Genetic testing has mushroomed over the past few years as the cost to have such a test has come down dramatically. For less than $100 you can find out where you come from, who you’re related to, and what your chances are of getting different diseases. One question most people aren’t asking is how will this impact your ability to get life insurance?
2017 is winding down and 2018 will be here before you know it. Various web sites and blogs will soon be posting articles and tips on end of year financial planning and moves to make before the new year arrives. Some will address tax moves you can make now, while others address rebalancing your portfolio, opening an IRA, and steps to improve your financial position for 2018.
A friend of mine sent me an email asking if I’d review her car insurance. After replying I’d be honored to, she asked me a question which comes up once or twice a year. Her question was, “Do I charge for my services?” This question is usually asked by people who’ve never worked with an independent agent before talking with me. Other people, have asked this, as well as, a follow up question, “Will I still be their agent, once I write their policy?” Let’s look at the two categories of insurance agents, how we are alike, how we are different, and the answers to both questions.
Happy New Year! I hope you had a wonderful and safe Christmas and New Year! Sheri and I welcomed the New Year with friends at a lake house on Cedar Creek Lake. It was great to get away, unplug for a couple of days, watch football, fireworks, and hang out. It also gave me a little time to journal and think about things for the coming year.
Christmas dinner has been put away and the used wrapping paper bagged and carried out. Many websites are now posting how and where to celebrate New Year’s Eve, and showing various retrospectives on the year in review. I think this is a great time to look back over the last 12 months, and peek into what’s coming for Texans and their home, car, health, and life insurance.
At the end of each year, there are several articles and blog posts published on end of year financial planning and moves to make. Some are written to address end of year tax moves you can take now, while others address items to rebalance your portfolio better, open an IRA, and improve your financial position now and in 2017.
A close friend and client called me a few weeks ago requesting renters insurance for an apartment she’s moving into. She and her husband are separating as they determine whether or not to end their marriage and file for divorce or go through the long process of healing. They may or may not resolve their issues in the coming weeks or months which led me, as their agent, to take a few minutes and outline the insurance decisions they need to address should they decide to divorce. Let’s take a look at the three areas anyone going through a divorce should consider.
I talked with a young couple yesterday. They are in their 30s, have two kids, and are looking for life insurance on both spouses. They had reviewed their finances with their financial planner who’d recommended they purchase a life insurance for both them to augment their financial plan.
I believe it’s important to talk with every client we serve about life insurance. This discussion is not designed to sell something to them, though many begin to put up an emotional wall when I raise the subject. My motivation is simply to confirm they have something in place. If at all possible, I want to avoid telling a surviving spouse I never talked about it with their wife, husband, or partner after a funeral.
I met with a new client in the Carrollton area two weeks ago to complete setting up her car insurance. Once that was done, she wanted to discuss life insurance. She has a term policy which is beyond the 10 year term it was written under resulting in annual rate increases. She wanted to know what her options are.
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