Posts Tagged ‘life insurance agent’

Shopping for a Life Insurance Agent: what you need to Know

Tuesday, January 19th, 2010

Shopping for a life insurance agent may not be an easy task. After all, you are looking for a trusted individual who has plenty of experience and a proven track record of client satisfaction. It is because of these factors that you should take the time to make sure you choose the right agent through which to purchase life insurance.

Your life insurance agent should have your best interest at heart, and should understand both your needs and your desires so that the life insurance products you choose are best suited for you, your personal situation, your goals and your budget.

Your Shopping Checklist:

  • Rapport - Regardless of how much experience an insurance has in a particular area, your life insurance agent must be able to communicate well with you and be able to develop a good rapport with you. In other words, a professional relationship with a life insurance agent will simply not work if you don’t feel comfortable with him or her. Your life insurance needs are not “one size fits all,” so your agent must be able to understand your specific needs and customize life insurance policies to suit you.
  • Properly Licensed - Always check with your life insurance agent to make sure he or she has the proper license to sell insurance in your state. You may also check with your state insurance department regarding your agent’s ability to sell insurance in your state.
  • Industry Experience - The bottom line is that your life insurance agent is only as good as his or her experience in the industry.  Experience in the industry does more than show your agent’s knowledge; it clearly shows his or her commitment to the industry and his or her position. In other words, your agent’s industry experience usually means that he or she will be there for you, now and in the future.
  • Sensitivity - Your agent must be sensitive to your needs and your wishes, and must be able to help your loved ones navigate the process of claiming your life insurance policies once you pass. You owe it to your family to find a life insurance agent who will be there for them during this difficult time.

How Much Life Insurance Do You Need?

Wednesday, June 10th, 2009

Life insurance is such an enigma to most people.  They know they need it to help prevent financial devastation to loved ones, but they don’t always know how much or what type of life insurance plan they require.  But with the help of an experienced life insurance agent a family can get a clear picture of their financial needs if one member of the family should pass away.

The One Year Plan - A Band-aid on an Open Wound?

In most small to large business a group life insurance plan is usually offered as part of the benefit package.  The amount of life insurance is usually an amount equaling one year of salary, with some plans offering buy-up options in increments of $10,000.  But is a year’s worth of salary enough to help a family who has suddenly lost not only a loved one, but an important financial contributor to the household?  Usually not.

The Long Term Picture

It is surprising to many couples, even ones without children, just how much life insurance may be required to replace years of lost income.  There may still be 25 years left on a 30-year mortgage to pay on a house.  Couples with children realize that college expenses must be paid somehow, not to mention the child raising expenses that must be paid until they reach college age.

Life insurance is not a plan to make a beneficiary rich after a loved one passes away, but merely a means to replace the years of lost income when sudden tragedy strikes.  It is not surprising to discover that a life insurance plan for $500,000 may be necessary for average middle income families.  Higher income families may even need $1 million or more.

When it comes to tragedy, there is no replacement for the life of a loved one.  But the right life insurance plan can help give peace of mind to families who may otherwise face financial tragedy as well.