Alysia Lim – You Need a Plan
A disability isn’t always caused by a devastating accident or illness. It can mean a health crisis that takes away your ability to earn a living as you always have. That was the case for Alysia Lim’s father. An aneurysm, and resulting surgery to address it, has made it impossible for him to continue working as an emergency room physician. But Dr. Lim had prepared for the unforeseen with adequate amounts of insurance, including disability insurance. View full story
Ann Reynolds – Insurance Brings Freedom
When Ann Reynolds’ husband, Mark, died in 2003, he left behind what seemed like a very modest life insurance benefit. But it has made a world of difference for Ann, who is confined to a wheel chair because of a degenerative back condition. The life insurance money, along with disability insurance benefits from her employer, helped Ann purchase a lift-equipped van which allows her to maintain her independence. View full story
April Holmes – A Track Star’s Life-Changing Accident
After April Holmes lost her left leg in a train accident, she feared that she would lose her home and her dreams for the future. But thanks to disability insurance as well as accidental death and dismemberment coverage provided by her employer, April had the financial stability to continue pursuing her dreams. Soon after learning how to walk again, April began running. Today she is considered the fastest female amputee in the world, having won gold at the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing. View full story
Ashley Tew – A Young Nurse Finds New Hope
A disability can strike at any age. At 24, Ashley Tew was just beginning her dream job as a pediatric nurse when she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and went on disability leave. Disability insurance helped pay for her medical bills and other expenses. Since Ashley couldn’t be on her feet for long periods of time, she couldn’t return to her previous job. Through the return-to-work program that her insurance company offered, Ashley got vocational-rehab services as well as job-seeking assistance, which helped her land a desk job with her previous employer. View full story
Barbara Farone – At the End, Comfort & Familiarity
Barbara and her husband, Vince, purchased long-term care insurance policies to protect their retirement assets. Four years later, Vince was diagnosed with a rare, degenerative brain disorder that caused gradual loss of speech and muscular control. The insurance gave Barbara and Vince the assistance they needed and maintained their assets. Unfortunately, Vince passed away at age 73, after a four-year health battle.
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Barbara Fosberg – A Peaceful and Dignified End
It was hard for Barbara Fosberg to watch her husband, Morton, suffer from Alzheimer’s disease. Morton was a very intelligent man, and the disease robbed him of his speech and memory. But thanks to long-term care insurance, paying for Morton’s care was never a problem. Home health care aides cared for Morton during the day, allowing Barbara to maintain her career as a lawyer. As the disease progressed, Barbara was able to move her husband to a small group home where she could visit after work and where skilled and loving caregivers could provide him with the level of care he needed. View full story
Barry Shore – Optimism and Planning Prevail
Barry Shore, a 55-year-old real estate executive, was enjoying a normal life when a rare neurological disorder struck suddenly, causing him to lose all movement in his body. Throughout his ordeal, money is one thing Barry and his family haven’t worried about thanks to smart insurance planning. Disability insurance payments have replaced more than half of Barry’s income. And long-term care insurance has provided more than enough to pay for in-home care as well as physical, occupational and water therapy. View full story
Bill Reid – Survival Instincts, Smart Planning Save the Day
Bill Reid was 32 when a horrific car accident nearly claimed his life. He had to relearn how to walk and talk, and short-term memory loss has made it impossible for him to return to work. Fortunately, Bill had purchased individual disability insurance and had additional coverage through work, which has enabled him to maintain the same lifestyle he had before the accident. View full story
Brad Cunard – Surviving a Nightmare
Brad and Lisa Cunard bought permanent life insurance early in their marriage for protection, but also to allow them to start saving for retirement. They were also partners in a commercial printing business with their two best friends, and the business took out key person insurance on all four. Several years later, Brad and Lisa’s dream of growing old together ended suddenly when a giant tree fell on the couple’s car, instantly killing Lisa and their two young boys who were in the back seat. The proceeds from Lisa’s life insurance gave Brad time to deal with his immense grief and helped keep their business running, saving 20 jobs in the process. View full story
Brian House – Passing the Baton
Brian House knew that one day he would run the family’s Chevrolet dealership, but he never imagined that it would be at age 29, after his father suffered two massive heart attacks. Life insurance proceeds ensured that Brian’s mother would be financially protected and provided the business with the cash needed to ensure a smooth transition. Today, Brian is vice president and dealer-operator at the family-run dealership, one of the most successful in upstate New York. View full story
Chezerea Ortiz – Learning From a Parent’s Mistake
Mark Ortiz was a HVAC technician, providing his family with a comfortable middle-class lifestyle. His family’s quality of life changed almost instantly after Mark suffered a stroke and died six months later. Because he couldn’t work during his illness and didn’t own any life insurance, his family found itself in a dire financial situation. His wife, Tiffany, had her own health issues at the time and couldn’t work. Mark’s oldest child, Chezerea, 20, took matters into her own hands by putting off her college and became her family’s sole breadwinner, working long hours at several jobs to cover her family’s basic living needs. View full story
Cindy Wrenn – A New Home Saved From Disaster
Cindy and Matt Wrenn were days away from closing on their dream home, when Cindy, just 28 years old, was stricken with a brain aneurysm and had a stroke during surgery. Though Cindy’s prognosis was uncertain, money was one thing the Wrenn’s didn’t have to worry about during Cindy’s recovery thanks to disability insurance Cindy had through work and on her own. Had Cindy not had coverage, their mortgage application would have been denied because the Wrenn’s would not have qualified on Matt’s salary alone. Today, Cindy is back at work, her health is good, and she and Matt are thrilled with their new home in picturesque rural Maryland. View full story
CindyLu Rowe – Persistence Makes the Difference
Michael Rowe had very little discretionary income, so it took quite a bit of convincing by agent Craig Miller to get him to buy a universal life policy to protect his wife and five children. He even tried to cancel it a number of times because his business was strapped for cash. Instead, his agent persuaded him to use the policy’s accumulated cash values to keep the coverage in force until his financial situation improved. Two years later, Mike was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer and had peace of mind knowing that if he lost his battle with cancer, his family would be provided for. After his death, the proceeds from the insurance allowed his wife to eliminate debts, make home improvements, and pay for counseling services for one of her sons who had a very hard time coping with his father’s death. View full story
Connie Hobson – Insurance Preserves a Family’s Way of Life
Bill Hobson led an active life until Lou Gehrig’s disease robbed him of much of his muscle function. When he could no longer work, disability insurance through his employer helped his family make ends meet. After Bill finally succumbed to the illness, life insurance that he had purchased through work and on his own has provided his wife, Connie, and their three daughters with financial security. View full story
Dan Claus – Insurance Allows Dad to be a Dad
Peggy Claus ran her own computer consulting business and was responsible for managing most of the day-to-day affairs of her household. When Peggy died at age 48 of breast cancer, she left behind four sons and a husband who commuted 140 miles a day to get to his job. Peggy’s life insurance helped pay off debts and half of the mortgage on the family home. It also allowed Dan to accept a lower-paying job closer to home so he can tend to the daily needs of his sons. View full story
Dean Hoskins – A Timely Change of Heart
It took Dean Hoskins considerable time and effort to convince her husband, Bryan, that he needed to purchase life insurance. Just a few years later, Bryan was diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumor. He died six months later at age 32. With the proceeds from Bryan’s insurance policy, Dean was able to invest in her own business as well as schedule her work hours around her young twin daughters’ needs. View full story
Debbie Mentz – A Lesson in Life
Bob Mentz, the owner of a successful greeting card business, bought life insurance partly because of a lesson he learned from his father, who left his wife virtually peniless when he died. Bob was able to finance an expansion of his business by borrowing against the cash value of his permanent policies. And when Bob died unexpectedly of a bleeding ulcer at age 50, the proceeds from his coverage allowed his wife Debbie to care for the family, and keep the business going strong. View full story
Dennis Danduran – Valuing Mom’s Contributions
Jodie and Dennis Danduran decided to purchase life insurance shortly after adopting the first of their five children. Though Dennis was the primary breadwinner, they wisely determined that Jodie, a stay-at-home mom, also needed a considerable amount of coverage because of what it would cost to pay someone to perform all her functions. That planning made all the difference when Jodie died suddenly of an aneurysm at 39. The insurance money has allowed Dennis to switch to a job that gives him more time to take care of the kids, and has also been used for living expenses and to set up college funds. View full story
Diana Geistler – A Plan for All Possibilities
When Dale Geistler started his own business, he knew that he’d have to reevaluate the insurance coverages he carried. Following a discussion with his financial representative, Dale agreed to increase his life insurance coverage and buy disability income insurance. Thirteen years later, Dale was diagnosed with leukemia. When he became too ill to work, he relied on his disability insurance to help pay the family’s bills and cover the cost of specialized cancer treatments. At age 55, Dale succumbed to the cancer. Disability benefits provided for Dale’s family when he was ill, and proceeds from his life insurance have helped his wife, Diana, pay off debts, cover living expenses and make long-term financial plans. View full story
Ebony and Shanna Blanchard – A Mother’s Wish
When Jackie Blanchard’s husband died at 28 with barely enough life insurance to pay for his funeral, she purchased enough coverage for herself to ensure that her young daughters, Ebony and Shanna, would be fine if something happened to her. Two years later, she was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. Jackie used her policy’s accelerated death benefit provision to finance a home and a car for her daughters and to fund their future education. Today, Ebony, a recent college graduate, and Shanna, a high school senior, live in the home their mother purchased for them. View full story
Ernesto Hines – Insurance Saves a Family Business
Ernest “Peanut” Folks took great pride in the fact that his son, Ernesto, chose to follow in his footsteps. Peanut owned an auto body repair shop, and his plan was to one day pass along the business to his son. Life insurance never factored into Peanut’s plan until an agent called on him in 2003. His decision to buy a policy proved fateful, as he was diagnosed two years later with terminal cancer. Today, the business continues to thrive under the stewardship of Ernesto, who takes great pride in running the company that his father worked so hard to build and pass along to the next generation. View full story
Esther Kim – A Mixed Legacy
Young Chang Kim was his family’s sole breadwinner when a stroke left him unable to work. His wife took every menial job she could get to provide for her family, and when her children were older they worked hard too. Things became more desperate when Young Chang died and didn’t have life insurance to cushion the financial blow. His daughter Esther regrets that so many memories of her father are through the bills due each month and not of the great man he was. View full story
Frank Ames – Amid Grief, Many Silver Linings
With two young children, Frank and Laura Ames knew life insurance was a must. Frank was only able to qualify for a small policy due to health challenges, but Laura got preferred rates and a much larger policy. Ironically, it was Laura who was diagnosed with cancer shortly thereafter. Laura succumbed to the disease several years later, but smart insurance planning has left Frank and the kids with a legacy of long-term financial security View full story
Frank Szatkowski – Insurance Safety Net Holds Fast
Frank was a successful dentist before Lou Gehrig’s disease robbed him of the ability to speak, walk or even eat. The disease forced Frank to stop working, but a safety net of insurance protected his business and his family. A business overhead disability policy helped cover office expenses and pay employee salaries. And a buy-sell agreement funded by disability insurance enabled Frank’s partner to buy out his share of the practice. With the money from the buy-out and benefits from an individually owned disability insurance policy, Frank’s family continues to be financially secure and can afford the 24-hour home care Frank needs to maintain his quality of life.” View full story
Harry Waizer – Surviving 9/11
Harry Waizer went to work on September 11, 2001 thinking it would be a day like any other. Harry worked on the 104th floor of One World Trade Center, and was in an elevator when the first plane struck the towers. Despite suffering severe burns over much of his body, Harry survived. He has recovered financially as well, thanks to benefits from disability and life insurance. View full story
Jeanne Rizzotto – Insurance Saves a Business
Linda Benders and Jeanne Rizzotto, partners in a real estate business, decided to purchase life insurance to fund a “buy-sell agreement.” As time went on and the business took off, they eventually met with their agent to increase their coverage. Days later, Linda was killed in a car accident. The money Linda’s family received helped her husband to care for their 3-year-old daughter and elderly mother, and enabled the three older children to continue their education. It also helped Linda’s survivors avoid unwanted financial entanglements by providing Jeanne with the resources to buy out her partner’s share. View full story
Jermaine Suggs – Lessons Learned
Life dealt Jermaine a one-two blow: He lost his grandmother and father within a week’s time. His father left behind a business deeply in debt and no life insurance, forcing Jermaine to rework his future. He left college and began working at a gas station to help his mother out and to put money aside to eventually return to school. View full story
Jerry Sullivan – The “Gift” of Financial Security
A series of strokes ended Jerry Sullivan’s working life and left him feeling as if he was in a dream, unable to wake up. But disability insurance kept that dream from turning into a financial nightmare. Though unable to work, Jerry still gets a regular paycheck and is able to maintain the lifestyle he and his family enjoyed before his disability struck. View full story
Jessi Burch – A Single Mom’s Gift to Her Daughter
Lauri Turnes was struggling financially to make ends meet. She was a single mom who wanted to cancel her life insurance several times because of financial pressures, but her insurance agent cautioned against it. When money was especially tight, Lauri’s agent arranged for her to borrow money from the policy rather than cancel it, which allowed it to remain in force. Not long afterward, a car accident took Lauri’s life. Her life insurance and death benefit from her auto insurance policy have provided her daughter, Jessi, with financial security. View full story
Jill McCarthy – Keeping a Roof Over Their Heads
One week after Bob and Jill McCarthy filled out applications to increase their life insurance coverage, Bob was killed in a trucking accident. Jill, mother of four, didn’t know how she would handle the bills, when her agent called to tell her Bob’s claim would be paid even though the new policy had not yet been issued. The insurance benefit allowed Jill to stay at home to care for her children, and to purchase the home she and Bob had always dreamed of owning. View full story
Jimmy Brebner – Employees Rescued My Business
For Jimmy Brebner, split-dollar life insurance offered an innovative way to reward key employees at his textile plant. He had intended that they would use the policy’s cash value for extra money upon retirement. But Jimmy couldn’t have been more surprised when, after a severe downturn threatened the future of the business, his employees volunteered to borrow against the cash value of their policies to help revitalize the company. With this money, Jimmy was able to meet payroll, pay his suppliers, and invest in retooling the firm. View full story
Joe Tyler – Easing a Family Tragedy
Right after Joe Tyler’s daughter was born, both Joe, a consultant, and his wife Caroline, a stay-at-home mom, purchased life insurance. Less than a year later, Caroline died of cancer at age 33. With the insurance proceeds, Joe reduced his mortgage and hired a nanny. Soon, wishing to devote more time to raising his daughter, he used the equity in his home to purchase a Connecticut farmhouse and begin a new career as an antiques dealer. Insurance helped Joe transition to a lifestyle that allowed him more time with his young daughter. View full story
John Butcher – His Guardian Angel
Kara Butcher was just 37 when she died suddenly of an undiagnosed heart condition. Thankfully for her husband John and 6-year-old son Tre, Kara had purchased life insurance through work a year earlier. The insurance money provided John with a financial cushion, helping him transition to the role of a single dad. View full story
Karim Abouelnaga – The American Dream Put on Hold
A small business owner and recent immigrant, Adel Abouelnaga, was living the American Dream when he was diagnosed with lymphoma. He died nine months later without any life insurance, leaving behind a wife and five sons. The family was left penniless, thrusting his three teenage sons into the role of breadwinners. View full story
Kathy Custead – A Fresh Look Proves Timely
Mark and Kathy Custead enjoyed a comfortable, middle-class lifestyle, but their financial obligations were considerable. So with their agent’s help, they completed a life insurance needs analysis, which showed that both needed to substantially increase their coverage. They each made life insurance purchases, something neither had done since their first child was born 17 years earlier. That spring, Mark was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and died five weeks later. Proceeds from his insurance helped to pay funeral expenses, medical bills and credit card debt, and have allowed Kathy to set aside money for the kids’ college costs. View full story
Ken Howell – Overcoming the Unthinkable
After Ken Howell lost his business partner and longtime friend, Jeff Moses, in a small plane crash, he knew their automotive manufacturing company would be all right because of a smart business continuation plan. Life insurance policies funded a buy-sell agreement and the two remaining partners were able to take control of the company. Key person insurance on Jeff’s life provided the money needed to hire a new salesman to take over many of Jeff’s duties. As for Jeff’s family, they are financially secure because of money they received through the buy-sell agreement as well as life insurance Jeff owned individually. View full story
Larry Prier – Smart Decisions Provide for a Family
At age 39, Larry Prier, a senior executive for a major corporation, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. His quickly deteriorating condition left him unable to work, but disability insurance helped his family maintain their lifestyle. Tragedy struck again when Larry fell down a flight of stairs and suffered a serious brain injury. Disability insurance helped Larry’s family provide him with additional care, and enabled them to continue planning for the future. View full story
Linda Bloomer – Building a Legacy
Del Bloomer had considerable ambitions for his business, community and family. A devoted father of eight-year-old twins, Maya and Matthew, he was the CEO of Delinda Technological Services, a successful information company named for him and his wife, Linda. Del also established Light On, a foundation that teaches computer skills to underprivileged children. And the word around his hometown of Birmingham, Alabama was that he’d one day be mayor. View full story
Lynda Striepe – Preserving a Secure Retirement
Allen Striepe was a respected school teacher until Alzheimer’s disease made him too sick to work. Long-term care insurance allowed his wife Lynda to hire a home health aide, so she could continue her teaching career. Five months later, Lynda could no longer care for him on her own and Allen’s insurance covered his stay in an assisted living facility and later in a nursing home. Though Allen died two years after his initial diagnosis, Lynda credits the insurance for getting her husband the care he deserved and preserving her retirement assets. View full story
Margaret Sweborg – The Will to Survive
Margaret Sweborg was always a very active and independent-minded person. Wanting to maintain her independence even if her health were to deteriorate one day, Margaret purchased long-term care insurance at age 66. That day arrived 13 years later when Margaret broke her hip and nearly died as she lay on the floor of her home for days, unable to call for help. No longer able to manage her own physical or financial affairs, Margaret relied on her step-granddaughter, Rindy, to take over. Rindy worked with Margaret’s agent to file the long-term care insurance claim. The money from that policy, coupled with some retirement savings, enabled Margaret to move to a first-rate nursing home. Without it, she probably would have spent down all her assets and sought inferior, Medicaid-funded care. View full story
Melinda Canter – Life Changes—Overnight
Steven Canter had been ill as a result of his work in construction, but no one anticipated that he would die at just 44 years old. Steven had owned life insurance, but he and his wife, Melinda, let their policies lapse a few years earlier when money was tight. Since his passing, Melinda has done her utmost—often working 80 hours a week—to keep the family afloat financially, but it is a never-ending struggle. View full story
Melissa Knoll – A Life Lived Fully but Wisely
Greg Knoll was 38 when he died of a rare form of stomach cancer. Fortunately for his wife, Melissa, the life insurance he owned through work and on his own paid off debts accumulated during the illness, funded college savings for the two daughters, and has enabled Melissa and the girls to stay in the family home. View full story
Melissa Wandall – Keeping His Spirit Alive
Being a financial services professional, Mark Wandall understood the importance of insurance and the need to protect himself and his wife, Melissa. Sadly, at age 30, Mark was killed in an auto accident by someone who ran a red light. The life insurance has allowed Melissa to remain in their home and be a full-time mom to their daughter, who was born two weeks after the accident. Melissa has kept Mark’s spirit alive by creating two important causes, The Mark Wandall Foundation that raises money for worthy causes in her community and the Mark Wandall Traffic Safety Act that, if enacted, would stiffen criminal penalties for red-light running in Florida. View full story
Meredith Moore – A Triathlete’s Greatest Challenge
At 30, Meredith Moore found out she had a malignant brain tumor, which required three brain surgeries and chemotherapy. Disability insurance benefits replaced 60% of her income, delivering financial relief to her family and allowing her to focus on her recovery. View full story
Michele Krzewina – Keeping a Farm in the Family
Paul Krzewina, a third-generation dairy farmer, wanted to keep his farm in the family. With assistance from his agent, he purchased life insurance to protect his family and growing business. When Paul was diagnosed with a brain tumor, he was able borrow against his policy’s cash values to pay his health insurance deductible and hospital expenses. After he died, the death benefit proceeds allowed his wife, Michele, and the couple’s four adult children to continue operating the farm. View full story
Missy Junk – Overcoming Unimaginable Loss
Sadly, Missy Junk’s first encounter with life insurance came at age 14 when it paid her father’s funeral expenses. Her next encounter came all too quickly. A year and a half later her mother was diagnosed with cancer and died soon afterward. “You can’t take for granted tomorrow’s going to come; you have to make sure the future is safe,” says Missy, now 26 and wise beyond her years. View full story
Nicolas Virgen – Still Watching Over Them
Nicolas, a self-employed painter, had life insurance for himself but was reluctant to buy a policy for his stay-at-home wife, Teresa. But his insurance agent was persuasive and convinced him to cover her too. When a terrible car accident killed Teresa and left Nicolas badly injured, the money from her policy is what paid the bills and kept the family in their home until Nicolas could return to work. View full story
Peg Ogonowski – When the Unthinkable Happens
John Ogonowski was both a farmer and a pilot. On September 11, 2001, John was piloting American Airlines Flight 11 when it was hijacked and flown into the World Trade Center. Because John had life insurance, his wife, Peg, was able to pay off the mortgage, retire debts, set aside college money for their three girls and keep the family farm. View full story
Remle Winand – A Firefighter Who Was Prepared
Jim Winand was 28 when he purchased his first life insurance policy. He taught parasailing for a living and was fit and muscular, but he had recently gotten engaged and wasn’t the type to leave anything to chance. Several years later, Jim bought more life insurance for himself and his wife, Remle, as their family grew to include two children. That planning proved crucial when Jim was diagnosed with colon cancer. He died just days before his 39th birthday, but Remle and kids are financially secure because of his wise planning. View full story
Richelle Hecker – Serving Country and Family
With a wife and four children, Army Major William F. Hecker knew that the $100,000 life insurance benefit provided by the military wasn’t sufficient for his family’s needs. So he bought the maximum amount of supplemental term life insurance offered by the Army, and purchased additional permanent life insurance coverage on his own. Just six weeks into a tour of duty in Iraq, a roadside bomb took Bill’s life. The various life insurance policies Bill owned have allowed his wife, Richelle, to be a stay-at-home mom as long as she wishes. View full story
Sarah Lewis – Mission of Love
Each year Dr. David Lewis, a pediatrician from Wisconsin, spent time in Ecuador providing healthcare to indigent children. David died of a heart attack during one of his trips, but his decision to purchase life insurance meant that Sarah would have time to grieve and provide her three young children with the attention and support they needed. The funds provided by the policy also allowed her to keep the family home, and hire a nanny to help with the kids. View full story
Shandra Mayhle – Rebuilding After a Devastating Loss
Stephen Mayhle wanted to cancel his individually owned life insurance when he got a job with the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police that provided a good life insurance benefit. But after speaking with his insurance agent, Stephen was persuaded to keep his private coverage to protect his wife and two young daughters. Stephen died in the line of duty at age 29, and his decision to hold onto his individual coverage has made a big difference for the family he left behind. View full story
Tara Newby- A Good Samaritan’s Lasting Legacy
Preston Newby, 24, was assisting individuals involved in a car accident when he was struck from behind by a driver who swerved to avoid the scene. He died moments later in the arms of his wife, Tara. The life insurance he purchased several years earlier has allowed Tara to be a stay-at-home mom to her two sons, Jacob and Micah. View full story
Tracy Basden – Surviving Through Determination
Eddie Basden, a single father, owned life insurance but dropped it when money was tight. Sadly, Eddie died when his children were still teenagers, leaving them in a precarious financial situation. Through hard work and determination, Tracy and Matthew Basden have persevered. But their journey has been much harder than it would have been had their father held onto his life insurance coverage. View full story
Tyler Leifeste – Overcoming Life’s Challenges
Sam and Nina Leifeste specialized in dentistry. At age 44, Sam died after routine surgery leaving behind Nina and their two children. Life insurance provided financial relief, but Nina acknowledges that the couple hadn’t purchased enough. Then the next crises hit. Nina was diagnosed with breast cancer and the family lost their home to Hurricane Ike. Despite these challenges, the family has persevered. The couple’s son, Tyler, sums it up this way, “While you’re here make sure everything is taken care of because you don’t long how long you’re going to be here.” View full story