One of my favorite times of the year happens to be the month of November. As the weather begins to get cold and we are blessed with a warm home, it is only natural to be thankful. There is also nothing like the aroma of fresh fall air. One of my favorite things to do in the fall is to hang out laundry. It always brings back the memory of when my children were born. Michael was born in early October and when my husband came to visit us at the hospital, he had been outside cleaning up the yard. I can still remember how fresh his clothes were. When our second son, Andrew, was born, it was the end of October. Both my husband and Michael came to the hospital and that scent filled the hospital room.
This week as I was reading some posts on Facebook, I noticed some of my friends were beginning to write things they were thankful for. I might be a day behind, but it is never too late to start. So, here I go:
Day 1 - Memories - It never ceases to amaze me how much a scent can bring me right back to another time. This afternoon, my husband went out shooting with his brother and when they returned, my husband came to me and gave me a hug and kiss. His clothes had the fresh scent of fall and it took me right back to the memory I spoke about in the beginning of this post. More importantly, he had the opportunity to go out and do something that he loves to do.
Day 2 - My Mother - She may not be with us here on earth, but I know where she is and her memory is always here. When you stop to think about it, she is the one that was chosen by God to be the Mother of my sisters and I. She gave us life and nurtured us everyday she was with us. I laugh when I think of how she never enjoyed cooking, but yet, she could make us a cup of tea and it tasted so good. She used to joke that if a home could come without a kitchen, she would have bought it. She knew how to go out and get the perfect gift for everyone on her list at Christmas time. She loved so deeply and everyone knew how much they meant to her. There isn't a day that goes by that my mind doesn't think of her and yet, I am so grateful that her suffering is over. I love you, Mom and am so thankful that God chose you to be my sweet Mother.
As the month of November continues, I'll be continuing on this journey of thanksgiving. As I started this tonight, I just began writing and before I knew it, the memory of fresh fall air came to me. It's a cherished memory and one that I will not only be thankful for, but treasure for the rest of my life. It makes me wonder how many more treasures I will think of during this special time of the year.
Balanced Care is in the business of providing peace of mind to businesses, individuals, and seniors with their health and life insurance needs. My hope with this blog is for you to get to know me and the reasons behind why protecting you is so important.
Sunday, November 2, 2014
Tuesday, April 22, 2014
Let Me Share A "Seacret"
There is a saying that says everything happens for a reason and I truly believe that to be true. Last fall when things were upside down with healthcare, it was painfully obvious to me that I was unsure of where my business was headed. It has been hard work building my client base, but with more than 80% of my clientele losing their current health insurance plan and many not sure if they still wanted it because of the new healthcare law, I was overwhelmed and really anxious. Thankfully, things have calmed down and I have been blessed to keep the majority of my clients, but it came with many sleepless nights and me having to take a good hard look at what would happen should all these clients choose not to pursue their healthcare further.
When all this was going on and to be truthful with you, I decided to take on a part time position during the holiday season at Macy's. I felt that the extra money would be helpful for the holidays and the experience would be new and help me to put things in perspective. The position that I took is called Support and Recovery. To put it simply, I clean up the fitting rooms, organize, fold and put clothes away, and just attempt to make things look presentable and ready to purchase. It may not sound like hard work, but honestly, I have a new found respect for anyone that works in retail. It is hard work and when my shift is over, I am wiped out. I have stayed on since the holiday to help when the store is having a big sale, however, I have recently given a notice to stop working there the week after Mother's Day. I don't regret doing it because I believe that God was showing me things that I needed to see these last few months.
Taking on this part time position taught me how much I love working for myself. I love setting my own schedule and although I still work by appointment in insurance, I have the ability to work it around my home life. I also learned that I have missed being around people each day. Before I worked in the insurance industry, I worked as a nail technician for 27 years. I was around people every single day and enjoyed the friendships it brought me. People were happy to see me and enjoyed doing something special for themselves. Although I meet with people each day in the insurance industry and have made some great friends because of it, insurance is a product that doesn't get most people real excited.
As only God can do, he saw to it that a dear friend of mine invited me to go to a Mud and Margarita Spa party at a local Chamber of Commerce that she belonged to in the fall as well. She had shown me the products before and quite frankly, I was eager to try them. I purchased a few products that night and within a few days knew that these products were special. The name of the these skin care products is Seacret Direct. Seacret Direct only markets, sells, and specializes in skin care products. These products are made from the Dead Sea and have immediate results. The Dead Sea is known for it's therapeutic qualities in helping with skin care conditions such as eczema and psoriasis. Because my husband has eczema that flares up during the winter months, I purchased some for him as well. When my friend brought up the fact that I could earn some free product and possibly even some extra income, I was a bit intrigued, but not overly eager to sell them. After speaking with her, though, and continuing to love the products more every time I used them, I knew she was right. Even my husband loved using them! I scheduled my first "WOW" party because these products literally make you say "WOW" when you are trying them out. My first party was a huge success and I signed up to be a "Seacret Agent" in February. I am having a blast meeting with people one on one to show them the product, setting up "WOW" parties, and most importantly, earning free product and even some extra income. Seacret Direct is a MLM (multi-level marketing) company and I am honored, proud, and excited to see the growth the company is experiencing. It is another business for me, but as I said, I learned from working at Macy's just how much I love working for myself. I can set my own time to meet with people and still do my insurance business at the same time.
There may be some people that are wondering why I would choose to do another business when I have an insurance business that I am still growing. In fact, at the same time that I started Seacret, I also hired a new insurance agent to work and specialize in both Life and Medicare Insurance. When I look back at last fall and the uncertainty that healthcare brought me and so many others, I have to say that I am only looking out for my family. I have worked way too hard to stop working in the insurance industry, but I also know that all the changes that we have had these last few months only means that more change is coming. I can honestly share from my heart that God was preparing me last fall to accept the changes, make adjustments, and putting the right people and circumstances to help me through it all. I have to personally thank Terri Pattison, my dear friend, for sharing her "Seacret" with me and not being afraid to tell me about the opportunity.
Lastly, this product is one that I can take around the world. It's much to good to keep a "Seacret" and it is exciting to share it every day. If you would like to experience the products yourself by having a facial, getting together with friends and family, or even earn free products and some extra income, I welcome the opportunity to talk with you. In the meantime, take a look at this video and learn why I fell in love with these products.
Taking on this part time position taught me how much I love working for myself. I love setting my own schedule and although I still work by appointment in insurance, I have the ability to work it around my home life. I also learned that I have missed being around people each day. Before I worked in the insurance industry, I worked as a nail technician for 27 years. I was around people every single day and enjoyed the friendships it brought me. People were happy to see me and enjoyed doing something special for themselves. Although I meet with people each day in the insurance industry and have made some great friends because of it, insurance is a product that doesn't get most people real excited.
As only God can do, he saw to it that a dear friend of mine invited me to go to a Mud and Margarita Spa party at a local Chamber of Commerce that she belonged to in the fall as well. She had shown me the products before and quite frankly, I was eager to try them. I purchased a few products that night and within a few days knew that these products were special. The name of the these skin care products is Seacret Direct. Seacret Direct only markets, sells, and specializes in skin care products. These products are made from the Dead Sea and have immediate results. The Dead Sea is known for it's therapeutic qualities in helping with skin care conditions such as eczema and psoriasis. Because my husband has eczema that flares up during the winter months, I purchased some for him as well. When my friend brought up the fact that I could earn some free product and possibly even some extra income, I was a bit intrigued, but not overly eager to sell them. After speaking with her, though, and continuing to love the products more every time I used them, I knew she was right. Even my husband loved using them! I scheduled my first "WOW" party because these products literally make you say "WOW" when you are trying them out. My first party was a huge success and I signed up to be a "Seacret Agent" in February. I am having a blast meeting with people one on one to show them the product, setting up "WOW" parties, and most importantly, earning free product and even some extra income. Seacret Direct is a MLM (multi-level marketing) company and I am honored, proud, and excited to see the growth the company is experiencing. It is another business for me, but as I said, I learned from working at Macy's just how much I love working for myself. I can set my own time to meet with people and still do my insurance business at the same time.
There may be some people that are wondering why I would choose to do another business when I have an insurance business that I am still growing. In fact, at the same time that I started Seacret, I also hired a new insurance agent to work and specialize in both Life and Medicare Insurance. When I look back at last fall and the uncertainty that healthcare brought me and so many others, I have to say that I am only looking out for my family. I have worked way too hard to stop working in the insurance industry, but I also know that all the changes that we have had these last few months only means that more change is coming. I can honestly share from my heart that God was preparing me last fall to accept the changes, make adjustments, and putting the right people and circumstances to help me through it all. I have to personally thank Terri Pattison, my dear friend, for sharing her "Seacret" with me and not being afraid to tell me about the opportunity.
Lastly, this product is one that I can take around the world. It's much to good to keep a "Seacret" and it is exciting to share it every day. If you would like to experience the products yourself by having a facial, getting together with friends and family, or even earn free products and some extra income, I welcome the opportunity to talk with you. In the meantime, take a look at this video and learn why I fell in love with these products.
Thursday, January 16, 2014
Two Years Ago Today
Two years ago today, I sat by my mother's side holding her hand as she let go. Two years ago today, my family sat with her for a few more hours after her death before leaving the hospital. Two years ago today, I walked out of the hospital with red swollen eyes and a tear stained face holding my husband's hand knowing we wouldn't see her again here on earth.
We always hear that time flies the older you get and these last two years have proven that to be true. In these last two years, so much has happened; The death of my mother, an engagement, three weddings, a new relationship, three births, the death of Sally Ann's mother, the death of John's father, Uncle Rodney's death, and the death of Courtney's mother. It reminds me of this saying:
Our family is a circle of strength and love,
With every birth and every union, the circle will grow,
Every joy shared adds more love,
Every crisis shared together, makes the circle stronger.
There isn't a day that goes by that our family doesn't miss the ones that are no longer with us. I can only take comfort in knowing this:
Two years ago today, my Mother was no longer in pain.
Two years ago today, she no longer needed oxygen to breath.
Two years ago today, she let go of my hand and had the arms of Jesus wrapped around her.
Two years ago today, she was able to see her siblings, Butch and Jean as they welcomed her home.
Two years ago today, her parents held their oldest daughter once again.
Two years ago today, she was at peace.
Two years later, I am still holding my husband's hand. We have walked hand in hand every day since then with a much clearer understanding of how precious and fragile life is. We have helped one another get through each crisis and felt the joy that each happy occasion brought us.
Two years later, I sit here with memories of my sweet Mother and smile. She was an amazing and beautiful woman who cherished life and fought as hard and as long as she could. I'm so honored that God blessed me with the privilege of having her as long as I did.
In loving memory - Joyce M. Savory June 10, 1939 - January 16, 2012
We always hear that time flies the older you get and these last two years have proven that to be true. In these last two years, so much has happened; The death of my mother, an engagement, three weddings, a new relationship, three births, the death of Sally Ann's mother, the death of John's father, Uncle Rodney's death, and the death of Courtney's mother. It reminds me of this saying:
Our family is a circle of strength and love,
With every birth and every union, the circle will grow,
Every joy shared adds more love,
Every crisis shared together, makes the circle stronger.
There isn't a day that goes by that our family doesn't miss the ones that are no longer with us. I can only take comfort in knowing this:
Two years ago today, my Mother was no longer in pain.
Two years ago today, she no longer needed oxygen to breath.
Two years ago today, she let go of my hand and had the arms of Jesus wrapped around her.
Two years ago today, she was able to see her siblings, Butch and Jean as they welcomed her home.
Two years ago today, her parents held their oldest daughter once again.
Two years ago today, she was at peace.
Two years later, I am still holding my husband's hand. We have walked hand in hand every day since then with a much clearer understanding of how precious and fragile life is. We have helped one another get through each crisis and felt the joy that each happy occasion brought us.
Two years later, I sit here with memories of my sweet Mother and smile. She was an amazing and beautiful woman who cherished life and fought as hard and as long as she could. I'm so honored that God blessed me with the privilege of having her as long as I did.
In loving memory - Joyce M. Savory June 10, 1939 - January 16, 2012
Thursday, January 2, 2014
Changes and Answered Prayers
It has been much too long since my last blog post and with the New Year already here, I thought it would be a good time to catch you up on news in my business.
So many changes happened within the healthcare industry in these last few months. Every August, I complete Medicare certifications for each insurance carrier that I work with. In total, that equals about three hours for each carrier and this year, I chose to work with five insurance carriers. Next, came certifications and classes regarding all the changes in the healthcare industry. Between classes and certifications, the total time spent was about fifteen hours. Learning is always something that is challenging and interesting to me so I am not complaining at all. It is actually enjoyable to me.
Once my certifications were completed, I was told that I would receive an e-mail with a special number for the healthcare website. When the e-mail never came, I made a call to my insurance contact and she shared with me how behind they were and not to worry. Everything was done as according to what they needed and there was plenty of time before October 1st.
October 1st came and all heck broke loose. Clients were calling interested in insurance, my clients were calling because there current policies were being cancelled, the hospital in my home town would not be a part of the new network for the healthcare exchange, and if you haven't heard of this by now, the new healthcare.gov website was experiencing delays, glitches, and just frustrating everyone.
During this time frame (between October 1st - December 7th), I was asked to stand at a booth by an insurance carrier in a local store in our town to answer questions regarding not only Medicare, but help people with their options on the new healthcare.gov website. Each year, I do this for Medicare and because the enrollment period for healthcare was at the same time, the insurance carrier asked me to do both. The first two weeks doing this went pretty well. Then, I walked in one day to find another agent sitting at the booth. There was a mix up in the scheduling and now there were two agents working at the same booth. We worked out the details to make sure that both of us had the opportunity to work there on different days and everything seemed to be going well. Then, my insurance carrier called and told me that agents across the country were getting threatened because they were so angry about the new healthcare website not working. They decided to pull out of the store. I'm a firm believer that everything happens for a reason and with clients calling continually with questions, I felt that this was for the best. And it was.
Late in October, agents received notification that the healthcare website should be up and running more smoothly by the end of November. I was able to do everything such as get quotes on my own directly from the insurance carrier and calculate what subsidies would be available for clients. This helped clients take a look at plans, figure out what their premiums would be, and ask questions while they waited for things at healthcare.gov to work smoothly.
November 30th came and the website did work. It was a sigh of relief as clients were anxious and so was I. Clients were getting covered, however, there was another hiccup. There was no way for clients to pay at the end of signing up. When I would call to help clients out, the insurance agency had no way for them to see if I had actually helped the client or if they had put my agent code in even though I would do this right in front of clients. As a broker, there has to be proof that you are the broker of record in order for the insurance carrier to give you any information on effective dates, payment information, etc.
With one frustration after the next, I was wondering if I would be able to make it in this business. I can't even begin to tell you how many times I would pray about this. I was worried all the time about clients not being covered, anxious, and overwhelmed.
Then, my prayers were answered. I met with a client that needed help with Medicare plans. With Medicare, an agent must give a presentation so that clients can have a better understanding of what they are getting. In the middle of the presentation, the client stopped me and said, " I have been praying to find someone to explain this to me in a way that I can understand. You are my answered prayer." It was such a blessing to me. Just shortly after that, I was working with a client that needed help with his health insurance. He did qualify for a subsidy so we worked together on the application for his insurance. It took awhile, but he needed the coverage and together, we got it done. When I was getting ready to leave, he thanked me for having the patience of a saint and shared how relieved he was that he had me to help him through the process. He stated that he couldn't have done it without me and he would always be grateful. Another blessing.
In closing, I will continue on. I know that there are challenges ahead, but we will prevail. This business has been a blessing to my family and I pray that it will be a continued blessing to my clients. They can tell my they are grateful and it certainly is appreciated. The real blessing is the people that I have the opportunity to help each day and I am grateful for everyone of them. It is my prayer that they always know it.
So many changes happened within the healthcare industry in these last few months. Every August, I complete Medicare certifications for each insurance carrier that I work with. In total, that equals about three hours for each carrier and this year, I chose to work with five insurance carriers. Next, came certifications and classes regarding all the changes in the healthcare industry. Between classes and certifications, the total time spent was about fifteen hours. Learning is always something that is challenging and interesting to me so I am not complaining at all. It is actually enjoyable to me.
Once my certifications were completed, I was told that I would receive an e-mail with a special number for the healthcare website. When the e-mail never came, I made a call to my insurance contact and she shared with me how behind they were and not to worry. Everything was done as according to what they needed and there was plenty of time before October 1st.
October 1st came and all heck broke loose. Clients were calling interested in insurance, my clients were calling because there current policies were being cancelled, the hospital in my home town would not be a part of the new network for the healthcare exchange, and if you haven't heard of this by now, the new healthcare.gov website was experiencing delays, glitches, and just frustrating everyone.
During this time frame (between October 1st - December 7th), I was asked to stand at a booth by an insurance carrier in a local store in our town to answer questions regarding not only Medicare, but help people with their options on the new healthcare.gov website. Each year, I do this for Medicare and because the enrollment period for healthcare was at the same time, the insurance carrier asked me to do both. The first two weeks doing this went pretty well. Then, I walked in one day to find another agent sitting at the booth. There was a mix up in the scheduling and now there were two agents working at the same booth. We worked out the details to make sure that both of us had the opportunity to work there on different days and everything seemed to be going well. Then, my insurance carrier called and told me that agents across the country were getting threatened because they were so angry about the new healthcare website not working. They decided to pull out of the store. I'm a firm believer that everything happens for a reason and with clients calling continually with questions, I felt that this was for the best. And it was.
Late in October, agents received notification that the healthcare website should be up and running more smoothly by the end of November. I was able to do everything such as get quotes on my own directly from the insurance carrier and calculate what subsidies would be available for clients. This helped clients take a look at plans, figure out what their premiums would be, and ask questions while they waited for things at healthcare.gov to work smoothly.
November 30th came and the website did work. It was a sigh of relief as clients were anxious and so was I. Clients were getting covered, however, there was another hiccup. There was no way for clients to pay at the end of signing up. When I would call to help clients out, the insurance agency had no way for them to see if I had actually helped the client or if they had put my agent code in even though I would do this right in front of clients. As a broker, there has to be proof that you are the broker of record in order for the insurance carrier to give you any information on effective dates, payment information, etc.
With one frustration after the next, I was wondering if I would be able to make it in this business. I can't even begin to tell you how many times I would pray about this. I was worried all the time about clients not being covered, anxious, and overwhelmed.
Then, my prayers were answered. I met with a client that needed help with Medicare plans. With Medicare, an agent must give a presentation so that clients can have a better understanding of what they are getting. In the middle of the presentation, the client stopped me and said, " I have been praying to find someone to explain this to me in a way that I can understand. You are my answered prayer." It was such a blessing to me. Just shortly after that, I was working with a client that needed help with his health insurance. He did qualify for a subsidy so we worked together on the application for his insurance. It took awhile, but he needed the coverage and together, we got it done. When I was getting ready to leave, he thanked me for having the patience of a saint and shared how relieved he was that he had me to help him through the process. He stated that he couldn't have done it without me and he would always be grateful. Another blessing.
In closing, I will continue on. I know that there are challenges ahead, but we will prevail. This business has been a blessing to my family and I pray that it will be a continued blessing to my clients. They can tell my they are grateful and it certainly is appreciated. The real blessing is the people that I have the opportunity to help each day and I am grateful for everyone of them. It is my prayer that they always know it.
Friday, August 16, 2013
In the Middle of Chaos
Just a little over a month ago now, our son, Andrew and his wife, Christina had a wedding to go to on Long Island. Because they were going away, they asked my husband and I if we would be willing to watch their dog, Rosie. We are always happy to help out our children and having a young dog around the house always brings a little more excitement and love.
With the wedding happening on a Friday afternoon, they decided to drop Rosie off on Thursday evening as they would be leaving very early Friday morning. I decided to have dinner ready for them so we could eat together and enjoy their company. I also decided to have our oldest son, Michael and his family over so we could all be together. As our sons have grown and gone out on their own, it becomes a little more difficult to have everyone together so every opportunity that comes about, we work to take advantage of.
Thursday came and I decided to try a new recipe - pork spare ribs in the crockpot. I enjoy cooking so anytime I can cook and try something different I'm thrilled. Michael (our oldest son) and his family arrived first. The aroma of the spare ribs filled the house. Michael and Courtney had just looked at a new apartment and were excited about it, loved it, and wanted to start filling out their application for it immediately. They sat at the table and got to work. Rosslyn, our granddaughter, was playing with Jazz (our dog), talking about Elmo, smiling, and playing.
I decided to put out some watermelon slices for everyone to enjoy while we waited for dinner to finish cooking. I also had rice pilaf, fresh corn on the cob, and fresh carrots from the garden all cooking. My husband arrived home to the house smelling yummy and Rosslyn jumping into his arms saying, "Grandpa, Grandpa." A big smile came across his face as I also greeted him and the three of us hugged to welcome him home. At this time, Michael and Courtney were making copies of things for their application and came back into the kitchen to say hi. They were still excited and eager to share with John things about the apartment and show us some pictures.
We looked at pictures as we all talked and set the table. The apartment looked beautiful and I smiled as I watched them talk about it with such excitement. Andrew and Christina were on their way, but told us to go ahead and start if things were ready. We all started with our corn on the cob. Rosslyn loves corn on the cob and can barely wait to sink her teeth into it so Michael and Courtney have a routine of running it under cold water so she can eat it without having to wait for it to cool.
A few minutes after sitting down, Andrew and Christina arrived with Rosie. Jazz and Rosie always get excited when they first see one another again so they begin by running around. Up and down the stairs and all around the house. Rosslyn immediately starts saying, "doggy, doggy" and can barely sit still to eat as she is eager to go to them.
Andrew and Christina sit down to eat as the dogs continue to run around. We try to settle them down only realizing that they just want to play. By this time, Rosslyn is down chasing them around trying to give them kisses. It was a little chaotic, but I loved every second of it.
We finished eating as we continued to look at pictures of the apartment that Michael and Courtney were looking to rent. We talked about the wedding that Andrew and Christina were going to. Rosslyn was playing with the dogs, continuing to talk about Elmo (he is her favorite), and giving us all reasons to laugh and smile.
After we began to clean up, Andrew and Christina started to share Rosie's schedule. They are such good doggy parents and will make wonderful parents one day. Michael and Courtney still had a few things to do on their application so I told them I would keep my eye on Rosslyn. Aunty Christina decided to take Rosslyn outside to pick some fresh raspberries off of the bushes they planted for me a few years ago. As I was cleaning up and doing the dishes, I took a moment to watch them. Aunty Christina was talking with Rosslyn and they were both gently picking raspberries off the bushes. Rosslyn was intently working to get a few raspberries and put them in a dish that would soon be put on top of ice cream.
I smiled watching them and turned to look at the dining room table where Michael and Courtney were sitting working together on something for their future. Just then, the dogs came running across the floor. As hard as I work to make things perfect for my family, this is just a small example of how chaotic moments turn into lasting memories.
John and I are still in love. We show one another respect and never let the opportunity go by to welcome one another home. Our sons have seen this and now as I watch them with their own families, they do the same. We are blessed that everyone gets along and sees the gifts that each person has. We all get excited to see blessings being bestowed on any of us. The dogs in our life bring a little excitement and chaos, but they are loved and know it. In the middle of chaos in our home, I smile as my husband watches me and smiles back.
We have ice cream with fresh raspberries on top, I get the final instructions for Rosie, and everyone is ready to leave. Hugs and kisses are given. Once our chores are done for the evening, John and I sit down together. The dogs are both not far from us and are comfortably resting. The house is quiet. I smile as I think of the day and each blessing it held. I think of Michael and Courtney coming up on a year of being together and thank God they found one another. I pray for Andrew and Christina as they venture on the road to see friends become married. We get ready for bed and as I pat both Jazz and Rosie before I go into my bedroom, I am thankful for each of them. They are part of the smiles, the chaos, and the beautiful memories.
With the wedding happening on a Friday afternoon, they decided to drop Rosie off on Thursday evening as they would be leaving very early Friday morning. I decided to have dinner ready for them so we could eat together and enjoy their company. I also decided to have our oldest son, Michael and his family over so we could all be together. As our sons have grown and gone out on their own, it becomes a little more difficult to have everyone together so every opportunity that comes about, we work to take advantage of.
Thursday came and I decided to try a new recipe - pork spare ribs in the crockpot. I enjoy cooking so anytime I can cook and try something different I'm thrilled. Michael (our oldest son) and his family arrived first. The aroma of the spare ribs filled the house. Michael and Courtney had just looked at a new apartment and were excited about it, loved it, and wanted to start filling out their application for it immediately. They sat at the table and got to work. Rosslyn, our granddaughter, was playing with Jazz (our dog), talking about Elmo, smiling, and playing.
I decided to put out some watermelon slices for everyone to enjoy while we waited for dinner to finish cooking. I also had rice pilaf, fresh corn on the cob, and fresh carrots from the garden all cooking. My husband arrived home to the house smelling yummy and Rosslyn jumping into his arms saying, "Grandpa, Grandpa." A big smile came across his face as I also greeted him and the three of us hugged to welcome him home. At this time, Michael and Courtney were making copies of things for their application and came back into the kitchen to say hi. They were still excited and eager to share with John things about the apartment and show us some pictures.
We looked at pictures as we all talked and set the table. The apartment looked beautiful and I smiled as I watched them talk about it with such excitement. Andrew and Christina were on their way, but told us to go ahead and start if things were ready. We all started with our corn on the cob. Rosslyn loves corn on the cob and can barely wait to sink her teeth into it so Michael and Courtney have a routine of running it under cold water so she can eat it without having to wait for it to cool.
A few minutes after sitting down, Andrew and Christina arrived with Rosie. Jazz and Rosie always get excited when they first see one another again so they begin by running around. Up and down the stairs and all around the house. Rosslyn immediately starts saying, "doggy, doggy" and can barely sit still to eat as she is eager to go to them.
Andrew and Christina sit down to eat as the dogs continue to run around. We try to settle them down only realizing that they just want to play. By this time, Rosslyn is down chasing them around trying to give them kisses. It was a little chaotic, but I loved every second of it.
We finished eating as we continued to look at pictures of the apartment that Michael and Courtney were looking to rent. We talked about the wedding that Andrew and Christina were going to. Rosslyn was playing with the dogs, continuing to talk about Elmo (he is her favorite), and giving us all reasons to laugh and smile.
After we began to clean up, Andrew and Christina started to share Rosie's schedule. They are such good doggy parents and will make wonderful parents one day. Michael and Courtney still had a few things to do on their application so I told them I would keep my eye on Rosslyn. Aunty Christina decided to take Rosslyn outside to pick some fresh raspberries off of the bushes they planted for me a few years ago. As I was cleaning up and doing the dishes, I took a moment to watch them. Aunty Christina was talking with Rosslyn and they were both gently picking raspberries off the bushes. Rosslyn was intently working to get a few raspberries and put them in a dish that would soon be put on top of ice cream.
I smiled watching them and turned to look at the dining room table where Michael and Courtney were sitting working together on something for their future. Just then, the dogs came running across the floor. As hard as I work to make things perfect for my family, this is just a small example of how chaotic moments turn into lasting memories.
John and I are still in love. We show one another respect and never let the opportunity go by to welcome one another home. Our sons have seen this and now as I watch them with their own families, they do the same. We are blessed that everyone gets along and sees the gifts that each person has. We all get excited to see blessings being bestowed on any of us. The dogs in our life bring a little excitement and chaos, but they are loved and know it. In the middle of chaos in our home, I smile as my husband watches me and smiles back.
We have ice cream with fresh raspberries on top, I get the final instructions for Rosie, and everyone is ready to leave. Hugs and kisses are given. Once our chores are done for the evening, John and I sit down together. The dogs are both not far from us and are comfortably resting. The house is quiet. I smile as I think of the day and each blessing it held. I think of Michael and Courtney coming up on a year of being together and thank God they found one another. I pray for Andrew and Christina as they venture on the road to see friends become married. We get ready for bed and as I pat both Jazz and Rosie before I go into my bedroom, I am thankful for each of them. They are part of the smiles, the chaos, and the beautiful memories.
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
Keeping My Family and Friends Informed
Last month, I started sending out what would be the first of a few letters to my family and friends to keep them informed on what my business offers and who I serve.
This month's letter is focused on Life Insurance. Hope you enjoy it and as always, if you have questions or need information on any of the products that are offered through my business, let me know. My purpose is to serve you providing you with balance, security, and peace of mind with your insurance needs.
Part 2 - Comprehensive Life Insurance Checklist
This month's letter is focused on Life Insurance. Hope you enjoy it and as always, if you have questions or need information on any of the products that are offered through my business, let me know. My purpose is to serve you providing you with balance, security, and peace of mind with your insurance needs.
In my last letter, I spoke how Balanced Care services our senior market. When I originally planned out these
letters, I thought that I would cover health insurance for you on the second
letter, however, with changes still happening in health care reform and
insurance companies waiting on their plans to be approved by the Federal
Government prior to open enrollment for individuals this fall, my focus in this
letter will be on life insurance and who I help with this product.
As mentioned previously, insurance is never something most of us jump up
and down about. When it comes to life
insurance, that statement is definitely true. When I work with businesses providing
benefits to their employees, group life insurance is a product that many
employers provide. Some employers
will pay for one and a half to two times an employee’s salary for a life
insurance benefit. Some employers
will give an option to their employees to purchase more and have it deducted
from their paychecks. This leads me
to a story that I often share because it holds the true value that life
insurance brought to a young woman I worked with. While working with a business enrolling
employees in plans, I sit down one to one with employees to make sure they
understand what is offered to them.
This particular day, I was approached by a fifty year old woman. Every question that she asked was
regarding life insurance. It was
obvious to me that she had her reasons for needing it and after we established
some trust between us, she stated that she would be forever grateful for her
employer for giving her the opportunity to own it. She had tried to purchase life insurance online;
however, due to the fact that she had some health issues, she was
declined. When purchasing life
insurance through a business or group, there is little to no medical
underwriting which now made her eligible. She
also shared that she had recently lost her thirty year old daughter who died
suddenly. The next statement she made
was one that I will always remember.
She stated, “Writing a check out to the funeral home each month brings
me back to pain of losing her over and over again. She
was young, healthy, and thought she had plenty of time to worry about life
insurance. With two children still at
home, I want to do as much as I can to take away this pain should something
happen to me.” If ever there was a
reason to know that what I do brought value, she gave it to me in that
moment.
Not only do I provide life insurance for employees, but also business
owners and families. Business owners
purchase it for reasons such as a key employee. This employee may be a partner in the
business and be an integral part of the business’ success. Businesses have to ask themselves if their
business could continue to thrive should something happen to the person they
are depending on. Another reason a
business purchases life insurance from me is business continuation. If a business owner were to pass away, they
have to ask themselves if their heirs would be able to continue the business or
have to sell because they wouldn’t have the financial means to do so.
The majority of clients I work with purchase life insurance as a means of
protecting their families. New
homeowners, newly married, and upon the birth of children are just some of the
reasons clients come to me. Whether
they buy term life insurance, whole life insurance, universal life insurance,
or indexed universal life insurance depends on their need, their age, and their
budget. At Balanced Care, I have
worked with single men and women, married couples, college students, stay at
home parents, and retirees. Believe it
or not, life insurance is also a vehicle to tax free retirement. Because I am a broker, I work with over
forty different insurance carriers to make sure clients have options and that
the policy works not only for your budget, but for your specific needs.
Lastly, I work with a life insurance product called Final Expense life
insurance. These plans are small,
affordable and are designed to cover final expenses such as funeral and burial
costs. Without these plans, many
retirees and our senior generation would not be able to provide a means to have
their final wishes carried out.
These plans are also a good vehicle for leaving a legacy to your
favorite church and/or charity.
Many people want to give generously to their church, but financial
limitations can stand in their way. A
living gift memorial plan is a viable option that allows you to endow your
church with a substantial gift without burdening your personal finances. A client in her sixties asked me if she
could leave part of her death benefit to a library that held a special place in
her heart. I recommended a Final
Expense policy that was not only less expensive, but gave her protection for
her final expenses as well as leaving a gift to the library as she desired.
For your convenience, I have included a comprehensive life insurance
checklist for you to take a look at.
It has been divided into age brackets with the types of life insurance
that are most appropriate. As I
continue to provide solutions, education, and consultations each day, I thank
you for taking time to learn more about the people I have the privilege of
serving each day and the products that protect them with their most precious
assets – Their business, their family, and themselves.
With love,
Terri
Comprehensive
Insurance Checklist for 2013
Ages 30 – 40 Newly married? Planning a family? Starting to think about retirement planning?
·
Term Life Insurance – A twenty to thirty year term policy
can help you with your financial responsibilities such as your mortgage and
your children’s college tuition should something happen to you.
·
Indexed Universal Life Insurance – Purchasing an indexed
universal life policy early in life allows you greater potential for the policy
to grow and accumulate value while you pay your premiums.
Ages 40 – 55 Married? Have children? Protecting your family/preparing for a
comfortable retirement?
·
Indexed Universal Life Insurance – You have probably made
some contributions to your employer sponsored retirement plan and have a more
focused prospective on what you’ll need for retirement. This will help you as you design your
personal IUL.
Ages 55 – 65 Married?
Children grown and moving out?
Preparing for retirement – protecting assets?
·
Whole Life Insurance – A whole life policy can be used for
Estate Planning, charitable donations, or even purchasing as a gift for a
grandchild
·
Annuity – An annuity can be an ideal place to roll over
pension/IRA funds which will eliminate market volatility at a time in your life
when you can’t afford to lose.
Ages 60 – 70 Retired? Want to offer protection to family
after your gone?
·
Final Expense – A small, affordable life insurance policy
designed to cover final expenses such as funeral costs and other end of life
expenses.
·
Annuity – The peace of mind that comes from having an
income stream unlike any other protection you have in place. As you look at your retirement income, an
annuity might be the perfect compliment.
Friday, June 21, 2013
Providing Protection One Business, One Individual, One Senior at a Time
With my sons now grown, it is no longer important for me to know the local school's schedule. This week, however, I've noticed many posts on Facebook with regards to graduations, have seen pictures of children on their last day of school, and have noticed local graduation ceremonies in the newspaper.
These things brought a smile to my face as I remembered the last day of each school year for my children and how they anxiously awaited summer. They loved the fact that I didn't have to wake them up and could literally play all day. Picnics outside, playing in the pool, trips to the beach, baseball games, and our annual camping trip were always treasured by each of us.
As I thought about our summer days, I remembered doing everything I could to protect my sons against injury and keep them healthy. For instance, they weren't allowed to ride their bikes without a helmet. They had to wear sunscreen and if we were heading into the woods, bug spray would always come with us. I made sure to keep food cool so they wouldn't get food poisoning.
Now that they are grown, I can no longer protect them the way I used to when they were children. When my granddaughter, Rosslyn comes for a visit, my motherly instinct goes into full gear. We block off the stairs, close up electrical sockets, close doors, put up gates, and protect her as much as we can.
When I thought of this, it really confirmed for me that I am in the best career. I am still able to protect children. I am still able to protect families. It is much different than protecting my children, but it is still protection.
When I sit down with businesses that want to provide health, dental, life, and supplemental plans for their employees, it is gratifying to know that one more person is protected. It doesn't matter whether the business has one employee or 300 employees, everyone deserves protection. They can get proper medical help when needed. They can get their teeth cleaned. Their children will be able to learn as much as they can when in school because they had the proper vision care.
When I sit down with a family that wants to buy life insurance, I am able to sleep a little bit better that night because another family is protected. I know that if something happened, that little boy or girl would still miss their Mother or Father, but would have much less stress because their parents loved them enough to still care for them after they were gone.
When I sit down with a senior that is overwhelmed about Medicare choices, it is humbling to see a sigh a relief when they now understand what they need to do.
The reality is that we can do everything humanly possible to protect. I did all I could to make sure that my sons didn't get hurt when they were outside, but things still happened. Andrew still got a black eye when he was playing baseball with his brother. Michael still needed a trip to the emergency room when his finger got stuck in the car door. Rosslyn still took a tumble down a few stairs.
My clients will still receive a diagnosis that will change their lives. They will still have an accident. All I can do is do what I do best - provide protection, provide peace of mind, and provide security one business, one person, one senior at a time.
These things brought a smile to my face as I remembered the last day of each school year for my children and how they anxiously awaited summer. They loved the fact that I didn't have to wake them up and could literally play all day. Picnics outside, playing in the pool, trips to the beach, baseball games, and our annual camping trip were always treasured by each of us.
As I thought about our summer days, I remembered doing everything I could to protect my sons against injury and keep them healthy. For instance, they weren't allowed to ride their bikes without a helmet. They had to wear sunscreen and if we were heading into the woods, bug spray would always come with us. I made sure to keep food cool so they wouldn't get food poisoning.
Now that they are grown, I can no longer protect them the way I used to when they were children. When my granddaughter, Rosslyn comes for a visit, my motherly instinct goes into full gear. We block off the stairs, close up electrical sockets, close doors, put up gates, and protect her as much as we can.
When I thought of this, it really confirmed for me that I am in the best career. I am still able to protect children. I am still able to protect families. It is much different than protecting my children, but it is still protection.
When I sit down with businesses that want to provide health, dental, life, and supplemental plans for their employees, it is gratifying to know that one more person is protected. It doesn't matter whether the business has one employee or 300 employees, everyone deserves protection. They can get proper medical help when needed. They can get their teeth cleaned. Their children will be able to learn as much as they can when in school because they had the proper vision care.
When I sit down with a family that wants to buy life insurance, I am able to sleep a little bit better that night because another family is protected. I know that if something happened, that little boy or girl would still miss their Mother or Father, but would have much less stress because their parents loved them enough to still care for them after they were gone.
When I sit down with a senior that is overwhelmed about Medicare choices, it is humbling to see a sigh a relief when they now understand what they need to do.
The reality is that we can do everything humanly possible to protect. I did all I could to make sure that my sons didn't get hurt when they were outside, but things still happened. Andrew still got a black eye when he was playing baseball with his brother. Michael still needed a trip to the emergency room when his finger got stuck in the car door. Rosslyn still took a tumble down a few stairs.
My clients will still receive a diagnosis that will change their lives. They will still have an accident. All I can do is do what I do best - provide protection, provide peace of mind, and provide security one business, one person, one senior at a time.
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