A couple of times a month we get a question about term life insurance that I've always found amusing: will you guys write term insurance?

I admittedly chuckle a little bit every time we get this question. I do have to admit, however, that I've not spent an incredible amount of time highlighting this product. Perhaps it's because there's less to say–but then again, there are those who spend a lot of time on this topic. Or, maybe I just have to admit that I'm more fascinated by, and more interested in spending my time discussing the whole cash value life insurance as a low risk asset class thing, but I think I've also allowed myself to appear put off by term insurance by virtue of the lack of discussion.

Keep Reading

Reinsurance is a topic few consumers–and not that many more agents–come across. It does however play a serious role in the underwriting process, and that role has a lot more to do with every day operations than most people realize.

Most agents understand reinsurance as a means for a company to insure against the possibility of paying a claim on a policy it has written. And this is a very good rudimentary understanding of the topic. There is, however, a lot more to reinsurance and understanding this can help both agents and consumers when it comes to selecting a life insurer, and in navigating a tricky underwriting situation.

Keep Reading

Oh April is coming, and everyone knows what April brings. For those of us in Yankee Land, you might think SPRING! But unfortunately the bitter end to short days covered with depressing grey filtered sunlight and the all too occasionally annoying snowfall (I really don't know why I still live up here) would never be complete without that ultimately frustrating moment when Uncle Sam rolls up and reminds you that income you thought was yours (you did “earn” it after all) is just something you share with him. Like an annoying ex-wife or spoiled kid who never stops rolling up to the trough, April 15th rolls around and says, “money please!”

Keep Reading

Today I’m revisiting a topic that I wrote about last summer concerning Wal-Mart and their purchase of what is commonly known as Dead Peasant Insurance.  If you’d like to read that post, it’s really short and you can find it here.

Something I didn’t do in that previous post is tell you exactly where the term Dead Peasant insurance actually came from.

Keep Reading