a lot of variables to you? It does to me. But I HAVE A SOLUTION-Purchase a life insurance policy that YOU OWN, not your employer. You pay for it directly, you can see the policy and hold it, You can update beneficiaries easily as needed. Trust me and start something now, so your kids don’t have to beg someone later.
#WhoIsYourAgent?
Still not convinced? See our other article on “Fool’s Gold”
Click on the picture for simple, easy ways to help pay for your life insurance.
To set up a personal assessment and to get coverage in place that is the correct coverage for you and your family call 816-795-5977 or email jolson3@farmersagent.com to set up a meeting. We can meet in person at our office, at your home, or even talk over the phone.
Why is Life Insurance Important to Me?
I’ve seen firsthand how important it is to have life insurance. My grandpa was always a hard worker, he saved and saved his whole life. He bought a house got married had kids and like most young people he didn’t think about how his life would be when he got older. He never thought that something could happen and take his life. He just lived his life to the fullest. My grandpa like most people had life insurance through his job. In 2007 my grandpa found out he had prostate cancer. They removed the mass hoping to have caught it early enough, but it had already spread to his bones. My grandpa already had polio from when he was a child so to add bone cancer on top of that was awful, he couldn’t walk he was always in pain, so he didn’t work and therefor he no longer had life insurance through his job. Last year I lived with my grandpa because most of my life he took care of me and in return I took care of him. When my grandpa finally passed in March of 2014 the cost of his funeral landed on me and my husband as a couple with a child in our 20’s to come up with $10,000 to get my grandpa cremated and to have a proper service. Thankfully we were able to get help paying for it. If we would have had to pay for it ourselves we wouldn’t have been able to celebrate my grandpa’s life the way we did.You never know what life will throw at you and even though you think even if your young or you have no kids nothing will happen and you don’t need life insurance, it can and you do! My husband was 26 when he got pneumonia. He was in the hospital for three months and the only thing keeping him alive was ECMO. Thankfully in our case he pulled through, but if he didn’t, as a single mom I would not have been able to afford a funeral or medical bills for him much less been able to keep the same standard of living without his income. It is seriously so important to make sure that the ones you’re leaving behind can have time to grieve and not worry about getting money to bury you. Life insurance isn’t for you it’s for the ones you love.
This is why I have life insurance
Are You Prepared For A Flood?
March is the time of year when we talk about severe weather. That can mean hail, tornadoes, and even floods!
Flood safety is extremely important. That’s why it’s a good idea to review these basic flood safety tips, provided by http://www.ready.gov, with your children every year.
If a flood is likely in your area, you should:
- Listen to the radio or television for information.
- Be aware that flash flooding can occur. If there is any possibility of a flash flood, move immediately to higher ground. Do not wait for instructions to move.
- Be aware of stream, drainage channels, canyons and other areas known to flood suddenly. Flash floods can occur in these areas with or without typical warnings such as rain clouds or heavy rain.
If you need to evacuate:
- Turn off utilities at the main switches or valves if instructed to do so. Disconnect electrical appliances. Do not touch electrical equipment if you are wet or standing in water.
If you have to leave your home, remember these evacuation tips:
- Do not walk through moving water. Six inches of moving water can make you fall. If you have to walk in water, walk where the water is not moving. Use a stick to check the firmness of the ground in front of you.
- Do not drive into flooded areas. If flood waters rise around your car, abandon the car and move to higher ground, when water is not moving or not more than a few inches deep. You and the vehicle can be swept away quickly. If your vehicle is trapped in rapidly moving water, stay in the vehicle. If the water is rising inside the vehicle, seek refuge on the roof.
- Do not camp or park your vehicle along streams, rivers or creeks, particularly during threatening conditions.
With a little bit of preparation, you can keep your family safe! Review these tips for flood safety and contact us if you have questions about flood insurance coverage.
Tips for getting the best rate on your life insurance policy
So you’ve decided that you need life insurance to protect your family; maybe the group life through your job wasn’t enough or you just decided that you wanted to be safe to have your own family protection plan vs. relying on someone else.
Most life insurance policies require some type of exam by a paramedical professional. This is a free physical and blood work that is paid for by the life insurance carrier at no cost the client. They collect a small blood sample, urine sample and sometimes a short EKG. They will check cholesterol levels, blood pressure, liver enzymes, among other things.
Here are a couple of tips to get the best rate for your policy. Depending on the policy you could be locking in this rate for 10 years, 20 years, 30 years or longer!
1. Fast
Don’t eat overnight or at least four hours before the exam. Your previous meal should be healthy and well-balanced. Even if you’re a steak lover, consider a light meal and one high in fruits and veggies and low on saturated fats and fried foods. You may also be told not to drink anything up to four hours before the exam, but do drink plenty of water. It makes it easier for the examiner to find a good vein to get a sample.
2. Don’t Drink Alcohol
Avoid alcohol for at least 12 and preferably 48 hours before the exam, because it can elevate blood pressure and adversely affect elements of the blood work. If you are in otherwise good health and have your exam scheduled the day after a “fun night out” you even run the risk of being turned down for coverage, if the liver enzyme levels are elevated.
3. Reduce Caffeine Intake
Limit caffeine consumption 48 hours before the exam, and definitely no caffeine the day of the exam. It increases blood pressure, pulse rate and can provoke an irregular heart rate. This means staying away from coffee, tea and some soft drinks, cold remedies and pain medications.
4. Limit Fat and Salt
Salt can raise blood pressure by allowing the body to retain fluids, so limit its use in the three to four days before an exam. Fried foods or ones high in fat can raise your cholesterol.
5. Don’t Exercise
At least don’t go to the gym the morning of the exam, and preferably 24 hours before. Cardiovascular workouts can cause inaccurate levels of cholesterol levels, which can be another factor that can push you into a higher rating classification.
6. Stay Calm
You’ve probably had this happen at the doctor’s office or at a hospital: You’re nervous about having your blood pressure taken, so your blood pressure reads high the first time you take it. Wait a few minutes and take it again, and it goes down.
Get a good night’s sleep, arrive early for the exam and take a few minutes to relax before your blood pressure is recorded. If that doesn’t work, ask for it to be rechecked at the end of the exam.
Remember, life insurance underwriting also includes your medical history in addition to the lab work. Insurers are expecting average people to apply for coverage, not super-healthy people. Still, following these steps could help lower your rates a bit if any of your levels are borderline high or lows.
Also when you schedule your exam, try for a weekday and not a Monday. A weekend of indulging in fatty foods and alcohol can boost cholesterol or liver enzyme levels on a Monday. Also if your work is stressful on Mondays that is another good reason to choose another day.
To decide the amount of coverage and type of policy best for you, call 816-795-5977 or email jolson3@farmersagent.com to set an appointment.
Life Insurance Is For Those You Love
A lot of people put off purchasing life insurance because it seems like a hassle. You don’t want to do any sort of medical appointment. It’s an extra expense. And, for the most part, you just plain don’t want to think about death.
But life insurance is NOT ABOUT YOU. It’s about the PEOPLE YOU LOVE. And what better time than February to think about love!
So let’s get real. You do a lot for your family and if you have family members who depend on your income, then you need life insurance. And the sooner, the better.
For one, life insurance is cheaper when you are young and healthy! With each birthday you’ll see your quote go up unless you lock in a great rate now. And you don’t want to look for life insurance after you have been diagnosed with an illness.
Another great thing about life insurance is that there are a lot of options. And we’re here to discuss all of them with you. You can purchase a policy for the short term or even as a long term investment. It all depends on how much you can afford to spend and what your family needs are.
Whatever your situation, sitting down and discussing your needs and budget with an agent is a great first step. Current client or not call us today to set up a free, no-obligation appointment!
Do you need life insurance, but have some health concerns?
Do you think that you cannot purchase life insurance coverage due to health concerns? Don’t worry, we DO have a policy for you.
Only 3 questions:
Are you terminally ill?
Are you in a assisted living facility/nursing home?
Are you on oxygen therapy?
All we have to do is fill out your name/address/date of birth/amount of policy. You can buy $5,000-$20,000 of coverage.
You sign and you’re done! Guaranteed issue. How easy is that?
Only for those who live forever…
Every day we talk to clients who “have life insurance.” When we ask them how much do you have and where is it the answer is “through work” and “I’m not really sure.”
Life insurance through your employer is exactly that–Through your employer. Are you going to work for that same employer FOREVER? And is your employer ALWAYS going to keep the EXACT same benefits? The answer to that question 99% of the time is NO. The solution is to buy life insurance that YOU OWN and can take with you regardless of what your employment situation is.
If you have been confused about life insurance in the past we can help and make it easy to understand so that you can make the best decision for your family.
Purchasing life insurance is a rather simple process; but it’s also very easy to neglect as well.
Jon Olson Agency-Farmers Insurance 