Life

The Value of Life Insurance

Life insurance is a crucial step in planning for your future and the future of your loved ones. It can fulfill promises made to your family if you are no longer around by providing a death benefit to your beneficiaries in return for premiums paid to the insurance company. Life insurance can also provide benefits while you are living.

Advantages of the Death Benefit

• Provides income tax-free money to your named beneficiary(s) that can be used to pay funeral expenses, debt, tuition, estate taxes or virtually any financial need you leave behind.
• Can provide business security by enabling partners to buy out the interests of a deceased partner and prevent a forced liquidation.

Advantages of Living Benefits

• The cash value growth of a permanent life insurance policy is tax-deferred1, which means you do not pay taxes on the growth of the cash value unless the money is withdrawn.
• Loans2 or withdrawals can be taken against the cash value of a permanent life insurance policy to help with expenses, such as college tuition or the down payment on a home.

1 Accumulated growth may be taxable upon withdrawal. If the policy is a Modified Endowment Contract (MEC), tax penalties may apply prior to age 59 ½. Consult a tax advisor on your specific situation.

2 Policy loans and withdrawals reduce cash value and the death benefit and may be subject to other charges outlined in the contract.

Assessing Your Need

The amount of life insurance you select should be dependent on your personal and financial needs. We can assist you in determining an appropriate coverage amount and help you decide on which type of life insurance is right for you.

Generally, you should consider life insurance if you have:

• A spouse
• Dependent children
• Aging parents or a physically-challenged relative who depends on you for support
• Retirement savings that is not sufficient to ensure your spouse's future financial well-being
• A sizable estate
• A business

Life Changes - So Should Your Policy

As events happen in your life, your life insurance coverage may need to change to adapt to your current needs. Some life changes that may require you to reevaluate your coverage include: marriage, divorce, a new baby, purchase of a new home and retirement.

Types of Life Insurance

There are several different types of life insurance products available. The most common include:

Term Life Insurance

Term provides life insurance protection for a specified period of time. If you do not currently have life insurance, term can be a good place to start. It's generally less expensive than permanent life insurance, and is available in varying term periods with fixed premiums from a one- (annual renewable term) to 20-year period (level term). Furthermore, term insurance is sometimes convertible to permanent coverage, providing you with flexibility as your needs change.

Whole Life Insurance

Whole life is a form of permanent life insurance that remains in force during the insured person's lifetime, provided premiums are paid as specified in the policy. Whole life insurance can build cash value.

Universal Life Insurance

Universal life is a form of permanent life insurance characterized by its flexible premiums, flexible face amounts and unbundled pricing structure. Universal life can build cash value, which earns an interest rate that may adjust periodically, but is usually guaranteed not to fall below a certain percentage.

Variable Universal Life Insurance

Variable universal life offers benefits similar to universal life including flexible premiums and death benefit, yet goes one step further by offering investment flexibility. The death benefit and cash value of a variable universal life policy fluctuates according to the investment performance of a separate account. The investments inside this account are usually diverse and offer a mix of stocks, bonds and money market securities. Although the risk with this type of policy is greater, most do offer a guaranteed death benefit that will not fall below a specified minimum. Payment of the death benefit would, of course, be dependent on the claims paying ability of the life insurance company.

Access our secure quote form and a financial professional will contact you.

Auto

Auto Insurance

For some people, a car expresses the essence of their being. To others, it's an object to get from point A to point B. We offer a variety of coverages and companies to choose from, based on your specific needs.

Depending on the company you choose, you can get discounts for:

• Being a Good Driver
• Being a Good Student
• Driving a Safe Car
• Having a Homeowner's Policy with your auto insurance carrier

Other advantages you could enjoy:

• Free Windshield Repair
• 24-Hour Claims Hotline
• Guarantee on Repairs
• Flexible Payment Options

Advantages vary from company to company, and some require the purchase of certain coverages. We'll review your options with you to find the company and coverage that are right for you.

Personal Umbrella

Umbrella Insurance

At one time, most Personal Umbrella policies were purchased by people with significant assets. But, with monetary damage awards from lawsuits continuing to increase, an umbrella makes sense for nearly everyone. By making additional funds available above the limits already present in your home, auto, and boat policies, an umbrella provides additional protection for your assets.

Value of an Independent Agent

As independent agents, we represent companies that are willing to work with your unique situation. If you have home and auto policies from different companies, or have had difficulty getting an umbrella in the past, we can help you.

Legal Fees

With an umbrella policy, your legal fees are usually covered, saving you thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket expenses.

Worldwide Coverage

Unlike your home and auto policies that usually apply only in the United States, a typical umbrella policy follows you around the globe. You can injure someone in Japan or accidentally destroy property in Greece, you've got coverage.

Reasonable Rates

Umbrella coverage is suprisingly inexpensive. Contact us to find how little this valuable coverage would cost you.

Other

Other Insurance

We provide many types of insurance. As independent insurance professionals we can help you find the coverage that best suits your particular needs and provides you with the greatest value.

Retirement Planning

Today more and more people are maintaining their current lifestyle well into retirement. Modern retirement is active, engaging, and independent. As a society, we are generally taking better care of ourselves and, as a result, we're living longer. These factors affect the way we must plan for our retirement, and odds are against winning the lottery. Spending time with your family and friends, pursuing your hobbies, learning new things, volunteering for your favorite charity - imagine the possibilities.