Leave Your Legacy During the Life Insurance Awareness Month

Recently, all of the talk lately in politics concerning wealth, and with the discussion of “haves & have nots” provides an opportunity to discuss what should be most important to you…you and your family. I, like you, care about my family and am passionate about their quality of life they have when my day has come. Lately I have been focused on the legacy I will leave for my wife and children.

When I speak of legacy, one probably thinks what people will think of me in the past tense. For me, the limitation does not conclude at what others think of me that day, my focus is on what my family will think of me from a fiscal responsible aspect. Hopefully they think well of me, as a husband, father, friend and provider. And with those titles I have comes a great deal of responsibility and expectations. These expectations are the wood on the fire that we call “pressure.” We need a degree of pressure in our lives to help us perform a little better.

I can remember in athletics when I was younger that I always seemed to be a little faster, a little more competitive, and much more aware of my surroundings when I had pressure on me. Its funny when you hear a coach tell says, “Sports is like life.” I have to agree.

In answering the bell everyday for my family and myself, I often think without my financial contribution, how will they do? I mean will the girls go to school on money that we saved, money left for them through my estate or will they be forced to borrow and assume debt, something we have preached they won’t have to endure as they get older.

Like the old saying goes, “the painter’s house probably needs painting.” I didn’t want to be that person. Through proper estate planning and the use of life insurance within that estate plan, I am able to go to bed every night and know that if today is my last day this family will be able to grieve and carry on with their lives and with a good work ethic, achieve their goals.

I try not to be “the insurance guy.” I don’t call on my family and friends, using my relationship to drum up business. What I do is simply tell those that I see on a daily or weekly basis that we all know tomorrow is not guaranteed but since there has never been an insurance company that has not paid its claims in our history. One has come close, AIG, and even they have worked to pay back a good portion of their U.S. taxpayer debt and they still vow to pay 100% back. Life insurance, as long as the premiums are paid, is the closest thing to a guarantee that your family will be taken care of when the time comes.

Assuming what you just read is the gospel, if you are able to have proper estate planning, your estate will be settled without having to pass through government probate court. Probate court will add monetary fees and take up time with assets that your family may not have the time to wait on in life.

I urge you to leave your legacy, assure your family that their quality of life is one of the most sacred things in the forefront of your mind and allow them to grieve and get on with life with the opportunities they deserve. I know I gave a general course in estate planning and I don’t want to confuse you, feel free to contact me to help you get started.