Financial Planning Archives - Page 3 of 3 - Creative Edge

Last week celebrated the end of one phase of a legislative process, which may impact the U.S. pensions, annuities and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) tax-qualified sales. In support of the National Association for Fixed Annuities (NAFA), I had the opportunity to join a group of associations in visiting the offices of Senator… Read More

Star Trek: Next Generation was always right in my wheelhouse. I loved the optimistic and technologically advanced view of the future along with the adventure inherent in exploring the unknown. A favorite character was Data (the first to be discovered but second to be created, for aficionados): sentient android or artificially-created being through which the… Read More

As you and all of your business owner clients know, getting started on your own is accompanied by taking a risk. Business success is hardly a sure bet, but taking appropriate precautions and planning carefully can help minimize the potential for obstacles that could damage or dismantle the company you work so hard to build…. Read More

Life insurance awareness is critical to the continued success of your practice not only in September, but year round. As someone who’s worked in this business for more than 20 years, I’ve witnessed a growing number of individuals, families and charities who’ve benefited from a life policy when they least expected. As we proudly launch our Moments in Life campaign, I’d like to take some time to share the details of our first featured story. Not long ago, my own family was dramatically impacted by life insurance, and I learned first-hand just how much of a difference it can make to a family’s future. Here’s the story of my cousin, Kerri, and how one moment completely reshaped our lives as we know them.

From the time we are born through our time growing old, we’re constantly expanding our minds and learning new things. Whether taking our first steps, earning our diploma or settling into retirement, we must adjust to changing circumstances and adapt to life as we know it. Many people attribute this to the never-ending process of education. As American philosopher John Dewey once said, “Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself.” And nowhere is this more evident than in the life insurance business.

The month of February leads many people to think of everything from cupids and engagements to roses and diamonds. Merriam-Webster defines the word diamond as “a native crystalline carbon that is the hardest known mineral that is usually near colorless.” Most women define diamonds as the ultimate gift of love. The true beauty of a diamond can be enhanced by the proper cutting of the stone – known as faceting. This process is designed to allow the gem to reflect light and must be carefully adjusted to maximize optical performance.

Many of us can remember simpler times and a slower pace of life. Back in the good ‘ole days, goods and services were provided by people you knew by name, who lived in your neighborhood, and who visited just to check on your children or catch up on any family news. There were fewer choices, and no one seemed to mind. The milkman would bring whole dairy milk to your door each week, and families enjoyed the vitamins and nutrients this product offered. But with the advent of new technologies, individuals began going to the grocery store to buy milk in 2%, 1% and skim varieties to enjoy a different set of nutritional benefits.

In last month’s Case Consulting feature, we discussed a situation in which a client was looking for upside earning potential with no downside market risk for an asset he wanted to leave for loved ones. Given his particular situation, Creative Marketing helped identify an annuity that met his needs and gave him the flexibility he desired. However, it’s possible that similar needs for a different client would lend themselves to a life insurance conclusion. If you have clients who are uninsured or underinsured and are looking for tax-free savings potential, consider offering them the benefits afforded by life insurance. And just like many good things, they often come in threes.