TermLifeMax

TermLifeMax is a life insurance brokerage on a mission to provide peace of mind to the world--one policy at a time. We are pleased to offer our state-of-the-art, online quote engine that makes shopping for life insurance a cinch. We also aim to inform consumers about the industry with our online database. Our blog provides tips and articles about living the best life possible.

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New Post has been published on https://termlifemax.com/non-medical-life-insurance-policy/

Should I consider the No Exam Life Insurance?

There is intense competition among insurance companies nowadays as there are lot of insurance policies made available for anyone with varying and unique needs. A good example of this versatility is the existence of the No exam Life Insurance in Seattle. Brokers and insurance agents agreed that a medical life plan often draws out clients to avail of a certain plan. These plans can be considered as a “deal breaker”. But due to the existence of non medical life plan, more and more people are considering this life insurance option, since it is more convenient. Agree? “I’m too busy” or “I don’t want to undergo a medical exam” is one of the most common excuses in getting a life policy that requires a medical exam. These excuses are no longer valid in not getting a non-medical plan.

Accept It – This Plan is Expensive

One major drawback in getting this insurance is its high-cost. It is high because the insurance company places themselves at high risk for claims because of the exemption of a no medical exam plan. That high risk is being paid off by paying extra cost in getting the Non-Medical Life Insurance. Though this is a good drawback claim, one should not foresee this as negative, because with the expense of paying more means relieving yourself from all the hassles in getting a medical exam – something that money can’t replace.

Correcting the Misconception

I’m very ill, and “yes” I can avail of this no medical exam plan. That’s a misconception. Even though there is no medical exam needed, you still need to undergo a series of health questions to evaluate your current health status. You need to be in a good health to join the plan. There’s still an exemption. But if you are placed in a high risk individual, you can still get the plan. However, you’ll be graded accordingly on the face amount you will be receiving.

Who should consider this policy?

A person who has not consulted a physician in two or five years should consider this plan. This is a strategy to make sure that you have the coverage come what may. No matter what your medical result will be, you and your family are covered by the benefits. If there are no negatives on your medical result, you can simply cancel your no exam life insurance policy and push on the medical plan, instead. For those people who are keen to deadlines, the no exam life insurance policy is ideal for you. The average life plan takes weeks to be processed. But if you opt to join a plan that’s fast in just a matter of days, you can choose the no exam insurance. To conclude, this life insurance policy is not for everyone. Before you get yourself into trouble in choosing the right policy for you and your family, consider talking to an insurance company, ask questions, and evaluate your own needs. Tomorrow is not certain, so do it now.

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And the beat goes on!

For many, exercising and motivation to exercise all comes from the music. If that playlist isn’t perfect, or if it doesn’t have the right beat - the whole workout routine begins to slow down and eventually even stop. After some extensive research on just the right jams for everyone, here at TermLifeMax we found a playlist that is pretty friendly toward all the differing music tastes out there. Another plus is that every track is 150 beats-per-minute, so you’ll really get your gears in motion, and they’ll stay in motion! Check out the playlist below, courtesy of FitSugar.

"Dog Days Are Over" - Florence + the Machine

"Shake It" - Metro Station

"Mr. Brightside" - The Killers

"Animal" - Neon Trees

"All I Do Is Win" - DJ Khaled

"Clark Gable" - The Postal Service

"In For the Kill" - La Roux

"Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh" - Say Hi

"OK, It’s Alright With Me" - Eric Hutchinson

"My Delirium" - Ladyhawke

"Dreams" - Passion Pit

"Much Finer" - Le Tigre

"Hong Kong Garden" - Siouxsie and the Banshees

"Unstoppable" - Santigold

What songs get you moving?

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Recipes from the garden...while they still last!

In honor of the weekend, we thought we'd share a fun find that will help you utilize all those summer fruits and veggies from the garden! Whether it's corn, beans, tomatoes, or watermelon, check out this collection of simple recipes that allow for some serious summer indulgence, as well as a flavorful way to make sure everything gets put to good use during the final days of summer! Have a great weekend everyone, and let us know if you try anything out!

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Another great reason to exercise!

This week in the New York Times, author Gretchen Reynolds investigates a variety of studies that examine how learning and exercising are related to one another. The studies found that timing and intensity of the exercise are the primary factors that affect our memory the most. Professor Maren Schmidt-Kassow at Goethe University in Germany conducted a study that examined the relationship between bicycling and learning, and determined that reading while “gently bicycling” proved to be more effective rather than before or after. Schmidt-Kassow further explains this phenomenon, stating that, “light-intensity exercise will elicit low but noticeable levels of physiological arousal…which, in turn, presumably help to prime the brain for the intake of new information and the encoding of that information into memories.” Be sure to check out the article here, and don’t forget those textbooks next time you go to the gym!

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Welcome to Georgetown!

Happy Friday! Here at TermLifeMax we are enjoying settling into our new office location in Georgetown, which can be found just a little south of Downtown Seattle. If you do not have anything planned yet for the weekend, you should definitely consider coming down this way. There are lots of things to do in the area, as Georgetown is well-known for its artistic community. Maybe it’s time to pick up that vinyl collecting and visit Georgetown Records or the Sub-Pop megamart. If vinyl isn’t your thing, visit The Sandbox just around the corner, one of Seattle’s few indoor beach volleyball courts (a little more necessary during those rainy months we’ll be seeing soon enough). Georgetown has a diversity of activities to offer, and one of our favorite discoveries thus far has been the wide selection of cuisine. We have enjoyed several visits to the Square Knot diner, a comfortable establishment with a unique twist. Square Knot offers a traditional diner menu experience, with a flavorful and gourmet twist. The soups come highly recommended, with three different ones to choose from daily. Their wide selection of hot sauces All in all, Georgetown has proven itself to be a vibrant environment, ideal for work and play! Have a great weekend everyone.

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Tasty Summer Recipes Less Than 400 Calories

May 28, 2013

Let’s face it—swimsuit season is rapidly approaching and you’ll probably consider jumping into your local watering hole this summer to beat the heat. What’s more, ‘tis the season for barbeques with friends and family, and for better or worse—lots of greasy foods. Meanwhile, it seems like everyone has a camera phone these days and you never know who might snap a few photos of you in your swimsuit for Facebook. What’s a modern social butterfly to do?

The obvious course of action is to start exercising and eating right before it’s too late. Don’t get us wrong, your friends and family will still love you with the extra 10 pounds you’ve been lugging around. But don’t you want to feel your best this summer? Plus, when you stay healthy, you can save money on term life insurance premiums, thus helping you protect your family, shield your business or insure your liabilities—at a low cost. 

In the past, we’ve included information about exercising on this blog and will no doubt include more in the future, but this post is dedicated to three healthy recipes that would be fantastic for a barbeque. We looked through one of our favorite books for ideas, “The Eat Clean Diet Recharged!” by Tosca Reno, and we're pretty sure you'll like what we found. Each delicious recipe is less than 400 calories so you'll have zero guilt about your next social-eating engagement.

Paradise Island Bean Burgers

Servings: 4

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Nutritional Value:

Calories: 352

Calories from Fat: 42

Protein: 7g

Carbs: 34g

Total Fat: 5g

Saturated Fat: 3g

Trans Fat: 0g

Fiber: 5g

Sodium: 108mg

Cholesterol: 0mg

Sugar: 2g

Ingredients:

1 cup black beans, rinsed, drained and mashed

1 cup cooked brown rice

1 clove garlic, passed through a garlic press

2 tbsp. leeks, whites only, finely chopped

2 tbsp. cooked and mashed sweet potato or pumpkin

1 tsp. chili powder

½ tbsp. dried oregano

½ tsp. dried basil

¼ tsp. ground cumin

1 tsp. sea salt

1 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil

4 Ezekiel buns, toasted

Method:

Mix all ingredients except the olive oil and buns in a large bowl. Cot clean hands with olive oil to mix.

Divide mixture into equal fourths. Shape into patties.

Heat grill pan over medium flame and coat lightly with oil. Add patties and cook five minutes per side or until the patties are golden and crispy.

Serve on toasted burger buns.

Dress burgers with your favorite accouterments. 

Beet & Arugula Salad

Servings: 4

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 60 minutes

Ingredients:

3 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil, divided

2 lbs. baby beets, washed and trimmed (all beets should be about the same size)

1 lb. Brussels sprouts, trimmed

2 ½ tsp. sea salt, divided

freshly ground black pepper, to taste

4 cubs baby arugula

4 cups mesclun salad greens

½ cup sunflowers seeds, toasted

4 oz. goat cheese, sliced into 8 pieces

2 tbsp. rice wine vinegar

Method:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Prepare baking dish by coating lightly with olive oil.

If beets are much bigger than Brussels sprouts, cut them in half; otherwise leave them whole. Toss beets and Brussels sprouts in 1 ½ tbsp. olive oil and season with 1 tsp. salt and freshly ground black pepper.

Place vegetables in baking dish in single layer. Roast in hot oven for one hour. Remove from heat and let cool. Remove skins from beets when cool enough to handle.

Divide salad greens among four plates. Sprinkle with toasted sunflower seeds. Arrange beets and Brussels sprouts evenly between plates. Place two pieces of goat chees on each plate. Drizzle each plate with vinegar and olive oil.

Season with a dusting of sea salt and black pepper.

Serve.

Chocolate-Coated Frozen Bananas

Servings: 8

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 5 minutes

Nutritional Value:

Calories: 172

Calories from Fat: 89

Protein: 2g

Carbs: 20g

Total Fat: 108

Saturated Fat: 5g

Trans Fat: 0g

Fiber: 3g

Sodim: 3mg

Cholesterol: 0mg

Sugar: 10g

Ingredients:

4 medium bananas, no brown spots

8 bamboo skewers

4 oz. good-quality chocolate, 70% cocoa or darker

1 ½ tbsp. coconut butter (if unavailable, use olive oil)

2 tbsp. walnuts, chopped (the pieces should be small enough to stick to the chocolate) 

Method:

Prepare small baking sheet by lining with parchment paper.

Peel each banana. Discard peels and cut tips off each banana. Cut each banana in half.

Insert a bamboo skewer into each piece of banana.

Lay pieces on baking sheet. Lay a piece of parchment paper gently over the bananas and place in freezer. Freeze for a few hours until banana is well frozen.

Before serving, melt chocolate and coconut butter gently in a double boiler. Add nuts. Mix well.

Dip each frozen banana piece into the chocolate mixture and return to baking sheet (or decorative platter lined with parchment paper) when done. Serve immediately. 

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Face your Fears, Get Control of your Finances

May 20, 2013

Thinking about money and the financial future can be a source of anxiety for people. It’s quite common to feel burdened by credit cards, an inadequate emergency reserve or a hazy retirement strategy. According to a survey conducted by Mint, a website that helps people track where their money is being spent—respondents said their two primary financial concerns are savings and debt. 

Financial fear can lead to inaction, exasperating the situation and prolonging the problem. In an article published in the Courier Journal, one woman from Kentucky was quoted saying she would rather visit a gynecologist than a financial planner because she would feel less violated.

The obvious solution to financial woes is to put one foot in front of the other—assess the situation, make a plan and stick to it.

Assess the Situation

An important first step is to get honest with yourself and start documenting where every penny is being spent. You can keep a journal the old-fashioned way or use Mint.com.

Next, you should reacquaint yourself with how much you owe, but for now—ignore the interest rates.

Last, you need to figure out the status of your financial safety net, which includes life insurance, your emergency reserve and retirement funds.

Make a Plan

Design your debt snowball: If you think purely in terms of math, it would seem like you should pay off your debts with the highest interest rate first or keep making minimum payments on all of your debts simultaneously. The problem is, debt can be very daunting and that sort of method doesn’t psychologically help people feel motivated to reduce their debt. Many experts agree the best thing to do is to first pay off the smallest debt and then work your way up the larger debts in a sequence or “snowball” strategy.

Savings goals: Identify some savings goals so you can continue building up your confidence and hope. Is there something on your bucket list you've never had the money for, such as a special trip with your family or a nice watch? Organizing your finances and reducing your spending doesn't have to be awful. It should mean spending less on superfluous stuff, creating a sound financial safety net and freeing up cash for something special in the future.

Emergency reserve: Ideally, you should have enough money on reserve to pay for three to six months of living expenses in case something happens, such as losing your job. It may take you some time to accumulate that much cash, but you can always look for side money ideas to expedite the process. In a previous blog post, we supplied a bunch of ideas for coming up with extra cash. Or, by identifying areas you overspend in your spending-journal, you can reallocate those funds to savings.

Switch to term life insurance: Life insurance is another important piece to your financial safety net. Term life insurance is the most affordable way to protect your family, shield your business or insure your liabilities. Permanent life insurance premiums are more expensive, so stick with term life insurance.

Retirement: First, you should figure out how much you will need during your retirement years. Experts say you will need somewhere between 70 and 90 percent of your preretirement earnings. You should also contribute to your employer’s 401(k) plan, start an individual retirement account (IRA) and learn about your social security benefits. Typically, social security pays about 40 percent of your preretirement earnings and you can contribute up to $5,000 a year into your IRA before 50 years old and even more after 50 years old. IRA and 401(k) account holders enjoy tax breaks on those funds. You should also investigate whether your employer offers a pension and what would happen to the pension if you change jobs.

Budget: With all of the components of your plan in mind, create a realistic budget. Writing a budget that makes you feel better at the time but is completely untenable will not improve your situation and may derail you. Think of ways you can cut frills based on your spending-journal findings and direct those funds towards retirement, life insurance and your emergency reserve. Account for your savings goals to remind you of the good things that will come with your new financial strategy.   

Stick to the Plan

Carry cash & keep your budget handy at all times: One of the easiest ways to stay on track is to only carry cash and stay away from your debit and credit cards. This way, you can literally see how much you can spend and you won’t be tempted to go over board. You should also keep your budget handy on your smart phone or even on a notecard. 

Automate your finances: Set-up overdraft protection in case you slip up on your budget, but don’t rely on it. You don’t want to get discouraged if you make a mistake and end up costing yourself a lot more money. You should also set up automatic bill-pay, savings contributions and retirement contributions to ensure your liabilities are taken care of and your other goals are being met.

10-second, 30 day rule: First of all, you should never see shopping as a form of entertainment. Only go when it’s strictly necessary and bring a list, making sure to stick with the list at all times. When you see something you want to buy that’s not on the list, wait 10 seconds. If you still want to add it to your cart, take it out of your cart before getting in line at the check stand and hold it in your hands for 10 seconds before you take the plunge. Another good technique is when you want something that's outside of your budget, make yourself wait 30 days. If you still need the item after a month, then proceed.

Side Cash: Think of ways to earn extra money. Cutting unnecessary spending is half the battle to financial security—the other half may involve drumming up some extra money to get your savings goals off the ground. You could mow lawns, watch neighbor kids, tutor, sell ad space on your car, host a foreign exchange student, purchase a vending machine, sell your talents on Fiverr.com or give car rides via lyft.com. 

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Pump Up the Jams: Fresh New Workout Music

May 13, 2013

Carefully selected workout music can put you in the mood to burn some calories. What’s more, music has been scientifically proven to improve stamina. According to a study from the Brunel University School of Sports and Education, music can increase exercise endurance by 15%.

If you are like a lot of people who workout several times a week, you may have some songs on your smartphone or ipod that have been on heavy rotation for awhile. Or maybe your New Year’s resolution to “work out more” is slipping through your once hopeful hands and you need some extra motivation. New music can be just the thing in either scenario.

The moral of the story is this: whatever the reason may be, we think it’s smart to keep your workout music fresh—that’s why we scoured the Internet for five new tracks. Staying fit is not only a good idea for your physical well-being, but also for the life insurance process. Healthy people secure the lowest premiums.

5 New Workout Tracks:  

1. Classix

All You’re Waiting for

Genre: Electronic

2. DJ Haus feat. MATRIXXMAN

Feel It

Genre: Electronic

3. Kate Boy

The Way We Are

Genre: Electronic

4. The Love Language

Calm Down

Genre: Rock

5. King Tuff feat. Gap Dream

She’s On Fire

Genre: Rock

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Side Cash Ideas to Fund your Summer Vacation

May 6, 2013

The days are getting longer, shorts are coming out of their winter hiding places, and Cinco de Mayo has officially come and gone—signs that summer is finally on its way.  Summer means different things for everyone, but many people associate the hotter months with picnics, swimming and best of all, vacations.

The problem is, in order to take a vacation this year; you need to scrounge up some extra dough to fund your excursion. Experts tell us the economy is on the up swing, but many Americans are still recovering from the last few years of cutting frills to make ends meet.  

The Internet is full of “get money quick” schemes that suggest painful ways to earn side cash, such as donating plasma, selling your prized possessions, or even worse, taking on a part-time job. When these ideas are considered, a “staycation” in your own area may sound more attractive.

Plus, if you stay home, you can work on your financial goals like saving money or purchasing a life insurance policy. We can help you with the life insurance part, but still, you should probably go on vacation. That’s why we want to share some unique side money ideas to help you get your summer plans off the ground. And if you decide to start the life insurance process, we are always here to help.   

9 Side Money Ideas to Fund your Summer Trip:

1. Tutor: Help kids and teens prepare for year-end exams and keep their minds sharp over summer break by offering tutoring services. If you have been out of school for a while, you can always help younger children. You could advertise with flyers at libraries or coffee shops, post your services on Craiglist, or check out http://www.tutor.com/.

2. Mow Lawns: Sunshine means growth—lots of lawn growth. If you own a lawnmower, mowing lawns in your neighborhood is a fantastic way to soak up some extra vitamin D, get to know your neighbors and earn cash with practically no start-up costs. If you don’t own a lawnmower, you could look for a cheap one secondhand. Simply advertise yourself by putting up flyers around your neighborhood or by spreading your plan via word of mouth.

3. House Foreign Exchange Students: If you have a spare bedroom, allowing foreign exchange students to live in your home is a fun way to learn about new cultures and make friends who live abroad. If you don’t have a spare bedroom, you could offer to drive students around to do errands or take them on a mini-tour—all for a small fee.  There are many programs online, so just find one for your own area. Here’s an example for the Puget Sound area in Washington State http://www.abodehomestay.com/en/becoming-host.html.

4. Babysit: Parents are often looking for people to watch their children in the summer months when their kids are no longer in school. Babysitting doesn’t only have to be for teenagers or older folks—any mature individual can babysit. If you have kids, babysitting can be a built-in play date that earns you money and keeps them entertained. If you don’t have kids, babysitting can give you some fun time with a little person that you wouldn’t ordinarily have.

5. Advertise on Your Car: Let’s face it—your car sometimes feels like a money pit. Gas prices go up in the summer and you are starting to resent your trips to the pump. Why don’t you use your car as ad space and recover some of those spent dollars for your trip? Here’s a site to guide your search http://www.adzinmotion.com/.

6. Fiverr: Everyone has something to offer. Sell your talents for $5 on http://fiverr.com/. You can do all sorts of stuff, such as proofreading essays, pulling pranks, or utilizing your pet as a model. Get creative; you’d be surprised what people are willing to pay $5 for.

7. Candy Machines: Who doesn’t love candy? Well, diabetics might not. But besides them, candy machines tend to be a happy place for people. For the most part, the candy machines you see around town belong to individuals and groups other than the business they are located at. So, to get this idea off the ground, you need to buy a candy machine. Candymachines.com has a single stand machine listed for $90. Next, you need to find a business to host your machine. If you donate a small portion of the proceeds to a charitable cause, you may be able to get a placement more easily. Finally, you can purchase bulk candy at Costco. Candy machines can make more money than you think. For example, if you sell 10 gumballs a day, you could earn $792.00 per year, according to the website above.

8. Focus Group: Share your opinion and make money. Sounds easy enough, right? You just need to qualify and find a focus group in your area to start making money in this way. We recommend checking out http://findfocusgroups.com/.

9. Offer Rides: You may have started seeing cars with pink mustaches driving around town. No, these people aren’t trying to be hipsters per se; they are offering rides as drivers for Lyft. To join as a driver, simply visit their website and sign up. You can earn up to $35 and hour and set your own hours. The website is http://www.lyft.me/. 

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Stay Healthy, Enter a Race With Your Family

April 22, 2013

The employees of TermLifeMax observed a moment of silence today at 2:50 PM EST in support of the victims of the Boston Marathon bombings. The first of the two explosions took place at that time on April 15 near the finish line of one of the most popular marathons in the country.  The tragedy and resulting manhunt still weighs heavy on the minds of Bostonians and Americans alike. Nearly 42 million people tuned-in on Friday, April 19, to watch the capture of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, the 19-year-old who allegedly set off the second bomb, according to the Nielsen Company. The TermLifeMax team is also saddened by the incident, but trusts that marathon runners and the people of Boston will rise above the callous acts of these two men.

TermLifeMax CEO Brian Fife’s 8-year-old son Cameron Fife came to him on Friday afternoon with a curious idea. He wanted to create a kids race and asked if he could speak with the local mayor about his project. Brian Fife felt the idea was inspiring and possible. In the meantime, Fife and his family decided to do something sooner—they enrolled in the Seahawks 5k race the following Sunday, April 21.

The Fife family did not have any training for the race other than their usual fitness regiments. Still, they felt supporting Boston and encouraging their son was worth the effort. In the end, everyone finished and the event brought them closer with plans to run another race soon.

As you probably know, TermLifeMax is in the life insurance business. Staying healthy is not only a good idea for your personal well being, it can mean lower life insurance premiums. Life insurance companies offer rates based on insurability, which ultimately comes down to how healthy the proposed insured happens to be. With all of these points in mind, we have compiled 15 marathon tips for absolute beginners. Running a marathon with your family can be an enjoyable way to create lasting memories, stay healthy and contribute to a worthy cause.

15 Race Tips for Absolute Beginners:

1. Three days before the race, increase your carbohydrate intake

2. Twenty-four hours before the race, avoid foods you have never eaten before or ones that are high in fiber or fat. 

3. Don’t go to sleep too early the night before the race. 8-10 hours is plenty of rest.

4. Drink 16 oz of water the morning of the race.

5. Eat a light snack of 500-1000 calories an hour before the race.

6. Warm up with stretches and 5 minutes of walking or light jogging.

7. Use the restroom beforehand since some races do not have facilities along the way.

8. Find out what kinds of sports drinks will be offered at the race. Drink those fluids ahead of time, or bring your own. Do not drink the fluids offered at the race if you have not been drinking them before.

9. Avoid purchasing items from vendors and wearing them the day of the race. You should wear clothes you are familiar with and comfortable in.

10. During the race, drink water every 15 minutes.

11. Make sure to breathe in through your nose and mouth to keep oxygen flowing to your muscles.

12. Ignore fast-runners who speed ahead of you. Keep on pace—tortoise beats hare.

13. After the race, slow down with 5 minutes of light jogging or walking.

14. Replenish your system with electrolytes and potassium.

15. Eat within 2 hours of the race.

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Do Something Today that Your Future Self Will Thank You For

April 16, 2013

The average American is now working more hours, taking fewer vacations and retiring later in life than in years past. With the additional responsibility of home and family—it’s no wonder many Americans are more busy and stressed than ever. So, how can you possibly allocate time to shop for life insurance?

With TermLifeMax’s online quote engine, you can shop for life insurance anytime, anywhere—with ease. If your next appointment is running a few minutes late, the drive-thru line is backed up, or there’s a lull in the Lifetime show you are watching—you have just enough time to input your details on our site and get lined up for a free quote.

As you know, the adverse health effects of stress are serious business. We hope you have a fitness and relaxation regiment in place that helps you side step any negative impacts. But we do know that these modern pressures mean that protecting your family with life insurance is just as imperative as ever. 

What’s more, time is money. If your schedule is jam-packed with work and personal obligations, your need for life insurance increases from a monetary standpoint. Your family will not only need to make up for your lack of earnings, but may require the services of other professionals if you wear many hats.

We believe your future self will thank you for purchasing life insurance. No one can predict exactly what’s coming, so we’ve dedicated our blog to providing you with tips to live the best life possible. But your loved ones are worth the 10 minutes it will take to sign up for a free quote—just in case the unthinkable should happen. There’s no obligation and we won’t judge you if you change your mind. We just want to quickly remind you that the more busy you become, the more you need life insurance.  Now you are free to get back to your to-do list.