Bugling and Benefits...They Won't Know the Difference

You know the phrase "ignorance is bliss"? Many people use this phrase to shrug off the things in life that come their way they didn't know. They trusted that others knew better and they went along with the "whatever" mentality. Dangerous indeed. This mentality has, over the years, worked its way into two big areas I serve in. I work in the benefits and insurance industry and I am the Alabama State Director for Bugles Across America. The mentality I explained above is why I do what I do in both entities and I am taking a moment to explain why it matters and why everyone should care...in both areas.

A few years ago, I started using my 30+ year training and practice of the trumpet to serve US Veterans who died. A group called Bugles Across America had started up years before to provide a live version of "Taps" played by a real person for as many Veterans as could be done. They couldn't serve in every situation, but the network of over 6,000 buglers across the nation do the best they can. When I became a live bugler for them, the thing that stuck with me was the fact that families of those who had served our country didn't realize that the "Taps" being provided at their loved ones' graveside was a recording hidden inside what looked like a bugle. Military honor guards were issued electronic bugles with an mp3 recording inside of it to mimic the "playing" of "Taps" so that the honor promised could be done. However, buglers and even some military and funeral directors wanted the real deal. They felt the recording was a dishonor for this person who had served our country. Bugles Across America agrees with those people and so it began.

The fact that the Veterans gets these honors at their graveside is great. The problem I had, however, was the phrase that popped up early as I started to play live "Taps". That phrase stung every time it was uttered. The phrase was, "The family doesn't know the difference". That told me two things:

1 - The people uttering these words DID know and they were OK with having it that way.

2 - It's OK to deceive as long as we don't make anyone aware of the difference.

Sad indeed.

The moral is this...I do what I do with Bugles Across America to the best of my ability so people don't let that one moment in time go by not (at least) being educated in the fact that this is happening and give them a choice. You see, I know the difference and to not use my talent to help educate and provide puts me in the camp with all the others who say, "They won't know the difference."

As I have worked in the benefits and insurance industry, the mentality has come up as well. This gets even more dangerous than the "Taps" situation. The mentality of "They won't know the difference", in insurance can cost people thousands of dollars and years of heartache. Let me use a real client example:

I was sitting with a client in a business where I served to provide them my education and benefits offering services. As I spoke with them, I realized that this person was developing a more than quizzical look on their face. I inquired on this and they let out with a story of their parent passing away and everyone thinking that the parent had life insurance that would help pay for the funeral. What they failed to realize was that the life insurance they thought they had was not the kind to help them at this time. You see, their parent had been sold something that would only pay a benefit if the insured died as a result of an accident. The parent died from an illness complication and the policy was of no use at all. As I listened, I explained the difference in what true life insurance is and what their parent was sold. At the time this was offered, the insurance agent didn't advise at all well. In that moment they were thinking of the sale and in essence saying, "They won't know the difference". Truly, truly sad indeed.

The difference is in what is known and giving information and honest advice...even at the cost of a lost sale. We are professionals in this industry. We hold a license to do what we do. The issue is they don't issue licenses to do their best to have integrity and provide people what they need and what they can afford. It's a harder concept to satisfy but it is also well worth it.

I have been asked before why my blog is "The Ramsay Bugle" and how the bugling and benefits are connected. Other than the fact they are both things I am passionate about, these areas are also right up toward the top of the "how they connect" list. We all have things in our lives that we have knowledge of. We also know that, in some cases, to not share that information takes on the mentality of "They won't know the difference." They may not, but if you do and you don't let it be known then where is that line of integrity being drawn?

As I like to do, I found this "Star Wars" video where Ben explains to Luke how he told him that Vader "betrayed and murdered" his father. Most of you know, that's not necessarily the full truth. Watch to the end for a little funny moment as a result:

Service, No Matter What.

This story happened a little while ago but as I was reading through my ideas for blogs, it still rang a note of import to me. In my life and my business, I realize that others are necessary for anyone to succeed. Sometimes that may mean a paycheck and at other times it doesn't. It's at the times where it doesn't when you can really decide what matters to you and to others you watch. Here is the story:

I was part of a group benefits meeting. I was offering my usual bevy of voluntary and supplemental coverage as I was working with a colleague. The group wanted to take some moments for their employees to understand how their health insurance had changed, so they scheduled a group meeting for all of us to present what we had to offer and how the policies worked.

The main health carrier came out to do their part. Before the meeting even started, we noted that this representative did not want to be there. That was understandable as it was indeed early in the morning. To also understand this attitude, you have to know that this representative was getting paid a salary no matter what so he obviously felt his presence was more than enough (which shone through his attitude as well). Confiding in fellow insurance agents was one thing, but then he went on to speak to this group of blue collar, hard working, clock-punching men who just knew they had health insurance. As he spoke, it was obvious that he did not know the plan he was presenting. He hesitated and verbally stalled his way through a very rough 20 minutes of reading to a group of grown men. He even went so far as to state things that were not even true. It was a trainwreck.

My colleague and I were dumbfounded. We stated how we could have saved everyone this embarrassment and done the presentation ourselves. We were embarrassed for the rep and we were upset for the employees. The rep didn't care. He was getting paid. But the people he was speaking to needed him to be the expert. His company needed him to show some pride and knowledge. None of that happened because he showed he could have cared less.

So, as we serve others in whatever capacity we find ourselves, we can instill some ways of serving no matter what. Here are my top 3:

1 - Give without a return. When you do what you do or are asked for help, try and do whatever you can without expectation of the favor or help being returned. It's not easy to do. It never has been. Many people get into "agreements" where they will do one thing for another in return. Sometimes you need to scratch and back without a scratch in return. You need to be OK with that and you may be surprised how truly appreciative those you do this to will be.

2 - Give more than necessary. Giving is a nice thing to do. People may request your time or experience or whatever and you may give it freely. Next time, try and find a way to give just a little bit more than asked. I feel it's a matter of asking yourself, "What could I do to take this from being nice to being unexpected?" I often think, "This is great, but what could I do to make it better?" That's a concept of always bettering yourself and what you do. It's called growth.

3- Giving is a gift from you and to you. Do you ever notice how when you do something for others how good you feel afterward? Who gets more joy at Christmas...the gift giver or the receiver? Many times it's the gifts we give that make us feel the best. It should be that in every way we give. Whether we give our time or our talents or a listening ear, we get a ton from giving. Giving is like a boomerang. Get ready for it to come back simply by sending your gift out there.

While I certainly hope that insurance representative has found success doing something else, it will be a constant reminder to me to be glad I can get up each day and offer what I do to others and their families. Every client matters. Every company I serve in is a blessing filled with people who need what I do and I am grateful to give.

Look for ways to give...and give your best. You'll be better and so will the world around you.

The video below was a JCPenney initiative from a few years ago where random people got selected to give and were told to go find a stranger and give to them what they wanted for the holidays. Yes, it's a touching video and something that shows in a material way what I was saying above. Enjoy and have asuper holiday season:

Big Wheels Turned. I Rode Along. I Was Glad I Did.

The 2016 AAHU (Alabama Association of Health Underwriters) conference, entitled, "Big Wheels Keep on Turning" was a great success. Great speakers and vendors and supporters throughout. We could not have asked for a better day.

In the aftermath, I was struck with a few things. One major thing was I was personally sworn in as the Alabama State Vice President serving with our new President, Robert Goodman. I was honored when he asked me to be a part and then after I was hit with what that means...at least to me. I am humbled, to say the least. During the conference I was struck with a few other things. The support we have from companies and people from all over the state of Alabama, the past of this organization and where we may be going, and where I can fit in and do my part.

We can't and don't do it alone. As you looked around the ballroom where we had our one day meeting, I was keenly aware of the vendors and people who agreed to support the cause of the conference and what AAHU means. Each table represented invested time and money to be a part of the event that led to meeting new brokers, their competition, and the people in their state who care about being a member of a great organization like AAHU and NAHU (National Association of Health Underwriters). I don't think everyone realizes that all of its members PAY to be a part of our group. We pay a monthly due and for those monthly meetings and this annual state conference, we also pay a fee. These vendors pay to have a space to set up and shake hands and make connections that may or may not build their business throughout the year. The key thing is we all see the value in what we are doing and who we are as a collective. While there may competitors right next to each other all over the ballroom, when this conference happens we are all one collective supporting what it means to be a professional in a profession that is as personal as any out there. Benefits are not just a quick decision process, and all this work we do together stresses that and for those moments we are all on the same page.

The past can and should be repeated and honored. We all want to talk about the future. We feel we have to change this or that or we are not growing. In many ways, this is more than a true statement. There is no greater harm to the future than a hum drum attitude and a process that gets stale and uneventful. However, in this industry. In my industry, I am keenly aware of what good business and good people are all about. That became crystal clear as we honored Bill Miller in 2016. Bill and I were not what you would call "buddies". I knew of Bill. I had seen him at various events and the annual conference each and every year. We were always cordial and polite as we shook hands when we saw each other. Bill was involved in an accident that confined him to a wheelchair back a bit ago. We would get updates on his progress and would take the time, as a group, to pray for him and his recovery and all the things you do for those who are hurting. Come to find out, Bill didn't let this situation mess him up for any longer than he had to to heal. His colleagues and family and friends say he couldn't wait to get back to his business and serving his clients. I was inspired by that. I learned this year that he was an integral part of the continuing education those in my industry in Alabama have to go through to stay current and properly licensed to do what we do for our clients. I was touched when AAHU honored Bill with an honorary lifetime membership into AAHU, even if his years of service had not quite been met. His example and influence is, and will be, felt throughout the state of Alabama and I am proud to know him even more than casual "hello friends". My point is that the past is important because some of those good old values are still the same and still very much needed. The attitude and drive of those who have paved a way for us should be honored and replicated for those coming after us. This industry doesn't end with me. It will go on and I hope I can leave a legacy that is anywhere close to what others have done in their lives and careers.

Who am I? As I was sworn in to be Vice President of AAHU, I can't describe what I felt other than a combination of responsibility, a little fear, a sense of expectation, and a drive to be the best VP I could be in the next two years. I've been honored in different positions before, but the sudden weight of the state brought me to a place of hope in myself that I could do the service to the level I expected of myself, regardless of what others thought or felt. I can't thank Robert Goodman enough for asking me to serve with him. It's one thing when your clients and your friends and family appreciate you. It's a totally different feeling when it's a colleague. It says they see something in you that they want to partner with and utilize to help them in their journey and I am all too happy to do just that. We are not even a week in to our new roles and Robert and I are working on a game plan for the rest of the year and into our two-year service in our planning. That is exciting. We are on the same page. We want to make a difference and we want to serve the state of Alabama and those in our industry to the best of our abilities and "leave it all on the field". That's an exciting feeling to be a part of. 

Only time will dictate where this road leads me, but I am certain the road will stay under my feet because it has been paved long ago and by many more people than me. My part will be to travel it and maybe pave some new places our day and time will allow us to do now. My wheels will keep on turning. I'm along for the ride and I can't wait to see what we see and do all we can.

Lessons From Kylo Ren

The following post contains basic information from the movie "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" with regard to the labeled villain Kylo Ren. The following should not be considered "spoilers" but I want to be sure you know I will be referencing the movie in my examples.

If we are honest and open with ourselves, we can learn anything from any source. Many times our best inspiration comes from things and entities one might consider "negative". That is the case here with a few points I would like to make about the newest villain in the Star Wars saga, Kylo Ren. Kylo has some great traits we can all consider and add to our "light or dark side". Use this information carefully.

1 - Focused purpose. Most of the characters we see in movies that are villains have an uncanny knack of being single-minded and focused on their grand plan, no matter what it is. Kylo Ren is no different. When we first meet him in the movie he is looking for something to help him find someone (I still want you to see the movie...LOL). He comes off his ship with the single purpose. He is so intent on finding what he needs that he even resorts to some extreme violence to get his hands on it.

Now, I don't want anyone feeling like their focus should be so intent that they would harm anyone to get what they want. We have enough trouble in the world without someone else causing pain. But, the concept of having a goal and doing our best to make every act we take to move us one step closer to that goal a reality is a great way to live. Kylo Ren has a single mission...for now. Once he gets to that point he will most likely have another single focused mission that leads to bigger and better things.

We can become so distracted with so many things around us. Social media. Games. Basic issues of life. They are everywhere. We can all take a lesson from Kylo Ren and stay as focused on our goals and missions so that every morning we rise and search the galaxy of our lives until we find it and move forward. What are you searching for? What do you want so badly you'd go to any length to achieve/acquire it? Find it and get focused like Kylo Ren.

2 - Passion. Anyone who has seen this Star Wars episode sees Kylo have, what many would call, a couple of "hissy fits". He gets a step in the right direction and due to circumstances things don't go as planned and he loses it. That lightsaber comes on and he trashes everything in the area where he is. Now, we can look at this intense villain and see that and think he is just showing an extreme amount of immaturity. I will argue, for the sake of this blog post, that what he is showing is a byproduct of his commitment and passion.

We've all seen things in life that lead us to believe we are one step closer to something amazing. All the pieces are in place. We've done the best job we could do. We're looking ahead to the next phase of the plan and BOOM! Something happens that upends us and our grand plan. Maybe we break down and cry. Maybe we punch a wall. Maybe we press the situation even harder to force the issue to happen our way. No matter what the action, it all points to a reaction and the passion we have for the outcome and the goals we have. Right? We don't see it right away, but when we calm ourselves we realize that our "rocket fuel explosion" is a byproduct of us seeing the end in our sights and outside forces we did not count on upend it and leave us grasping at air.

We all need that kind of fire and passion in what we want and we need to show that. It needs to consume us. Maybe not to the point of slashing a lightsaber into a star destroyer console, but a passion the world can see and know that we are headed in a direction.

3 - Prayer/meditation. Whether Sith or Jedi, a theme resonates through the movies of Star Wars that there is a higher power to help guide direction and purpose. We often see that these characters have quiet moments of reflection. They move away from others and find a place of seclusion where they can commune with something bigger than they are. Kylo Ren may feel like he is the ultimate power, but he purposefully takes time out to commune with his own thoughts and feelings as he gives himself time to reconnect with his true calling and purpose.

We have all felt the pull of things outside of our goals and ideals. Some of us can throw it off and deal with it. However, the strength in those moments of doubt can come from time in quiet reflection. Whether our method is focused breathing, or prayer, or a solitary walk, we can get the relief from the chaos this life can throw at us with those moments where we reconnect with ourselves, our mission, and the things that truly matter to us.

4 - Unrelenting. I know we have already mentioned Kylo's passion and focus, but his relentlessness is insane. In every instance in the movie, he shows up with a stride and attitude of power. He does his thing and then hits a roadblock. He has his "come apart" and then the next thing you know he's found another way to get what he wants and here he comes again. Think Wile E. Coyote and the Roadrunner.

What moments in our life do we drive and drive and keep hammering away and then we have a roadblock and we have that moment of wanting to throw our hands up and say, "Well, I guess it's over"? It's the easy way. Just walk away and work on something else or hide and wait until the loss doesn't sting as much any more. I find that people who do that don't really have the conviction in their cause and goals and giving up under an explosion of excuses is the ripcord they use when hit with adversity. Maybe the right answer is to keep going. Many times it's the fact that we keep "showing up" that makes the difference. Be unrelenting and keep after it like Kylo Ren.

5 - Battling when injured. When you see Kylo for the first few times he looks very imposing in his long and flowing robes and mask. He speaks and his mask makes him sound very ominous. He takes that mask off and suddenly he looks normal. Nothing fabulous. No scars. He's rather ordinary. That mixed with the occasional tantrum he has and you feel like this guy will go down at the first fight he actually gets in with anyone of any consequence. At a point in the movie he is shot by a blaster. It stings. It hurts. He bleeds. Our heroes try and escape through the woods and guess who is waiting for them. That's right, Kylo Ren. No mask. Hurt. Angry. Determined. He could have easily sent a trooper team to go after them, but he went and faced them himself. Before and during the lightsaber battle, we see him grit his teeth and punch the injured spot over and over until blood comes out of it. He goes from ordinary to extraordinary and you are suddenly worried for the heroes that they may not make it out of this alive.

We hear about athletes all the time "playing hurt". Some football players have even claimed to play with broken bones that happened during the game because they refused to be sidelined. We may not face physical injury and have to pull ourselves up and fight, but life has a way of hurting us. Have you ever had a client leave you? That stings. Have you ever had a family member pass away unexpectedly? That's a game changer. Every job and life out there has moments that feel about as good as a blaster fire to the body. You go down. You look inside and you're reeling. You're thinking, "I'll just lay here until help arrives." Most people would understand if you did. You got shot for goodness sake. You're hurting. They comfort you with all the cliches they can throw at you. They mean to be comforting and tell you it's ok to sit and wait until the pain subsides. Unfortunately, that's not what is always needed. Sometimes we have to play hurt. Sometimes we have to dig down deep to do what we know we should do after countless shots that are meant to take us down. Kylo Ren basically said, "I will not let a blaster hole in my body stop me from my end game." There are times where we have to be more like Kylo Ren and be willing to keep battling when injured.

6 - Practiced power. Kylo Ren didn't merely wake up one day with his abilities in the Force or his lightsaber skills. This power he possesses comes at a price. The price of dedication and correction and learning that, if he wants to be a powerful leader, he must endure and even look forward to.

I am not going to lie. I want to wake up some mornings and have it all right there. Full bank account. Every thing in my home perfect and fixed. My car washed and shiny and working like I just drove it for the first time. I want my relationships to all be happy and conflict free and I want to do it all because I deserve it (so I think in those moments). Reality checks come often in real life and if that day did come where everything was handed to me perfect and in order, I'm pretty sure I'd be in a state that doesn't care much about the things of life because I would (most likely) be dead.

We all have a power within us to do what we do and be who we are to be in this world. We did not just fall into that person. If we are honest with ourselves, we don't really believe that we will have everything we need handed to us. We also know how much work it took to get us to where we are now. Just like Kylo, we have to work on our power.  We have to practice...daily. No matter the things in our lives, hitting the pause button is not an option and we better be taking our moments to practice to master the power within ourselves so we can constantly be growing and getting better at who we are.

7 - Conflict. Kylo Ren may be labeled as the "bad guy", but we find out throughout the movie that he struggles with who he is. He struggles with his plan and his goals and all the inner "stuff" we all have. He comes to a point where he flat out admits that his torn up inside. He knows what he has to do and he can't find the strength to make the next move.

We've all been there. Pick your situation where you made a checklist of pros and cons and that's the moment in life much like what we are addressing here. We may not be working to conquer a galaxy, but it can seem that big when it's in our face and we are the one having to choose what we do next. Conflict is a part of life as well. We have choices. We can do one thing or another. We can examine consequences or not. The moment of truth is coming and it's up to us and we have to make the move. We have to "pull the trigger" and we want someone else to swoop in and make this moment disappear or to just do it for us. The key is we can't run from conflict. We have to be set in our mind and allow the conflict to either change our thinking or we can stay on course and continue. We all have our moments of conflict, just like Kylo Ren. Work through it and it may not change a universe, but it can rock your own world pretty well.

8 - Listening to people. Kylo Ren has a lot of moments in the movie where he interacts with others. He has very few that he genuinely listens to and that is both part of his strength and his weakness. He listens to his leader. He doesn't listen to the commander of the battleship. He listens to Rey (the female "hero"). He doesn't listen to Han. It's all part of what makes him who he is. It's part of what we are as well.

The first thing we have to realize is that we need others. Opinions. Thoughts. Advice. It comes at us when we ask and many times when we don't ask. The point to take is that we have an opportunity to listen to everyone or no one. The lesson from Kylo is for us to be careful who we listen to and the conclusions we make from that. Not everyone on our lives have our best interests at heart and some have only the best we may not even be able to see yet. The choice to listen or not is ours. The choice who we choose to listen to or not is also ours. Be mindful. While I may not personally agree with who Kylo chose to listen to, he listened to those who were on point with his goals and drive. Find those people in your life and keep listening. I'll take it one step further. Listen to everyone. You never know when that nugget of verbiage makes an impact on your life you...and no one else...saw coming.

I hope there is something you can take from this article. I did quite a bit of inner inventory as I worked on it and I am certain I will keep doing that as the years go by. Kylo Ren may be considered a villain or a monster (as Rey calls him), but as with many things in life we can learn from him and take some valuable things with us that will make us better versions of ourselves. So, be well. Have a super day and week and May the Force Be With You.

The YouTube video below is an edited clip of the final battle where we see Kylo Ren showing his ability to "play hurt" and keep coming.

Your Life. Your Standards.

I have been juggling this first of the year post in my head for some time. I am going through a process of a new planning session and some great ideas for an exciting 2016 that involves my current clients and (hopefully) a new crew of people to help. In that time, something happened that really hit me to the point where I have thought about little else and felt it was important enough to mention.

I was visiting a men's clothing store the other day and I noted a gentleman who I have seen there quite awhile. He was working and helping customers, but I noticed he was not wearing his usual suit and tie. He sported a look that said (to me) that it must be his off day or he came in to get his check and decided to stop and help someone in need or a client he usually helped.

When he was finished, I asked him about his new casual look. I expected to get the response similar to what I was assuming. Instead I got a response that made me cringe. He proceeded to tell me that the company told them that at the first of the year suits were no longer required. He said they told him to do this because the clientele would most likely not be wearing a suit when they came in and that they should have a more relaxed atmosphere and feel in how they dressed. He then told me he has worn a suit every day for the many years he has been there and to be dressed this way didn't feel like he was at work. He didn't like it one bit. I would have taken it as a "old dog, new tricks" kind of thing but to be honest...I didn't like it either.

I go into this store that has nice suits and good men's wear and I want to see people who wear what I'm looking at and know what they are talking about. I don't want to see a person who looks like they are ready to hit the links in a few minutes. I wondered why this bugged me so much and then it hit me...

They were lowering their standards to suit other people.

Now, I understand this is a retail store and they want to attract clients, but to what end and at what sacrifice? I then mentally transferred this to you and me. So many times we may feel that we need to be someone for someone else. In certain cases that is true but more often than not that is seen in our actions toward others and as long as we remain true to our selves and our standards we are OK.

Think about it this way: You find a person you want to get to know. Dating, friends...whatever. You come to them as yourself. You have a set of values and ideals and they do too and the connection begins. While there may be adjustments to one another, we do have standards that make us who we are and these are those things we don't compromise on. Integrity, honesty, etc. We don't lower those standards for anything.

Unfortunately, the world around us keeps lowering the standards. Whether it's in schools or in expectations of winning and losing, to even how we dress. It's a slippery slope when we start lowering a higher standard and level of thinking. Some people allow themselves to be effected to the point of lowering their standards just to "get the deal" or be accepted or whatever. I control one person...me. I am responsible for one person...me. If I compromise on me, then am I not a lesser me?

My main point is clear...don't lower your standards. Don't compromise those things that matter to you. Others may make fun of what matters to you or whatever, but these are your standards. Don't change them for others. If you compromise in any area, compromise up (if you get my meaning) to a better level of yourself. Never compromise down.

My mentor and friend Brendon states it best in his 12 minute video. Take the time to listen and maybe learn something new to better you in 2016:

Don't Sign Anything!

For a 1 minute and 6 second video of the below post, click here:

or see it on youtube here:

https://youtu.be/0ffJz9QQBBk

Do you like your benefits advisor? Are they professional and a part of your "team"? If so, let me tell you one big way you can show them how much you appreciate them...don't sign anything without consulting your benefits advisor first.

With benefits changing because of the government involvement, many vendors of varying specialties have decide they are benefits professionals. Within that light, some payroll companies have gotten involved in acquiring an "authorization" from a business they service or a new business they are walking into for the first time. This authorization is presented in such a way that makes it seem like they are acquiring it so they can "check out your benefits" and get you quotes (which your benefits advisor should be doing anyway). What they don't tell you is that by signing that authorization form for them to "take a look", you have just signed over all the benefits in your company to them. Your benefits advisor has now been removed. No more service. No more payment to them. Nothing, They are gone.

How does this happen? The person with your attention asking for this authorization form is leaving out the fact I have mentioned above. They may look at it as, "Hey, if they don't ask I'm not going to offer it". Companies and even professionals on many levels are getting business through "omission". It's really kind of sad. I hope you can tell that I'm not a fan of that process and look at that as a big question of ethical practice.

Next time around I will address these companies who come to you to make your benefits administration and enrollment automated. It's a huge danger and many business owners are negating their relationship with their existing benefits professional out of ignorance to what the rules in signing things are in insurance.

So, to be clear and wrap this up...please...if you like your benefits advisor, don't sign anything without checking with them first.

Being Prepared is NOT Bad Mojo.

In my work with clients, I am always asking questions about life insurance. It's a "thing" with me because it is the only sure thing we will all face at some point. Death is no respecter of persons. It doesn't care your race, age, or level of happiness. Death is a part of life (deep, huh?). In my discussions with people, I usually bring up children. Those that tell me they have children, I ask the question, "Do you have life insurance on your kids?" It seemed like an innocent enough question but as the time goes by I am finding many people get uncomfortable with the question. I've had clients tell me they wouldn't get life insurance on their children because it was as if they were hoping for them to die or wishing bad "mojo" on them. I've also had clients who felt it unnecessary because they (as parents) would be all their children needed to keep them safe. I never speak against people and their feelings or their reasoning behind making decisions like this with these as reasons, but I have also been face with some realities that makes the question even more important...no matter how uncomfortable it is for me to ask. I have three strong reasons for every parent (or person who knows people with children) to consider acquiring life insurance for children.

1 - No discounts at the funeral home. I have said in meetings before that there are no discounts for a smaller casket. It may sound cruel or too direct, but some of my clients and companies need a dose of reality as they feel "they got this". Funeral homes and certain states MAY have a set up to get financial assistance in certain cases. As a rule, the funeral for a child is expected to be paid for like any other funeral. Most people I know don't have thousands of dollars for a funeral just sitting around in a savings account. Funeral homes stay in business because it is just that...a business. The good news is, having a policy in place will make a horrible situation slightly better when it comes to making those final arrangements with the funeral home.

2 - It's the cheapest it will ever be. Life insurance is priced based on health, tobacco use, and mortality. Mortality is that table that tells us how close to death people are (on average). It makes sense that a child will be in premiere health and they are (on average) far away from that age of mortality. That means the risk of them dying soon is almost non-existent (according to the numbers) and life insurance companies will write that all day. Now, I don't think price should be a consideration when it comes to common sense, but we all have budgets and things to consider. The better news is that when they are at their young age, any kind of policy is available for a steal.

3 - Stuff happens. It's a safe bet that you could open a paper to the obituary section and find the announcement of a young child having passed away. It saddens us. It destroys a family. We read of stories of negligence, accidents, and unexpected situations that take a young life. The reality is that life happens. Death happens. Parents are very dutiful in protecting their families by getting life insurance for themselves if something unexpected happens. They owe it to themselves to do the same with a small policy to cover the "what if" that happens to children almost daily.

PERSONAL STORY: My dad did this for me. When I was 2 years old, my dad got a small whole life policy in my name with a face amount of $20,000.00. The following year, I was diagnosed with an incurable kidney disorder. In life insurance terms that means I am not insurable under most circumstances. He passed this policy on to me when I got married so I would have a base to start with to leave my new bride in the event something happened. I paid a whopping $10.00 a month for this policy while I held it. Since then, I have found other means for life insurance, but this was crucial for me. Thanks dad.

This post is not meant to be a downer. The goal is to be a call to all responsible adults who have children or grandchildren or friends with children. No one wants to think about the death of a child but it can happen. In most cases a policy that can cover children would be less than $20.00 a month. This amount would get more than enough to cover final expenses so the financial aspect of a devastating event like the loss of a child would be handled.

If you find yourself in the need to consider life insurance for those who count on you to provide them with their daily needs for survival (pssst, grandparents can do this too), call me (205-370-8453). Email me (gene@generamsay.com). Text me (205-370-8453). We'll talk options and pick what is right for you.

Modify or Repeal...What's the Best Road?

In this time of uncertainty over health care reform, we have seen some substantial changes. No one really knew what to expect as lawmakers themselves admitted that they wouldn't be able to tell the full impact until the law was in place and rolling right along. 
Within the landscape of all of this, we see many people being helped by the new laws. These are the people who needed health insurance. The aged and the chronically ill were no longer being told "no" and they are now getting the proper care they need to either get better or at least deal better with the issues they face. Children are now getting the care they need within the plans being offered. Children being able to have their teeth taken care of and/or get their eyes checked regularly. (There is nothing in place to help the obesity problem in our country, but that's for another blog).
Since the law went into effect, we see so many people seeing the flaws in the process. Everything from out of sight premiums to their primary care physician no longer in the mysterious "network" within the public exchange plans being offered. When flaws show their ugly heads, everyone has a way to "fix it". Many in Washington, DC are still fighting for repeal of the whole thing. They are still saying, "It's not too late". Other are saying it's fine but that some things should change and adjust to make it better. Who is on the right track? What will make this process best for everyone? Well, let's look at both sides and then you can decide.

REPEAL IT! Those who shout "repeal" are wanting to scrap the whole thing and make it their own. I can think of millions who signed up because they needed proper care for health concerns and before the law came into effect, their pre-existing condition kept them from that. Sure, they could get seen and treated if it was a severe accident/emergency, but we're talking about an illness that could slowly kill them over time without treatment. What would a repeal do for those people? I'd like to think I look at everyone when it comes to making sweeping decisions. I'm certain that one of the reasons the ACA came into effect is for these people and it is helping them. I don't want to think that those people would be negatively impacted by a full on repeal of the law. A full repeal would effect others as well, but that's what we have to consider (in my opinion) when we talk about scrapping a plan and starting over. However, you want to start a repeal process? SOAP BOX...Stop calling it "Obamacare". That's not what it is. It's PPACA, which is short for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

FIX IT! Have you ever had a car start "acting funny" on you? You're not sure what's wrong but you know something is. So, you take it to the mechanic and they run some tests and diagnostics to see if they can pinpoint the issue and fix it. The ACA "fix" option is kind of like that car. It has so many working parts and I'm sure we all have our particular thing we'd like to see adjusted. Fixing it could be the better option (SOAP BOX...let's PLEASE stop calling it "Obamacare". That's not what it is. As far as "fixing it" goes, let's start there. OFF SOAP BOX). The shell itself is in place. We've got the framework for something special that could be amazing for millions and now we need to find ways to make this as painless as possible. The biggest issues you hear are certain doctors not being in the network of the public exchanges, premiums are too high, medications are not part of the plans, and the fines and fees associated with being required to have health insurance that meets the guidelines set out by the government. Do I have answers to all these things? No. Are there people out there who could put some great ideas on the table to consider what options there are in fixing some of these things? Yes. Maybe even you and me.

At the end of the day I see a "fix" mentality being a better idea for everyone. So many people, including myself, have had to adjust how they do things because of the requirements of the law. Business owners, individuals, insurance carriers, and even the government entities like the Department of Labor and the IRS. I'd like to believe that in the end we all would like something we can be proud of and know that it is helping people in the right way fro them without being a burden on those who may not need it or are fine with just having "the basics" met for them.

The key for you is to be sure you have people around you and that you can contact to help you as things change (and they will change). You will need to be informed and keeping up on your own may not be in your job description. That's where people like myself come in. I stay informed so that when you have a question about your health plan situation, I can be there to help and guide. I don't want to see anyone struggle with this process. That's why with my colleagues and self-study on what's going on with this every day I know we can (at least) keep people aware and informed and be there when others need us.

If you need some options and answers now, I am a phone call/text away (205-370-8453) or you can email me at gene@generamsay.com.

Top image comes from here.
PPACA image comes from here.

Am I Really That Scary?

Well, not me per say, but what I do.

Since taking on a leadership and recruiting/training role with my main insurance carrier I do business with, I have scheduled interview after interview. I've talked and emailed with countless people and the percentage of people that actually step up to be a part of an amazing industry and process is very small.

Now, in hindsight, I don't really want every person I talk with to join my team. There needs to be a desire to do things for others and there should be a connection with me and the business integrity I attempt to implement in my business. Many people don't hold that same value and I'm glad I see that early on and we are able to part ways on good terms. However, the people that seem solid and ready to go and who say, "This sounds amazing" and then they disappear? What's up?

So, for all the people out there looking to do something for yourself, make the kind of living you'd like to based on the effort you are willing to put forth all while helping people protect themselves and their families...here's where I put the cards on the table and let you see three great things and three challenges to what I do every single day. I've been doing this over 5 years and still wake up each morning hoping to make a positive difference in people's lives. Whether it be with some much needed insurance benefits, helping a company owner make some tough decisions, or  I'm interacting with a person looking to join me in these endeavors and make a living for themselves they can call their own. Here's what it's all about and it's all about what angle you're looking at it all from:

CHALLENGES:

1 - You earn what you make. An early question I get asked is, "What can I make?" or "What does it pay?". I get that. I was that way when I started down this road. What I am offering is a commission only job. Those words scared me and I'm sure they can scare anyone looking to make money who have never looked in this direction. However, I jumped into this business on faith and I wake up every day doing the same. I know that if I don't make positive moves toward reaching out to other potential clients, servicing existing clients, and planning my own day as carefully as I can that I run the risk of making nothing at all in a given week.

2 - You will meet new people every day. Whether it's by phone or email or walking in a door, you will be meeting new people every day and you will be talking to them about things they can do to protect themselves and their family. You will be offering solutions, options, and answers to people who may or may not be interested in what you have to say or offer. Those new people say "No" and "Not today" and "Call me back later" all the time. It's the part of the game that can be frustrating. Sometimes just the thought of having to be confident in front of a stranger can be intimidating.

3 - It's got your name on it. So many times a person goes to work for a company. Things are all about "company policy" and what others are telling you to do. That's not the case in this business. You are your own boss. You are your business and  brand. You mess up, it's got your name all over it and that frightens people. I understand that. There will be days that you will soar and other days you can't do anything right and you want everyone you know to forget your phone number and email address. You will become what you make yourself to be and no one will just pay you for "trying".

AWESOMENESS:

1 - You earn what you make. With all the challenges in this business, when you get a "Yes" from a potential client and you start that process of changing lives and advising and becoming something to those people you are helping, it means the world. Guess what...you also get paid to do that. How much depends on the job you do and the team you surround yourself with, but some days you'll think about it and think, "Wow, I just made $100.00 an hour" (for example). Take that with the good feelings of helping others do right by themselves and family and you get something you can't make up. The key to succeeding in this business is believing enough in what you do and offer that each day is a new opportunity to change lives...including your own, for the better.

2 - You will meet new people every day. People and connections is what makes this world and being human so amazing. Even people looking at the 4 walls of a cubicle have interactions with others and it's sometimes the high point of their day. The best news is you are hunting constantly for new people to meet with, talk to, and help each and every day you choose to. Now, as with any single person they have a right to like what you have to say and they have a right not to. It's the way the world works. Getting more "No" than "Yes" can start to hurt if you let it. The good news is, you can rest on the fact that what you do has effected millions in a positive way each day and you get the opportunity to do that. Without people, no one gets anywhere. Think about this...even the person in the cubicle needs people to make a living. No one gets anywhere or makes a dime without someone else. It's just not possible any other way.

3 - It's got your name on it. When people join my team, the first weeks are all about learning and growing and understanding the business and the product. It's about getting comfortable with sales calls and visits and finding a groove that suits them. Once they are ready to head out on their own, it's all them. Sure, I'm still a part of the process but I'm in a support role and leadership position to help when things get tough or when assistance is needed. Anyone who joins my team works WITH me...not FOR me. Big difference and it's a good thing. I want people to build something for themselves no matter what direction my life takes. The good news is, in this industry you can make it whatever you want or need it to be.

So, who is ready? Who has what it takes to stop living for a paycheck and work to make a living equal to the work you are willing to put in? Are you a good candidate to contact me? One phone call and one interview will tell you. The next step is yours...and the next...and the next. Each day, one more step and one more opportunity to serve others and make a positive difference in people's lives.

Not working right now? Looking for a "job"? Contact me at 205-370-8453 (text or call) or email me (gene@generamsay.com) and let's talk.

It's only scary if your perspective is wrong.

Please don't be afraid to fail. Join with me and make a difference in the lives of others, and your life too:

Health Care Reform Making You Feel Handcuffed?

The Affordable Care Act has been in place since October 1, 2013. When it was first opened up the majority of people were still rather clueless as to what it meant and what they needed to do. Even heading into the new year there were some who still didn't know there would be a tax penalty for not having some sort of ACA compliant health insurance. Health care reform is confusing to many, irritating to others, and many are still walking around uninsured as before because they just don't know where to turn. Business owners and the people in charge of benefits are much the same way. I will be directing my statements to them in the remainder of this piece, but understand that as of today, not only must decisions be made but options must be made available. I hope to do some of that here.

Many business owners around where I live feel trapped. In Alabama, we are essentially a one carrier state and all options seem to lead to that particular carrier. A couple have tried to get in and make some waves, but on a very limited basis, when it comes to the public exchange set up here. Many business owners feel handcuffed to the only option they are aware of. I'm here to tell all of them, that there are options.

Before I get into the top 3 options I have seen and helped to implement, I have to say to anyone reading this who feels like they only have the one option...stop thinking that way. Forget the one carrier for a second. Forget what you've always known and maybe even grown up with and expand your mind to options that can help you and your business keep solid benefits in place and keep them affordable. Be open to the possibilities.

Now, on to my top 3 options:

1 - Get high. 

We do it with much of the insurance we select. Car, home, etc. We pick the plan that allows us to pay the smallest premium now and do our best to avoid the risk and thereby save us money in the long run. In the past, deductibles of $500 - $1500 have been the norm. In this option, deductibles can get up there to the $5000 - $10,000 variety.

Now, that amount may sound scary but I want you to consider something here. Look at the last visit to the hospital you had. Most likely it wasn't yesterday and you do all you can to stay healthy and out of the hospital like i know I do. Now, people with conditions that need constant monitoring and/or treatment may see something different but I'm working off of the general population. Now, if you will take that potential deductible and look at a situation where a good bit of medical treatment may be necessary (emergency, sever illness, etc.) the total amount would put many people into bankruptcy. While the deductible may look huge, when you need the insurance it is there to cover past that amount. Many times a payment plan is set up with insureds to get the bill paid but at the end of the day what you want is to feel better and be back on your feet and contrary to popular belief, your doctor wants you back on your feet as well because his health (not your wallet) should be his or her number one priority. So, that said, looking at the highest deductible plan for you and your people may be a solid option. In addition to that there are additional policies that those individuals you see as needing a little more "cushion" could acquire to cover the larger expense items like hospitalization or surgical procedures. Those policies are usually quite affordable and if you save a good bit with getting a higher deductible plan the investment to cover these "what ifs" could be huge to your people.

2 - Think outside the card. Another options that have surfaced are not really new. Things like HSAs and HRAs have been around for some time. Many people in this are of the country don't look at because it takes some thinking and an open mind to wrap your noggin around the concept of setting money aside for a rainy day medical situation.

It makes sense and the options can be quite flexible based on the staff of people being covered. I'm not going to dig down deep into these here, but the options are endless here. You can customize a plan that starts dollar one coverage and then the insured picks up some and the plan kicks back in or the company can set up a fund and pay out expenses at the time of need. It's really a nice option to have, gives the company some solid benefits for the everyday use and also helps the people who have the "what if" happen to them.

3 - Throw everyone to the sharks. OK, that sounds more harsh than it is really, but many companies have no choice (or feel they don't). It's either keep benefits or start firing people. This option tells your people that you are not involving yourself or your company in health insurance options and that it's up to them to go and get it on their own. It saves the company time, money, and administrative stuff that goes along with having health insurance.

It's not the nicest option, but it is one I'm seeing owners take. It's also not all bad and a company owner can still provide things to their employees that they can use to help them as they go it alone. For instance, a company can have a broker or ACA trained agent come into his place of business and help his people make the choices they need to. The company can offer up a flat amount that they would be willing to pay so each employee has some company funds to help pay premiums with. The company can also offer to fund other benefits like life insurance, disability, or other products where if the "what if" happens then the people are covered. To be fair to owners making this bold move it's not all bad. The business owner wants to be in business doing what they are passionate about. They have taken the time and resources to hire quality people and pay them a good wage. If all the company does is that they've done a good thing. So many people expect health benefits to be part of the deal when in reality it doesn't have to be. In fact, I've even been in training classes where we were taught to tell a company owner that if they'll offer a certain benefit it will increase the loyalty and production of an employee. I've talked to many employees recently and to be honest...they just want to get paid. I think in 7 years I may have talked to 3 people total who said they changed jobs for better benefits. I'm not saying it's a good option, but I have to be fair to the decision. I will, however, say that I encourage all owners to at least OFFER opportunity through your company for your folks to acquire benefits whether you pay a dime for it or not. Having the knowledge that you care enough to let a vendor or benefits professional advisor says to your people that you care enough about them to help them make the call for themselves.

I hope this insight has been helpful. Everything has changed and is still changing as of today. Nothing in the benefits market is staying still and I'm doing my best to stay on top of it all. If you need some guidance as an individual or as a company, that's what I do. The good news is that all this reform has not stopped new companies from opening their doors. I'm meeting with a brand new company President this week and I'm excited about what we can build for them and their people from the ground up.

It's Never Too Late! Or Is it?

How many times have we heard the phrase, "It's never too late." We hear it used when people say things like, "I wish I had...", "I'd like to do...", "If only I'd...". Then we say "It's never too late". In areas like this that very well may be the case. Life is to be lived and in many cases you can do those things you've always wanted to do any time in your life. However, there may be areas where we miss the mark and the opportunity comes and then it's gone and it can be too late. I find this to be the case when we talk about decisions made about insurance and benefits people have access to. We see this to be especially true when it comes to disability and life insurance. I'll explain.

With life insurance, this concept is obvious. We only have so many days on this earth. Many of us have the desire to live life to the fullest. That's great until something happens and life ends up being much shorter than we had planned. In our lives, most of us have OTHERS to think about if something happens to us. Sure, you can approach it like, "Hey, I'm dead...what do I care." but if we stop and think for two seconds we realize that the people in our lives matter more to us than that and we need to make some provisions if our "carpe diem" mentality backfires. Death is inevitable no matter the age, health, or life situations. Being prepared with some basic life insurance will help those around you sleep a little better.
Another area is how life can throw us an illness or something that might keep us from being able to get life insurance. I have never seen people more upset and dejected when I get into an application for life insurance and I see that they have some health conditions which will either raise their premiums or cause them to be unable to gain life insurance by normal means. Younger people fall into the trap of feeling that disease and health issues will happen later so they decide to wait. Then one day they wake up with Type 2 Diabetes or they have a heart attack. Suddenly they feel like they have a chink in their invincibility armor and the "what if" question comes up. So, they run out and try to feel better by getting a life policy only to find that their recent situation makes the insurance company say, "Um...I don't think so."
In either of these cases there are always secondary options. With my main advisor capacity using voluntary life insurance through an employer I can usually make someone's day who has had trouble in the past with acquiring life insurance. I've even been able to get someone in cancer treatments get life coverage through work so I know it's possible. If I can't through those means, I have access to other carriers and professionals who offer higher risk policies. Sure, the premiums are higher but that's one of the prices of waiting.

Disability is another tough one but easier to understand. Many times someone is offered disability insurance to cover their paycheck and they pass because they've worked for years and never been out more than a day or two for anything. It's also true that people are more likely to die than suffer a long disability. This is where I will address the ladies. In pregnancy, you're out AT LEAST 6 weeks. Your FMLA keeps your job but doesn't pay you a dime and you have to have been at that job for at least a year before you are eligible to get FMLA. Disability coverage lets you enjoy your time with your little one and have the knowledge of knowing that you will at least get a paycheck or two while you are out. Unfortunately, I get too many calls in a year from clients asking to get on disability insurance who just got back to work from a disabling event or some young lady who found out 3 weeks ago she was pregnant and needs coverage. At that point my hands are tied and it is too late. I have to explain that they can still get the coverage, but that the policy will not help them in the pregnancy or for that condition they just dealt with on this go around.

Waiting is tough for the person, but it's tough on me too. I don't like telling people I can't help them. It's like I'm Superman and I'm trying to save someone from falling to the ground but they lined their pockets with kryptonite. I can try but in the end there is little I can do and that pains me.

So, how do handle these dilemmas? It's simple. When you get offers through work or personal means to help you plan for the future, think twice. Think about others who are counting on you. Think about how it will feel to have to ask to borrow money to get by or have to take out a loan. With benefits, you pay a small price today that could save you and/or your family a lot of heartache and pocket ache.

Do you have people you know who need to hear this? Do you want to help those who aren't helping themselves because they don't know where to go. With us being at the beginning of a new year, it may be time to start adopting the approach of helping others not miss an opportunity to help themselves. Contact me and let's see about setting up an advisory session where I can help you remind people of these valuable things. At least then we can say we tried. I find that imparting education and knowledge in these areas is key and even if they still say "No", they have done so in full light of the facts and possibilities.

Spend the next 16 minutes smiling with Steve Mazan as he reminds us that in some areas it's never too late:

"But That's Not Fair"

As the first deadline of the new health care law comes into effect October 1, 2013, I am working diligently to be sure that any group or business with employee knows what will be expected of them starting then and moving forward regarding expectations with the law. What I am finding is kind of shocking and almost funny...in a painful sort of way.

The example I am sharing here comes on the tail of a call to a client to be sure they had their pieces all in a row for full compliance on getting the exchange notices delivered to all their employees. These notices inform the person what the exchange is and a process they will follow to see what may be available to them for health insurance under the new law. That sounds pretty simple...right? Of the 20 or more employers I contacted via email and/or called, those who responded or took my call had little to no idea what I was even talking about. Please keep in mind that these were people and places that I have been discussing this stuff to through things like email blasts, direct messages and even face-to-face meetings for months. Once I am finished shaking my head and wondering what the wait was all about, I did come to realize tow things:

1 - It doesn't fit within the list of important things to-do in their daily business processes. To those who AMEN that, my warning is very simple...that will cost you. Delaying, putting it off, pleading ignorance, etc. will not stop the Department of Labor and/or the IRS from expecting you to have complied with the law. PERIOD! Also, if you feel you can just wait and last minute this stuff, good luck. The biggest reason I have been so diligent in communicating is so that there is some groundwork already being put out there so you can get it handled in a timely and proficient manner. This is just the FIRST part. As the months pass, more will be expected and everyone needs to be on the train going the same direction ready to make the appropriate and timely stops along the way so you and your company and your people don't pay a hefty price (figuratively and literally).

2 - I didn't know that. Let's forget the fact that my weekly email blasts focusing on one point about health care reform have been read by hundreds of people every week. Let's forget the countless articles and webinars and seminars being offered to help people to be ready and compliant. Let's even throw out all the media coverage that has been so prevalent in the last year on health care reform and the changes it will make and cause (and have already caused). I still get people who say "I didn't know". I feel like I know why and it boils down to the "It doesn't apply to me" or "It's not that big of a deal" or something along the lines of dismissal and complacency.
My most recent conversation was with a benefits administrator, They had already gotten the exchange notice out and were in total compliance there (a first in all my conversations...YEA!) but then we started to talk about the notices and the affordability of their plan they current have. I calculated their plan based on the lowest paid full-time employee and it came out to 11% for the premiums the employee would have to pay versus their annual gross salary. The mandate for affordability is 9.5%. They asked me what that meant and I basically said that if their plan did not meet the mandated guidelines on coverage and/or affordability, then a large fine per person would be in their future. They had no idea and what they said next made me laugh. They basically said, "That's not fair". How many mouths have had to utter that phrase about health care reform since the day it was signed? How many, once they say it now, suddenly get what this entire process is and will potentially do to businesses and their employees.

THAT is why I do what I do. My process and procedure in the last few months has been to do very little except get people informed and remind them that this is the law and that it's here. I also want to help everyone come up with solutions. Health care reform does not have to be like a pair of handcuffs...at least not if you want to explore good and affordable options. I am happy to talk about those options with anyone who reaches out to me after reading this. Contact me.

I try to always be a phone call, text (205-370-8453) or an email (gene@generamsay.com) away.

Where's Gene?

Just like the fun books of "Where's Waldo", I feel like I have been lost in a sea of others when it comes to blogging. The good news is that I have been VERY busy doing many different things and I'll try to get you caught up here in a brief fashion so we can start August fresh.

GENE'S BIZ: In my business, I have been honored with receiving many opportunities to get the message out about health care reform through the Birmingham Business Journal. I found an editor there who was all about keeping as many people as possible on top of the changes going on in health care reform. The articles I have been able to have published have reached a good-sized readership in Birmingham, Alabama and I am pleased to say that I am still writing for them even now.
If you want to see some of those pieces, go here.
I was also recently honored to be asked to be on a panel for health care reform hosted by the Birmingham Business Journal. The panel had the head of the legal department for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama, 2 attorneys, and myself. It was a great turnout for this early breakfast offering of information and I hope to get to be involved with more of these as time goes by.
Since April of 2013 I have started to build my own District General Agency for Colonial Life in North Jefferson County. This involves building a team of professionals and getting the word out about voluntary benefits that will help people and their families no matter what the health care reform does. Colonial Life is the market and broker leader in voluntary benefits among professionals and businesses. Their offerings and services have been paramount in my business over the last 7 years and the time had come for me to build something special for myself and others. If you want to look at an opportunity to join me in my endeavors, contact me at 205-370-8453 or email me at gene@generamsay.com.
I am now entering my 2nd term as the President of the Birmingham Association of Health Underwriters. My first year was amazing with an incredible board of professionals who helped drive our group to the top of the recruiting and retention column. Our Alabama group received a wonderful award for our efforts at the National Association Conference. I was able to keep most of my board in tact for the next year due to our success and I am looking forward to gaining even more momentum through 2013.
I was also fortunate enough to go to NAHU's Capitol Conference in Washington, DC. I was able to go with a group of my professional colleagues to talk with our elected officials about health care reform and how we can all be an asset to assist them as things begin to happen in the very near future. We feel these officials will need our help in helping others and we had to be sure they knew were there for them. In that process I was able to visit the memorials in the cold of February. I had a plan to take my trumpet and play "Taps" at the WWII Memorial (my favorite memorial) and to play the "National Anthem" for the last day of the Conference for room full of my professional friends in the industry (If I find the videos of both of these, I will post in my next blog).
Within all that I was awarded the 2013 Leading Producers Round Table Soaring Eagle Award. This is the top honor awarded by NAHU (National Association of Health Underwriters) for lives touched and advised. I am humbled to know that I qualified for this award and I hope to build on that in 2013 and to qualify each and every year.
I will say that my efforts in social media have grown as well. I know I have been slow on the blogging front, but the communications and collaborations and well as connections on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook have all grown over the last few months and I am connecting with even more people to work with to help more clients just like you and those who will consider me their benefits advisor.
Lastly, I am working on a company name for all I am doing with benefits advising. While my main thrust will be Colonial Life and the help I can be to so many people, I have to also build this into a business for many different purposes (professional, tax, etc.). I will reveal more of the later but the initial impact and marketing for it looks amazing and I am looking forward to incorporating it into my blog here as well as a totally revamped website in the next few months. More on that later so stay tuned.

GENE'S BUGLING: You didn't think I wasn't bugling, did you? It's been crazy busy on this front as well. As Alabama Director for Bugles Across America, I have the duty of keeping track of 100+ buglers throughout the state and doing all I can to try and get as many live buglers to gravesides all over Alabama. It's no easy task and one I take very seriously. In fact, since Memorial Day (May, 2013) I have personally played Taps at gravesides over a dozen times. Our US Veterans and their families deserve this honor and I am so thankful that I have the training and talent to do so with honor and respect.
The most meaningful and personal one for me has been my Uncle Leon's funeral. It's a very long story of how I was able to play at his graveside, but I was there and proud to honor him that day. He was a Marine helicopter pilot in Vietnam. I don't think I need to say much more than that.

Speaking of Memorial Day, I was also asked to do a piece on "Taps" and it's meaning for CBS42 here in Birmingham, Alabama. The day was a nice one and I took the camera crew through my usual preparations for "Taps" and then I took them to the Gardendale, Alabama Veterans Memorial Park near my home. I got in my uniform and provided "Taps" for them and then they asked me a series of questions of which I did my best to answer. If you'd like to see the piece, you can check out the entire piece with lead in here or a shortened version when you click on the video/photo. It was a great day and many have been so kind to approach me and thank me for my service and to tell me what a great story it was. A big "THANK YOU" to all who support me in these endeavors.

I was also asked to serve as the National Bugle Coordinator for Spirit of '45 Day for our across the nation "Taps" we work toward each year. Spirit of '45 Day is celebrated every 2nd weekend in August to remember the final day of WWII and to celebrate our GREATEST GENERATION for our Nation. I was "voted" into this when I was able to attend the National Convention for the Spirit of '45 Day in San Diego, California. I have been an active member for the Spirit of '45 Day in Alabama since it started 3 years ago. I, along with the HUGE assistance of the Support Committee for the Alabama a National Cemetery, have an annual program at the Alabama National Cemetery every year. This year it will be on Saturday evening, August 10, 2013 and I hope you can be there. Contact me if you would like more information.

Like I said, it's been extremely busy for me. I have not meant to neglect my blog or those who read it. I just haven't taken the extra time to do it. I feel I may be back on a good schedule now with August approaching and getting a handle on the new things going on and the responsibilities I have before me.

It shouldn't be months before you hear from me again, but if you want to stay more in touch I am on LinkedIn and Twitter daily. You can follow me on LinkedIn here or Twitter here.

What Is Your Type?

In my last post, I said that I would provide some guidance and education on the life insurance options that are readily available and easiest to understand for people looking to make their first purchase or for those looking to subsidize their existing life insurance portfolio.

The outline will be simple and I will give some advice on each.

Here we go:

1 - Term Life Insurance - You see this stuff everywhere. If you've ever seen an ad on TV or gotten a flyer in the mail, it is most likely a GREAT rate for more life insurance than you thought possible for so little money.
THE GOOD: Term serves the purpose of insuring a block of time where you feel you are leaving others at the greatest risk should your untimely death occur. For example, if you are a parent raising children...let's say you have a 5-year-old and a newborn baby in your home. I always look at the youngest child to determine the amount of time you should consider in the child-raising period (in this case, the newborn). Most of the main term policies come in 10, 20, or 30 year options. With a newborn you may be hoping for college and such so a 30-year option is the safest policy based on that timing because chances are you will be raising that child past the age of 20. However, you will most likely not be raising that child for their life span and so the need to have a safety net after they have grown and gone and started a life of their own diminishes greatly.
Term is equal to time. You are wrapping a bubble of protection around a portion of the timeline of your life to cover a tragic and premature incident so that your family can continue (at least for a time) on the financial path you set out for them when it all started.
THE GAMBLE: So many people see the small premiums of a term policy and they get all excited that this will certainly be all they will ever need. Term is the insurance company's big "Gotcha". The people who look at something called a mortality table look at every number needed and every risk factor possible to assume the risk the person taking insurance out has the potential to be. Your individual situation helps determine rate and longevity of your life span. Most of us land in the "safe zone" and so to charge a small premium for the next 20-30 years is a no-brainer from their standpoint. The insurance company looks at you and basically says that unless something unforeseen happens, the life insurance payout will never happen and you will live long past the life policy's term. You're basically "renting time" for a BIG what if. The insurance company gets all those premiums from you for the next 20-30 years and never pays out a thing. CHA-CHING! Then they turn right around and send you a reminder notice that you are about to live past your term, you are now 20-30 years older which means all your life premiums just went through the roof for you to acquire again. What was once a $20.00 per month policy is now a $50 or $100 dollar per month policy for the same death benefit.
WHO NEEDS IT?: Essentially any person who has people in their lives who count on them for something is in need of some form of additional term life insurance. Parents, relatives, spouses, and home owners all have either certain financial responsibilities or desires to someone else...at least for a time period. That time period is where term comes in and sets up a chance to get more financial gain to the beneficiary at a time that has been determined to be more important and more crucial than at other times.
WRAP UP: At some point in everyone's life, term life insurance is a necessity. To be able to leave behind the financial hopes, dreams, and/or responsibilities in the event of an untimely death is a huge benefit. A mom or a dad can insure a college education, that first car, paying off the home so loved ones can still live in it, the son or daughter who wants to be sure an aged parent continues to have quality care...the list goes on and most of us will have a block of time where we are at the greatest risk. Term life is there to help. It is not the only means if insuring your life or the expenses you might leave behind, however.
The next type I will discuss is a permanent life policy.

2 - Permanent Life Insurance - Permanent life insurance is still being left to a beneficiary, but this is the stuff that stays with you long into life and will most likely be the type of life insurance you pass away with...if you planned ahead and planned early. The biggest benefit of permanent life insurance is the locked rate based on age and health at the time coverage was issued. In other words, you get this when you are young and you are not penalized for getting older, and sicker, or just succumbing to the things that happen in life as we age. Permanent life looks at each person and reminds us that we will all pass away at some point. That is unavoidable. Whether we die now or when we are in our 90s or more remains to be seen, but permanent types of life insurance will be there for us throughout and will assist our families with the final expenses associated with our final day.
THE GOOD: My own example is the best one I can come up with to show the need for considering this life insurance. When I was but 2-years-old, my dad bought a small whole life insurance policy on me. When I turned 3, I was diagnosed with a kidney disorder. Now, I went until I was 16 with this issue and was medicated for it for most of my growing years. When I became an adult, my dad signed the policy over to me and told me about it. It wasn't a large policy, but it was enough for final expenses and it had actually grown over time (I'll explain this in a moment). I paid on that policy every month from that day. It was the same premium as my dad had started off with when I was 2, so it was affordable and useful. I found out exactly how useful when I attempted to get my own life insurance after I had gotten married. Because of my medical history, I was a higher risk and many companies would not even consider me for larger amounts of coverage. It's the sad fact of life insurance...if you are too risky for their big "GOTCHA" on term, you just don't get it or they ramp your rates up so high it gets ridiculous. The end of the story is this...with my dad's thinking on this when I was young, I will always have a policy I know will be there and will remove the concern of final expenses from my family's mind because I have that covered. At $13.00 a month, that's a reasonable amount to pay for piece of mind, don't you think?
Now, I mentioned this policy had "grown" over time. Another good part of these types of policies is the cash value that accumulates over the length of the policy. This money can be withdrawn, reinvested, or in some cases it adds to the face value of the death benefit (like in my case). Since it will not get cheaper to bury people, the fact that it continues to grow is a nice option that tells me that I am also planning for a long and healthy life without having to worry about if what I got when I was 2 will be enough when I am 90. Since it grows each year, I know I've left enough for my family for that final day and that funeral home bill.
THE "BAD": While my scenario makes sense, so many people have gone years without any form of life insurance. They may have health conditions now or their rate to acquire permanent life insurance may be out of their budget. Permanent life insurance is always more expensive on the front end (or at least it seems that way). If you did a comparison of premium cost between term and permanent life insurance, the permanent life would be almost 4 times more than what term would be (depending on age of acquiring it).
Many financial advisors will also tell you to take the difference in premiums between term and permanent and invest that money so that at the end of the term policy, you have your own life insurance money set aside. This is a great plan, but requires discipline on the individual's part to make that happen. It does make sense and would save someone quite a bit in terms of premium dollars over time.
WHO NEEDS IT?: In my opinion, life insurance is the only kind of insurance guaranteed to pay someone something at some point. You can have all the car insurance, or home owner's insurance, or whatever and never have a claim paid. Death is guaranteed and if you hold life insurance at your death, it's guaranteed to pay as well. So to answer the question...we all need it. Obviously, the earlier the better is the best way to plan but the key is that on your last day there is something there to pay for the final expenses that will be expected to be paid to a funeral home for your final resting place. It's expensive to die, and you are the only person who can really help cover that cost so your family does not have to. I can't imagine paying back a loan for a funeral. I would just as soon not be reminded of my loss every month for the next 5-10 years.
If you live to a ripe old age, this policy is for you. If you are a single 20-something with very little debt or responsibility right now, this policy is for you. If you are getting term insurance at the beginning of a life with others around you counting on you, this policy is for you.
This type of policy can also be for the person who was not able to set aside their own funds each month for their own life insurance and now they have some health issues or just need enough to be buried with. Many times a permanent policy goes easy on the underwriting requirements. In some cases it's as easy to acquire as signing your name. I'm not a fan of people waiting that long and it can be expensive, but it's good to know that the option is there.
WRAP UP: Unless I'm super devoted to a financial plan and I have enough funds to put aside for my own life insurance AND I have no unforeseen issues in 20-30 years that will require large sums of money I may have squirreled away, then acquiring permanent life insurance as early as I possibly can will help me and my loved ones know that if nothing else, the final expenses of this life are covered.

I hope this has helped as you continue to search for the best way to protect you and your family. There are hybrids and options to life insurance policies, but these are the main two to consider.

If I can be of any assistance in any sort of advisory capacity, I am always available at 205-370-8453 or you can email me at gene@generamsay.com.


PS - I usually leave a video of some kind at the end dealing with the post I have just written. This one is a little tough to do that with, so no video for this one.