Vote for LIFE’s $5,000 Scholarship Winner!
Watch all 3 videos and then vote for the student who you feel is most deserving of LIFE’s Grand Prize Video Scholarship. All 3 students have already been awarded $1,000 scholarships. Your vote helps determine who will win LIFE’s $4,000 bonus scholarship. Encourage others to cast their votes too. Voting will end on August 20, 2009 at 11:59 EDT and the winner will be announced in September.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Planning Their Financial Future Agrees with Women
July 15th, 2009
by Marvin H. Feldman, CLU, ChFC, RFC, President and CEO of the Life foundation.
The PennMutual Life Insurance Company recently conducted a national survey that shows women who actively plan their financial future, including owning life insurance, feel better about themselves, are more self-confident and more likely to take care of themselves.
According to the survey, women comprise 51% of the population, hold 43% of the wealth in America and typically outlive their spouses by five years. The survey also found that most women are neither confident about their finances nor have planned for their future. The Penn Mutual proprietary survey data showed that women who have life insurance differed substantially from the norm and that women insured for the same amount as their spouses were even more likely to have a positive outlook.
Economic statistics referenced in the survey regarding women include the facts that women receive 59% of all post high school degrees, they start businesses at twice the rate of men, they earn $2.4 trillion annually and they influence 95% of all purchasing decisions. This is only a small part of their economic story.
In addition to outliving her male counterpart, she is more likely to be alone later in life and far more likely to spend time in a nursing home.
The survey states that women are expected to account for 92 million jobs by 2050, yet far fewer women have their income protected by something as elemental as a life insurance policy, considered the foundation for any financial plan. Those that do such planning, according to the survey, were more likely to have higher self-esteem, feel more confident about retirement, believe their opinion is important, feel loved by others and take good care of themselves.
This survey makes it all the more apparent that proper planning to insure the needs and human life value of successful women is critically important. Penn Mutual has designed a website to help calculate these values. The LIFE Foundation also has two calculators to help in this area, one to determine human life value and the other to determine your life insurance needs.
Life insurance – it provides you and your family security, dignity and peace of mind.
by Marvin H. Feldman, CLU, ChFC, RFC, President and CEO of the Life foundation.
The PennMutual Life Insurance Company recently conducted a national survey that shows women who actively plan their financial future, including owning life insurance, feel better about themselves, are more self-confident and more likely to take care of themselves.
According to the survey, women comprise 51% of the population, hold 43% of the wealth in America and typically outlive their spouses by five years. The survey also found that most women are neither confident about their finances nor have planned for their future. The Penn Mutual proprietary survey data showed that women who have life insurance differed substantially from the norm and that women insured for the same amount as their spouses were even more likely to have a positive outlook.
Economic statistics referenced in the survey regarding women include the facts that women receive 59% of all post high school degrees, they start businesses at twice the rate of men, they earn $2.4 trillion annually and they influence 95% of all purchasing decisions. This is only a small part of their economic story.
In addition to outliving her male counterpart, she is more likely to be alone later in life and far more likely to spend time in a nursing home.
The survey states that women are expected to account for 92 million jobs by 2050, yet far fewer women have their income protected by something as elemental as a life insurance policy, considered the foundation for any financial plan. Those that do such planning, according to the survey, were more likely to have higher self-esteem, feel more confident about retirement, believe their opinion is important, feel loved by others and take good care of themselves.
This survey makes it all the more apparent that proper planning to insure the needs and human life value of successful women is critically important. Penn Mutual has designed a website to help calculate these values. The LIFE Foundation also has two calculators to help in this area, one to determine human life value and the other to determine your life insurance needs.
Life insurance – it provides you and your family security, dignity and peace of mind.
A NEW POLL OF UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE
A new poll taken on Facebook, which targets mostly people 30 and under reveals amazing results relating to universal health care.
71,270 (71.4%) people said no to universal health care.
27,999 (28.1%) people said yes to universal health care.
520 (0.5%) people said they really do not care either way.
Contact your Congressman and Senator and let them know that the future of America does not want Universal Health Care.
Keeping up with the times
Today I will check my email from all four accounts, then go online and check my facebook, Twitter, Linkedin and myspace. I have to keep up with all of my friends and see whats new in their lives. Wow wouldn't it be incredible if I could do that with my customers!
Well you can. I know that many people are afraid of their computers and having everyone know everything about you. Heck just this morning I found out three of my friends are expecting their first child, two on their second, six Friends bought new cars, and around 45 or so are tired of hearing about Michael Jackson. Thanks to things like Facebook and Twitter I am able to know just about everything I need to know to see where they are in their insurance timeline.
That's right their insurance timeline. We all know as agents that the average person will purchase life insurance over 7 different times in their lives. They just got married, having their first child, got a promotion at work, bought a house, their coming up on child number two, their term policy is running out, their children are heading off to college, etc. All of these factors are indicators on their insurance timeline. Indicators that you as good agents can take to the bank for new policy sales. That is of course if you know about it.
Technology has come a long ways since many of you started in this business. In fact did you know that you can create your own facebook page for your business and advertise it to your friends for free. All you need is an email address and five minutes then your on your way. Building an online relationship with your clients, keeping up with their insurance timeline, and now building referrals through their friends list. If you have not thought about opening and account for your agency or yourself then you should think about it today. Give me a call if you have any questions 1-800-352-8049
Sincerely;
Tripp Hatfield
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Web Page Info
Effective 8/01/2009, the www.hatfieldagency.com will no longer be available, as our primary website address is now www.focusfinancialweb.com.
Sincerely,
Bryan F. Hatfield, Jr.
Sincerely,
Bryan F. Hatfield, Jr.
Monday, July 6, 2009
Great New Fact Sheet out from the American Coucil for Life Insurance
Your clients have lots of questions about how their life insurance is going to be affected by the constant financial decline in America. The following article by the Amercian Coucil for Life Insurance gives you facts and figures that will help you not only answer your clients questions in a more educated way but also help build up their trust in you as an agent. Without their trust in us as their agents we will surely fail to reach our full potential. I promise that this link is worth checking out.
http://www.acli.com/ACLI/Consumers/FS08-09.htm
Sincerely;
Tripp Hatfield
The Focus Financial Group LLC
www.focusfinancialweb.com
1-800-352-8049
http://www.acli.com/ACLI/Consumers/FS08-09.htm
Sincerely;
Tripp Hatfield
The Focus Financial Group LLC
www.focusfinancialweb.com
1-800-352-8049
Great information for you and your clients
Most Americans are feeling a pinch in their wallets these days, and the recent turmoil in the financial markets is only making matters worse.
We would like our agents to have the very best information possible to help keep production up. We want you to have fun in the sun this summer. Relax, I have found the following link very useful with some of my own clients, family, and friends. Please click on the following link and check it out for yourself.
http://www.lifehappens.org/content/view/522/479/
Sincerely;
Tripp Hatfield
The Focus Financial Group LLC
Recruiting and Marketing
We would like our agents to have the very best information possible to help keep production up. We want you to have fun in the sun this summer. Relax, I have found the following link very useful with some of my own clients, family, and friends. Please click on the following link and check it out for yourself.
http://www.lifehappens.org/content/view/522/479/
Sincerely;
Tripp Hatfield
The Focus Financial Group LLC
Recruiting and Marketing
www.focusfinancialweb.com
1-800-352-8049
1-800-352-8049
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Great Article from Life Happens
As Insurance agents we constantly go to CE classes and learn about products. The only issue is that we often time forget to educate ourselves on the background behind why we need to sell life insurance and what is the true difference behind the many products that we sell. I would suggest that you check out the link above and research many more great articles like the one I have listed here. It is time that we drive our education in the knowledge of the industries purpose. This way we can truly become great agents.
Tripp Hatfield
The Focus Financial Group LLC
1-800-352-8049
Life Insurance Needs Continue Even After the Kids Are Grown, Insurance Information Institute
October 30th, 2006
by Administrator
The reason medical schools require future doctors to study clinically as well as academically is so they can take the book learning and see how it is actually applied at the bedside. Theory is great, but if it doesn't work in practice then it is of limited value.
A recent release from the Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.) about people needing life insurance even after the kids are grown and the mortgage is paid is of considerable theoretical value. Unfortunately it fails "at the bedside". It's not that I disagree that empty nesters need life insurance; it's that the medicine prescribed is inappropriate for many people. According to the I.I.I., "….even couples with grown children, who have set aside college tuition monies and are close to paying off a mortgage ought to discuss with their insurance agent or broker the benefits of purchasing a new term life insurance policy when their existing one lapses."
Here’s the number one reason why this advice may well be bad. There is no reason to believe that the need for life insurance will completely disappear at the end of the new term policy's existence. Let's say a person buys a 20-year term policy at 25, has two kids and a mortgage. Twenty years later, the kids are almost, but not quite, gone and the mortgage is almost, but not quite, paid off.
So the policyholder buys another 20-year term policy - assuming he or she is still insurable and can get the insurance. He's now 45 and figures he will keep it until age 65 when he retires. But life expectancies at 65 are not what they used to be. For every couple age 65, the odds are better than 50% that one will still be alive after 90. When faced with that fact, most people do not want to drop their life insurance at 65. But those with term insurance have little choice. Even if they are insurable, the premiums are almost prohibitive at that point.
In other words, the basic premise underlying the I.I.I. advice is flawed. It presumes that the need for life insurance disappears when the children are grown or thereabouts. But after 40 years at the "bedside" of more than a thousand policyholders, I can assure you, most people do not want to drop their life insurance at retirement. But usually, those with only term insurance have no choice.
What's the answer? Well I.I.I. provides it near the end of their article. Permanent life insurance with its level premiums for life, lack of need to re-qualify after initial purchase, ability to discontinue premiums at retirement without losing the insurance and growing cash reserve fund is the answer. Admittedly more expensive at the outset, the premium thereafter never increases and, by the time a person is in his or her 50s and 60s, is less than term insurance bought at that age.
Properly structured, premiums can be discontinued at 65 or any other age without losing the insurance. And the cash surrender value is a wonderful emergency fund for such things as nursing home care or just for fun - like that trip to Australia you've always dreamed about.
The Insurance Information Institute is to be applauded for raising the right question. They just didn't give the best answer. The "patient" may well not recover.
However, their advice to see an agent or broker is right on target. But not just to get prices of term insurance. The advice and counsel of an agent or broker can help you decide first, how much life insurance you need and then what kind to buy. The latter question involves not only budgetary decisions, but also considerations about the future. If you believe you will need the insurance into your retirement, as most retirees discover, term insurance may not be your best buy, at least not for the long term.
My advice is first to get enough life insurance, even if you can only afford term insurance. And then, as time passes and your budget allows, convert some or even all of the term insurance to permanent insurance.
You'll be glad you did.
Tripp Hatfield
The Focus Financial Group LLC
1-800-352-8049
Life Insurance Needs Continue Even After the Kids Are Grown, Insurance Information Institute
October 30th, 2006
by Administrator
The reason medical schools require future doctors to study clinically as well as academically is so they can take the book learning and see how it is actually applied at the bedside. Theory is great, but if it doesn't work in practice then it is of limited value.
A recent release from the Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.) about people needing life insurance even after the kids are grown and the mortgage is paid is of considerable theoretical value. Unfortunately it fails "at the bedside". It's not that I disagree that empty nesters need life insurance; it's that the medicine prescribed is inappropriate for many people. According to the I.I.I., "….even couples with grown children, who have set aside college tuition monies and are close to paying off a mortgage ought to discuss with their insurance agent or broker the benefits of purchasing a new term life insurance policy when their existing one lapses."
Here’s the number one reason why this advice may well be bad. There is no reason to believe that the need for life insurance will completely disappear at the end of the new term policy's existence. Let's say a person buys a 20-year term policy at 25, has two kids and a mortgage. Twenty years later, the kids are almost, but not quite, gone and the mortgage is almost, but not quite, paid off.
So the policyholder buys another 20-year term policy - assuming he or she is still insurable and can get the insurance. He's now 45 and figures he will keep it until age 65 when he retires. But life expectancies at 65 are not what they used to be. For every couple age 65, the odds are better than 50% that one will still be alive after 90. When faced with that fact, most people do not want to drop their life insurance at 65. But those with term insurance have little choice. Even if they are insurable, the premiums are almost prohibitive at that point.
In other words, the basic premise underlying the I.I.I. advice is flawed. It presumes that the need for life insurance disappears when the children are grown or thereabouts. But after 40 years at the "bedside" of more than a thousand policyholders, I can assure you, most people do not want to drop their life insurance at retirement. But usually, those with only term insurance have no choice.
What's the answer? Well I.I.I. provides it near the end of their article. Permanent life insurance with its level premiums for life, lack of need to re-qualify after initial purchase, ability to discontinue premiums at retirement without losing the insurance and growing cash reserve fund is the answer. Admittedly more expensive at the outset, the premium thereafter never increases and, by the time a person is in his or her 50s and 60s, is less than term insurance bought at that age.
Properly structured, premiums can be discontinued at 65 or any other age without losing the insurance. And the cash surrender value is a wonderful emergency fund for such things as nursing home care or just for fun - like that trip to Australia you've always dreamed about.
The Insurance Information Institute is to be applauded for raising the right question. They just didn't give the best answer. The "patient" may well not recover.
However, their advice to see an agent or broker is right on target. But not just to get prices of term insurance. The advice and counsel of an agent or broker can help you decide first, how much life insurance you need and then what kind to buy. The latter question involves not only budgetary decisions, but also considerations about the future. If you believe you will need the insurance into your retirement, as most retirees discover, term insurance may not be your best buy, at least not for the long term.
My advice is first to get enough life insurance, even if you can only afford term insurance. And then, as time passes and your budget allows, convert some or even all of the term insurance to permanent insurance.
You'll be glad you did.
Why we do what we do!
LIVE LIFE THE WAY YOU LIKE IT. If our Clients and we really want to live this moto then we need to remember why we do what we do.
These have been difficult times for many people trying to cope in this historic recession. Nearly six million have lost jobs in the last 18 months. The unemployment rate is expected to reach 10 percent by the end of the year—a 25-year high. Americans have lost a staggering $7.5 trillion in personal retirement and investment savings, according to LIMRA International, a life insurance industry research firm.
To go with these troubling numbers came another: LIMRA announced that for the first quarter of 2009, individual life insurance sales dropped 26 percent in a year-to-year comparison—the biggest quarterly drop in individual premium sales in 66 years.
For many people, meeting everyday expenses is the challenge and the priority these days. Even so, this is not the time to consider dropping or scaling back life insurance if a need for coverage remains. Why? Because other aspects of your financial life are not what they were a year ago. Your income is what is helping put food on your table and a roof over your head. But what if you died tomorrow? Your life insurance is what your family members will rely on to maintain their quality of life.
Know that the life insurance industry continues to do what it is designed to do—provide financial security to families at a time when they need it the most. Through this recession, life insurance (and fixed annuities, for that matter) has held its value. If you own a term life insurance policy, the death benefit it pays if you die tomorrow is unchanged from last week, last month or even last year. If you own a whole life policy, your death benefit is also guaranteed, and over the past year your cash values have actually grown, not declined.
Times are indeed tough, but don’t make matters worse for your family by skimping on life insurance coverage.
New Kids on the Block
Hey we have a new kid on the block. Check out what Lifehappens.org is all about.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4QrVoj8_mDQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edlIVr9DYfI
These are a couple of other great videos that you can share with your clients, friends, and family. One thing that we found was very helpful was to have videos like this one running in our waiting area while people were waiting to be helped. So take a moment and check these out so that you can increase yourselves as well as help educate them too.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KI_PCCUAuI0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lljivVqC-5M
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-BBA-Zx6Yo8
You can check out these along with several other related videos on the link provided. The Life Foundation is here to help you. They want to help you relate to your customers in a way that is difficult when they are not able to see great examples like the last link I gave you. Remember we are in the business of protecting these people. Making money and freedom of being our own boss is just a perk. Give me a call if you have any other questions.
Tripp Hatfield
The Focus Financial Group LLC
Recruiting and Marketing Director
www.focusfinancialweb.com
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4QrVoj8_mDQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edlIVr9DYfI
These are a couple of other great videos that you can share with your clients, friends, and family. One thing that we found was very helpful was to have videos like this one running in our waiting area while people were waiting to be helped. So take a moment and check these out so that you can increase yourselves as well as help educate them too.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KI_PCCUAuI0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lljivVqC-5M
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-BBA-Zx6Yo8
You can check out these along with several other related videos on the link provided. The Life Foundation is here to help you. They want to help you relate to your customers in a way that is difficult when they are not able to see great examples like the last link I gave you. Remember we are in the business of protecting these people. Making money and freedom of being our own boss is just a perk. Give me a call if you have any other questions.
Tripp Hatfield
The Focus Financial Group LLC
Recruiting and Marketing Director
www.focusfinancialweb.com
How can you Help yourself and your industry?
When it comes to political advocacy and protecting the interests of its members, NAIFA is one of the best in the business. Their talented and experienced staff and volunteers engage decision makers at every level of the legislative and regulatory system. NAIFA's government affairs staff monitors federal legislation and mobilizes resources to achieve the most favorable outcome for members and their clients. The constituent and staff lobbying effort is strengthened by both our industry-leading political action committee, known as the Insurance and Financial Advisors Political Action Committee (IFAPAC), and the Advisors Political Involvement Committee (APIC), their grassroots network of members who have developed relationships with virtually every member of Congress.
At the state level, their state associations work hand in hand with NAIFA's national law department to positively impact state legislation and regulation. They develop lobbying strategies, comment on key issues, implement uniform policies and participate in litigation. Their many successes have hinged on NAIFA's favorable relationships with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), the National Conference of Insurance Legislators (NCOIL), the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), and the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws (NCCUSL).
Through NAIFA you will receive the following benefits plus many more:
The Power of NAIFA With more than 50,000 members, NAIFA is the largest financial services membership association in the United States. NAIFA is a federation of 700 state and local associations all striving for the same common goal: to protect your livelihood and your clients’ financial security.
Powerful AdvocacyNAIFA is your voice on Capitol Hill, and with a powerful advocacy and grassroots team on your side, you know NAIFA is working as your personal advocate in Washington, DC and in state legislatures, educating and lobbying lawmakers to protect the insurance and financial services industry.
Information is Key to SuccessNAIFA’s Advisor Today is an award-winning monthly publication and the leading source of news and information for insurance and financial advisors. Timely topics, articles, industry trends, products and services help to boost your knowledge, enhance your business and increase sales.
Educational Programs That Set You Apart
View the NAIFA PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SYSTEM
NAIFA members enjoy discounts on training programs leading to industry designations (including LUTCF and FSS) offered through the American College, AHIP and the American Institute for CPCU. NAIFA partners with state and local associations to produce and deliver seminars on timely, valuable topics to agents and advisors, many of which are eligible for CE credit.
View the NAIFA PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SYSTEM
NAIFA members enjoy discounts on training programs leading to industry designations (including LUTCF and FSS) offered through the American College, AHIP and the American Institute for CPCU. NAIFA partners with state and local associations to produce and deliver seminars on timely, valuable topics to agents and advisors, many of which are eligible for CE credit.
NAIFA's Annual Convention and Career ConferenceMore than 45 industry-specific educational workshops and a new one-day registration option make the NAIFA annual conference an event not to be missed. Attendees have the opportunity to hear the latest from Capitol Hill, enjoy dynamic main-stage presentations and abundant networking opportunities, as well learn about the latest industry products and services during the Expo event.
Leadership in Life Institute (LILI)The NAIFA Leadership in Life Institute (LILI)—exclusive to NAIFA members—is a six month leadership development course that fosters personal growth, enhances business practices and develops skills necessary for effective leadership.
Online Virtual LibraryBuild, grow and succeed with the NAIFA Virtual Library, the single most comprehensive user-friendly online resource tool that supports a financial advisor or agent, in any practice specialty and at every stage in their career. NAIFA Members receive free-unlimited access to this extensive online library that includes business tips and concept pages, client presentations, tax tables and specimen documents.
Sales Training and Coaching SupportThrough the NAIFA Sales System, NAIFA members can achieve professional sales growth by combining a proven sales process presented in 12 online modules using "Fundamentals of Integrity Selling®" with eight live telecoaching group sessions led by experienced sales coach Bob Arzt, CLU, ChFC, LLIF.
Be Recognized NAIFA Industry Awards recognize NAIFA members for excellence as indicated by quality service and sales achievement. NAIFA members who reach these levels of achievement win more than an award, they attain recognition that distinguishes them as an outstanding professional.The program includes the National Quality Award, the National Sales Achievement Award and the National Multi-Line Sales Award.
Young Advisors ProgrammingNAIFA created the Young Advisors Team (YAT) for members who are 40 years and under or within their first five years in the industry. Gain access to vital tools, resources, and networks necessary to succeed in the financial services industry.
NAIFA-Endorsed Insurance ProgramsAffinity Insurance Services, Inc. (Aon) has developed a professional liability insurance program exclusively to fit the unique needs of NAIFA members. NAIFA has also teamed with Kelsey National to offer the NAIFA Advantage Plus Group Disability Income Insurance Protection Plan, a quality product with excellent features and competitive rates to protect the income of members’ and their spouses.
Member DiscountsThrough NAIFA’s Preferred Provider Program, NAIFA members have access to discounts on products and services that can enhance their business and increase their bottom line. By participating in one or more of these programs, members can often more than recoup your membership investment.
Teleshow for fidelity Life Insurance
We are pleased to announce our newest teleshow for Fidelity Life Insurance on July 30th 2:00pm.
What is a Teleshow?
Call in and listen to an entertaining show sponsored by an insurance company. Each call will have two home office marketing staff and an agent. We will be dialoguing about the company's products, sales ideas, etc. After initial dialoguing you are able to ask questions of your own over telephone.Simplicity:You just need to call in to 888-296-6828 and dial participation code: 274202 #When:Always on a Thursday and always at 2:00 P.M. Eastern
Here are a couple of products that may perk your interest:
Rapid Decision Term: Fast, hassle-free level death benefit term life insurance product to age 95. With the Rapid Decision Term product and state-of-the-art Rapid App application, the approval and delivery process has been streamlined to allow you to obtain coverage from Fidelity Life in days, not months.
Rapid Decision Mortgage Term: Rapid Decision Mortgage Term is the fastest, easiest way to get the high quality, low cost term coverage you need to protect your biggest investment.
Graded Death Benefit Term and Whole Life: Designed to provide up to $250,000 of life insurance coverage for customers who have experienced health problems. Both products utilize our rapid underwriting process for quick decisions on your application.
Accidental Death Benefit: For as little as $10 a month, you can have the coverage you need to protect your family and investments with Accidental Death Benefit insurance.
Need More Information or want to get contracted?
Call Us Today! 1-800-352-8049
What is a Teleshow?
Call in and listen to an entertaining show sponsored by an insurance company. Each call will have two home office marketing staff and an agent. We will be dialoguing about the company's products, sales ideas, etc. After initial dialoguing you are able to ask questions of your own over telephone.Simplicity:You just need to call in to 888-296-6828 and dial participation code: 274202 #When:Always on a Thursday and always at 2:00 P.M. Eastern
Here are a couple of products that may perk your interest:
Rapid Decision Term: Fast, hassle-free level death benefit term life insurance product to age 95. With the Rapid Decision Term product and state-of-the-art Rapid App application, the approval and delivery process has been streamlined to allow you to obtain coverage from Fidelity Life in days, not months.
Rapid Decision Mortgage Term: Rapid Decision Mortgage Term is the fastest, easiest way to get the high quality, low cost term coverage you need to protect your biggest investment.
Graded Death Benefit Term and Whole Life: Designed to provide up to $250,000 of life insurance coverage for customers who have experienced health problems. Both products utilize our rapid underwriting process for quick decisions on your application.
Accidental Death Benefit: For as little as $10 a month, you can have the coverage you need to protect your family and investments with Accidental Death Benefit insurance.
Need More Information or want to get contracted?
Call Us Today! 1-800-352-8049
West Coast Life Makes a few Changes
Effective June 15th, 2009 West Coast Life will implement the following updates to the Focus Term Series Product.
- The annual policy fee will increase on the $250,000 and the $1,000,000 rate bands for all new policies to $60.oo for the 10-year and 15-year products.
- The per unit rates will generally increase in most cells and rate bands on the Focus Term Series.
Need More Information? Call us today! 1-800-352-8049
Monday, June 15, 2009
Final Expense
Final Expense!
What is it? It's the last expense you'll have on this earth.
Your funeral and associated expenses.
How about the term End Of Life Planning? I think that sounds a lot better.
For most of us in the life insurance business, we consider Final Expense
as a form of Life Insurance. That's partly true, but end of life planning
takes much more into consideration, like having your financial plan as
well as your actual last wishes planned out ahead of your death. When my
father passed away in the year 2000, I, as his executor, walked into the
funeral home and our funeral director told me that the only two decisions
I had to make, were, which of the three casket colors I wanted and the day
and time of the funeral service. That's because my father pre=planned and
pre-paid. I walked out of that funeral home and told my wife that I now
had a different opinion about pre-planning. My mother was saved from any
decision making and I didn't have to go into that dreaded show room. Daddy
had it all taken care of. WOW! What an act of love.
Through our association with the Dignity Planning Network, your clients can also
relieve their heirs, like my father did for us, from the added stress of
making last minute arrangements and trying to pay for something that in
most cases was not planned for. Give us a call and we'll be glad to tell
you about how you can help people and create a great lead source for
yourself.
Bryan Hatfield, Jr.
The Focus Financial Group LLC
President
1-800-352-8049
What is it? It's the last expense you'll have on this earth.
Your funeral and associated expenses.
How about the term End Of Life Planning? I think that sounds a lot better.
For most of us in the life insurance business, we consider Final Expense
as a form of Life Insurance. That's partly true, but end of life planning
takes much more into consideration, like having your financial plan as
well as your actual last wishes planned out ahead of your death. When my
father passed away in the year 2000, I, as his executor, walked into the
funeral home and our funeral director told me that the only two decisions
I had to make, were, which of the three casket colors I wanted and the day
and time of the funeral service. That's because my father pre=planned and
pre-paid. I walked out of that funeral home and told my wife that I now
had a different opinion about pre-planning. My mother was saved from any
decision making and I didn't have to go into that dreaded show room. Daddy
had it all taken care of. WOW! What an act of love.
Through our association with the Dignity Planning Network, your clients can also
relieve their heirs, like my father did for us, from the added stress of
making last minute arrangements and trying to pay for something that in
most cases was not planned for. Give us a call and we'll be glad to tell
you about how you can help people and create a great lead source for
yourself.
Bryan Hatfield, Jr.
The Focus Financial Group LLC
President
1-800-352-8049
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
New Focus Financial Web updates
Some of you may have noticed recently that our website has been changed for the Focus Financial Group. Even though the address and information is still original, we have updated the template to become even more user friendly. I would encourage everyone to please check out the new website template and let us know your thoughts. After all the reason for the change is to help you navigate the website more efficiently. The more efficient the website, the more business you write, the more you get paid. If you have any trouble navigating the new site, we kept the Hatfield agency website active with the old template in order to help you as well. The Hatfield Agency website is http://www.hatfieldagency.com/ and the Focus Financial Group website is http://www.focusfinancialweb.com/. Please make comments and let us know what you think here on the blogg. Thank you and God Bless
Tripp Hatfield
The Focus Financial Group LLC
Recruiting and Marketing
1-800-352-8049
bryan3@hatfieldagency.com
Tripp Hatfield
The Focus Financial Group LLC
Recruiting and Marketing
1-800-352-8049
bryan3@hatfieldagency.com
Friday, April 24, 2009
Disibility Insurance Awarness Month
Sources of Disability Income Protection
5 Sources of Protection
In the event you sustain a disabling injury or illness, there are a number of sources of disability benefits you might be able to tap into. For instance, the government offers disability benefits, as do many employers. You should definitely take the time to understand the benefits that would be available to you through these sources. Just be mindful of the fact that there are limitations on the benefits available through these sources and sometimes the benefits won't be sufficient to meet your income replacement needs. In those instances, you'll want to seriously consider obtaining additional coverage, either through the workplace or on your own.
Workers’ Compensation
If you're employed and you suffer a disabling illness or injury, you might be able to count on Workers' Compensation insurance to replace some of your salary. All states require employers to provide Workers' Compensation coverage. It typically pays about two-thirds of your pre-disability income. However, it only pays in cases where your illness or injury is related to your work, and the vast majority of long-term disabilities are not job-related.
State Disability Insurance Programs
A handful of states provide short-term disability coverage--typically for up to six months--that workers pay for through a payroll deduction. They are California, Hawaii, New Jersey, New York and Rhode Island, as well as Puerto Rico. For those who live in these states, this can be an important source of short-term income replacement.
Social Security
The federal government administers a disability insurance program that covers most workers, but qualifying for benefits is far from a sure thing and the payment levels (determined by your salary and work history) are fairly modest. About 60% of applications for Social Security disability benefits are initially denied, and the average monthly payment of current beneficiaries, $1,004, is barely above the poverty line
Employer-Sponsored Coverage
The main source of disability income protection in the United States is coverage provided or sponsored by employers. Many employers, especially larger ones, provide their employees with group insurance coverage. There are two forms--short-term disability (STD), which replaces a significant percentage of your income for about three months in most cases, and long-term disability (LTD), which typically pays 40% to 60% of your base salary (pre-tax) for longer periods.Often, employees will be given the option to add to the baseline coverage that their employer provides. Some companies don't provide disability coverage but help their employees by giving them the opportunity to purchase coverage on a voluntary basis. With this type of program, employees, rather than the employers, pay the full cost of the coverage. A benefit of purchasing disability coverage at the worksite is that it's generally easier to qualify for than coverage you purchase on your own. Check with your employer's human resources department or benefits manager to see what coverage and purchase options your company's plan provides.
Individual Disability Insurance
The most flexible and reliable source of coverage is an individual disability insurance policy you purchase on your own. A privately owned policy is portable, meaning you won't have to worry about losing coverage if you change jobs. Generally, most individual plans will pay between 40% to 65% of your pre-disability gross salary. When paid with after-tax dollars, benefits are received income-tax free. Also in many cases you can purchase DI with return of Premium. Don't you wish you could do that with the tax dollars you send in for Social Security.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Monthly Teleshow
What is the Teleshow:
Call in and listen to an entertaining show sponsored by an insurance company. Each call will have two home office marketing staff and an agent. We will be dialoguing about the company's products, sales ideas, etc. After initial dialoguing you are able to ask questions of your own over telephone.
Simplicity:
You just need to call in to 888-296-6828 and dial participation code: 274202 #
When:
Always on a Thursday and always at 2:00 P.M. Eastern
Upcoming TELESHOWS
Assurity
April 30, 2009
Details
http://www.igrouptools.com/pdfs/teleshow_043009.pdf
Call in and listen to an entertaining show sponsored by an insurance company. Each call will have two home office marketing staff and an agent. We will be dialoguing about the company's products, sales ideas, etc. After initial dialoguing you are able to ask questions of your own over telephone.
Simplicity:
You just need to call in to 888-296-6828 and dial participation code: 274202 #
When:
Always on a Thursday and always at 2:00 P.M. Eastern
Upcoming TELESHOWS
Assurity
April 30, 2009
Details
http://www.igrouptools.com/pdfs/teleshow_043009.pdf
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