You don't have to. It helps though. The scorecard gives us both a starting point, so we spend the call on what to do instead of where you stand.
Rather just talk first? Book the call and we'll sort it out from there.
No. Most people I work with already have something. A policy through work, an old term policy, a small plan a parent started years ago. The real question is whether it's enough.
Often there are gaps. Sometimes there aren't, and I'll tell you that. I've ended calls because the person already had the best option for them. Either way, you leave knowing where you stand.
Of course. When someone says that, I ask what they need to think about. Usually it's the cost, or a question they didn't feel comfortable asking.
If it's cost, we can work with that. I'll find something that fits your actual life. If it's a question, I'd rather answer it now than have you sit on it for weeks. You can always come back later.
Often one person in the house pushes this forward. That's fine. You don't need your spouse on the first call. Come with what you know and we'll find the next step. I can also help you think through how to bring it up at home.
If your spouse wants to join, the conversation later gets easier. Don't let waiting on someone else keep you from getting clarity for yourself.
Term life is like renting a car. You're covered for a set period, usually 10, 20, or 30 years. If something happens in that window, your family is paid. When the term ends, so does the coverage. It's typically the most affordable option.
Whole life is more like owning a home. You're covered for your whole life, and the policy also builds contractual cash value over time that you may be able to access. It costs more, and it's permanent, so it doesn't expire.
IUL (Indexed Universal Life) ties cash value growth to a market index with a floor that limits downside exposure. It also has policy costs, caps on growth, and participation rates that vary by carrier and product. It's a more complex product, and whether it fits depends on your goals, timeline, and budget.
Here's the catch: your job owns that policy, not you. Leave, get laid off, or stop working, and the coverage ends the day you walk out. It's also usually small, one to two times your salary, which doesn't go far against a mortgage and the monthly bills.
The strongest coverage is what you own yourself, built around your family's needs, and it goes with you no matter what happens at work.
Most people think life insurance only pays when you die. Living benefits change that. Some policies pay you part of your death benefit while you're still alive if you're diagnosed with a terminal illness, a critical illness like cancer or a heart attack, or a chronic condition that keeps you from living on your own.
A colleague shared this at an industry event. His wife was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer. Because her policy had living benefits, they got a check while she was still alive. They used it for the best care they could find and time together as a family. She went into remission.
To be clear about how these work: accelerated death benefits are not health insurance, disability income insurance, or long-term care insurance unless a policy specifically provides those benefits. Eligibility, qualifying events, benefit amounts, charges, discount factors, tax treatment, and the effect on the remaining death benefit all vary by rider and policy.
A lot of policies have living benefits built in. A lot don't. It's one of the first things I check when I build your quote.
It depends on your age, health, the type of coverage, and the amount. I won't throw out a number that might not fit your situation at all. It's usually more affordable than people expect, but the only way to know your number is to run it with your details.
I'm looking for two things: the coverage your family actually needs, and what your household can comfortably carry. My job is to find the right coverage in that range.
Fair concern, and I take it seriously. I'm not interested in making anyone insurance rich and cash-poor. If the numbers don't make sense for your budget right now, I'll tell you that.
Usually I can still find something. Even a smaller policy that covers final expenses gives your family some breathing room. One thing to be upfront about: simplified and guaranteed-issue policies have trade-offs, like smaller face amounts, higher cost per dollar of coverage, and graded benefit periods where the full payout isn't available right away. I'll walk you through all of that before we move forward on anything.
Waiting until you can "afford more" has a cost too. Premiums go up as you get older, and health can change. What costs $30 a month today could cost twice that in five years.
Probably. A lot of people with health conditions are surprised to find coverage is still available. It may cost more, but it's usually possible. I work with several carriers, and they look at health differently. What one declines, another might approve.
I've helped people with past health issues, older applicants, and cases that looked like a long shot at first. I can't promise an outcome before I see your situation, but I'd rather have the conversation than let you assume the answer is no.
Often not, and less often than people expect. Years ago a nurse came to the house and drew blood for almost every policy. That's changed. Many carriers now use simplified or accelerated underwriting, where you answer health questions and skip the exam.
Whether you qualify for a no-exam option depends on your age, the coverage amount, your health history, and the carrier. Some situations still call for an exam, and a no-exam policy can cost a little more or cap how much coverage you can get. I'll tell you which path fits your situation before you apply.
Not automatically. Carrier applications typically ask about DUI and criminal history as part of underwriting, but having something in your past doesn't mean you can't get covered. Carriers weigh timing and circumstances, and some are more flexible than others.
Just be honest about it. It's far easier for me to find the right carrier with accurate information than after a background check turns something up.
There are still options. Two I use often:
Final expense coverage is built for people who can't qualify for traditional life insurance. It's a smaller whole life policy that covers burial costs and the bills that hit right after someone passes. It won't replace income. The goal is to make sure your family can lay you to rest without starting a GoFundMe.
Accidental death coverage is worth knowing about. It's inexpensive and pays out specifically if death is caused by an accident. If I were to die in an accident, that's a sudden shock for my family, and I'd want them paid more for that.
Even if traditional coverage isn't open to you right now, you have options. Let's talk about what we can do.
You don't pay me a separate fee for the consultation. If a policy is placed, the insurance company compensates me through commissions built into the policy's pricing. I want to be upfront about that.
Here's the part that matters for you: if you take out a policy and cancel it three months later, I lose the commission. My incentive is to find you something you'll actually keep and that will still be there when your family needs it.
As an independent broker I work with several carriers, so I can shop for what fits your situation instead of steering you toward one company's product.
I'm a resident licensed producer in Indiana (NPN 21442482), licensed in additional states, and actively adding more. Not sure whether I can serve your state? Just ask. I work by phone and video, so geography usually isn't the issue. Licensing is, and that's often quick to sort out.
I'll ask some financial questions during our call, and I want to be upfront about why. I know it can feel personal. A recommendation that isn't grounded in your real numbers is just a guess, and I'd rather give you something solid.
The simplest way to say it: legally, I can't overinsure you, and ethically, I can't underinsure you. The financial questions keep me on the right side of both. Carriers also have guidelines around how much coverage fits a given situation, so knowing your income and obligations helps me build something that actually works.
Your information is handled according to our privacy policy and shared only as needed to respond to you, obtain quotes, complete underwriting, service coverage, or meet legal requirements.
Go straight to one company and you're limited to that company's products, pricing, and underwriting guidelines. If their rates aren't competitive for your age or health, you won't know. They have no reason to tell you.
As an independent agent, I can shop across carriers on your behalf. Better price somewhere for your age and health? We go there. More flexible on a health condition? We go there. You get more options and someone whose job is finding the right fit.
Faster than most people expect. Many carriers now offer instant-issue policies that can go into effect the same day you apply, sometimes within minutes. If your health history is straightforward and the coverage amount qualifies for simplified underwriting, you could be covered before we get off the call.
If a policy requires full underwriting, usually for larger coverage amounts or more complex health histories, it typically takes one to three weeks depending on the carrier and whether they need additional medical records. I'll always tell you upfront which path your application is likely to take.
Yes. Every life insurance policy comes with a free look period, commonly 10 to 30 days depending on your state. You can cancel within that window for any reason and receive a full refund of any premiums paid. After that period, you can still cancel at any time. There's no long-term contract.
Keep in mind a life insurance policy is an asset, especially a permanent policy with cash value. Cancelling it means giving up something built to protect your family and potentially grow over time, so I'll always ask you to think twice before walking away.
You'll hear from me at least once a year. Life changes, so I recommend an annual review to make sure your coverage still meets your family's needs. What made sense when we first set things up might not fit the same way a year or two later.
My job doesn't end when the policy goes into effect. You get someone who stays in your corner and makes sure your coverage keeps up with your life.
