William Penn Life, 2018 (53. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
2018-09-01 / 9. szám
Moneywise million American families didn't own life insurance, leaving their families open to serious financial problems if they were to die prematurely. 2009 - Chris Noth You may know this spokesperson as Mr. Big on "Sex and the City" or Detective Logan on "Law and Order." His father, who died prematurely in an auto accident when Chris was just 9 years old, was himself a life insurance agent. Thankfully, he believed enough in his product to purchase and own it himself. That gave Chris, his mother Jeanne, and his two brothers the security to continue the lifestyle they enjoyed. They could pursue their dreams without the financial difficulty that not having sufficient life insurance coverage can bring. Chris said the insurance money was a source of great comfort for his mom. While she continued to work as a journalist, the life insurance proceeds allowed the family to maintain their standard of living and ensured that all three boys could go to college. "Life insurance can be that safety net that catches a family when tragedy strikes. Life is unpredictable, so be smart and plan ahead," Chris advises. 2010 - Leslie Bibb Like Chris, Leslie Bibb was fortunate that life insurance was in place when it was needed most. You might recognize her name from her movie roles in Iron Man 2 or Talladega Nights. Although Leslie was just a toddler when her father was killed in a work-related accident, her mother was provided for by a policy that her father had purchased for just that reason: expecting the unexpected. When asked how her father knew to buy life insurance at such an early age, her response was "he didn't, and that's the point. He simply loved us enough to expect the unexpected. If my dad didn't have that life insurance, my mom would have had to sell the house or be forced to take another job or work longer hours to care for me and my three sisters." Leslie's father understood that a life insurance purchase is an act of love-a promise to provide for the ones you love, even after you are gone. Leslie credits her father with helping her to understand that love can be everlasting. "Through life insurance," Leslie said, "the love we show while we are alive will continue on after we are gone." 2012 - Buddy Valastro You may know Buddy Valastro as TLC Network's "Cake Boss." What you may not know is that, like many of the others listed here, he lost a parent at a young age. Buddy's father was diagnosed with lung cancer at age 52 and died just three weeks later. Buddy lost his best friend, mentor and the sole breadwinner for the family. This loss forced Buddy to drop out of high school to run the family business. This meant 12- to 18-hour workdays, six days a week, and overseeing 30 employees-all at the young age of 17. Buddy's situation was made more challenging by the fact that his father didn't own life insurance. "If there had been life insurance, I know things would have been a lot easier. I could have hired more people, worried less and had more time to grieve." Buddy learned at an early age that it's important to have a back-up plan. Buddy bought life insurance when his first child was bom, and has increased his coverage as his family and business have grown. "If people depend on you, you have to protect them with life insurance," he said. 2013 - Boomer Esiason Most of you know Boomer Esiason as a former NFL quarterback and NFL TV color analyst, but you may not know that he was the spokesperson for the 10th annual Life Insurance Awareness Month in 2013. Boomer was 7 years old when he lost his mother to cancer at age 37. He said his life could have been different had she been protected with life insurance. Her death not only took his mom but also deprived the surviving kids of quality time with their father because his father had to work longer hours. In essence, his mother's death nearly took both parents away. Boomer's story was entitled, "A life lesson learned early." In it, Boomer reminds us that "if something happens and you haven't done the planning, the people you leave behind will feel the brunt of your mistakes." These are just a few of the stories about the miracle of life insurance (or lack thereof) that have been told by some of the spokespeople for Life Insurance Awareness Month. The Life Happens website (lifehappens.org) contains countless examples of people whose lives have been changed forever by circumstances beyond their control. The Life Happens video series highlights the true stories of people who have either benefited from sound insurance planning or found themselves in tough situations due to the lack of sufficient coverage. There's even a calculator to help you determine how much insurance you should have. So, as we mark Life Insurance Awareness Month 2018, I hope you and your loved ones will fully understand the need for life insurance. Why not contact your William Penn Association agent or broker today to make sure your family's needs are being met? Don't have an agent? Check with your branch coordinator or call the WPA Home Office at 1-800-848-7366, we'll be glad to help point you in the right direction. Remember what Boomer Esiason said: "Life happens at the most unexpected times, and life insurance is about protecting the future and people you love." Happy Life Insurance Awareness Month! □ #Ta keTh e Pled g e I pledge to put my loved ones first on life's journey. True financial fitness isn't a dream; it's achievable by making one good decision followed by another, including putting life insurance in place. My loved ones deserve to be taken care of, so I will plan now to ensure they always will be. WILLIAM PENN LIFE 0 September 2018 0 5
