Virtually the only thing I hate about my job
is handling death claims on my life insurance clients.
Death is part of the greater circle, and I know that. But when it hits unexpectedly to someone I enjoy working with it's hard to know what to do.
I have a 54 year old woman who's ex-husband died a year ago after a long illness. They have 3 kids that currently live with her and her current husband. Last year I helped write a life policy on her, utilizing the death benefit from the ex's policy as an influx of funds. I also have their auto and homeowner's insurance.
He came in today. They both had pneumonia and she ended up in the hospital last week. She died yesterday.
Even when I try to maintain a professional demeanor (as my training indicates that's the easiest way for people to get through it sometimes), when it catches me off guard like this I can't help but react.
The sadly interesting fact here is that it took some convincing to get them to take out the policy on her. He didn't feel a need for it. He finally gave in last October and we issued the policy. 5 months ago!
Death is a hard thing to think about. But folks, consider this: if the worst happens your thinking about it and planning ahead a little can make the life of those you leave behind a little easier. $75/mo left that husband and 3 kids $100,000.
I couldn't even get my own parents to take out life insurance policies on each other. They didn't want to accept the fact that if something happens it would be almost impossible for my brother and I to come up with money for funeral/burial and all the expenses that go along with death. Then I couldn't get my brother to agree to take out policies on them. So I finally bit the bullet and took out small policies on each of them--just enough to pay the funeral/burial costs. Because it's easier for me to pay a little each month than have the added stress of finding needed money if I have no choice.
Things to keep in mind--
*once you have life insurance in force you will always be insurable, even if your health changes.
*Having life insurance through your job is not the only answer. Ask the 4,000 people getting laid off from Sprint if they get to keep their life insurance. I'll bet the answer is no. That means they need to take out new policies at an older age and higher premium. People change jobs too often to rely on job-offered life insurance. If it's available, buy it, but have some individually elsewhere.
*Check with those you love. If they don't have life insurance and you could be responsible for their final expenses you can buy insurance on them. You must be a realtive or have an "insurable interest" (ex-spouse with whom you have children, etc).
*The younger you are when you buy life insurance the cheaper it is.
*You can afford it. If you can afford $25/mo you can buy life insurance of some kind on an adult. It's a lot less than than for a child.
::stepping down off my soapbox::
Death is part of the greater circle, and I know that. But when it hits unexpectedly to someone I enjoy working with it's hard to know what to do.
I have a 54 year old woman who's ex-husband died a year ago after a long illness. They have 3 kids that currently live with her and her current husband. Last year I helped write a life policy on her, utilizing the death benefit from the ex's policy as an influx of funds. I also have their auto and homeowner's insurance.
He came in today. They both had pneumonia and she ended up in the hospital last week. She died yesterday.
Even when I try to maintain a professional demeanor (as my training indicates that's the easiest way for people to get through it sometimes), when it catches me off guard like this I can't help but react.
The sadly interesting fact here is that it took some convincing to get them to take out the policy on her. He didn't feel a need for it. He finally gave in last October and we issued the policy. 5 months ago!
Death is a hard thing to think about. But folks, consider this: if the worst happens your thinking about it and planning ahead a little can make the life of those you leave behind a little easier. $75/mo left that husband and 3 kids $100,000.
I couldn't even get my own parents to take out life insurance policies on each other. They didn't want to accept the fact that if something happens it would be almost impossible for my brother and I to come up with money for funeral/burial and all the expenses that go along with death. Then I couldn't get my brother to agree to take out policies on them. So I finally bit the bullet and took out small policies on each of them--just enough to pay the funeral/burial costs. Because it's easier for me to pay a little each month than have the added stress of finding needed money if I have no choice.
Things to keep in mind--
*once you have life insurance in force you will always be insurable, even if your health changes.
*Having life insurance through your job is not the only answer. Ask the 4,000 people getting laid off from Sprint if they get to keep their life insurance. I'll bet the answer is no. That means they need to take out new policies at an older age and higher premium. People change jobs too often to rely on job-offered life insurance. If it's available, buy it, but have some individually elsewhere.
*Check with those you love. If they don't have life insurance and you could be responsible for their final expenses you can buy insurance on them. You must be a realtive or have an "insurable interest" (ex-spouse with whom you have children, etc).
*The younger you are when you buy life insurance the cheaper it is.
*You can afford it. If you can afford $25/mo you can buy life insurance of some kind on an adult. It's a lot less than than for a child.
::stepping down off my soapbox::