Buy Local ...

Buying local is more than just a saying ... it is a frame of mind and an important frame of mind if you ask me.  Every dollar you spend is helping some one's community, either yours or someone else's.

Sometimes you need to go outside your community to get the quality, brand or type of service or product you need.  I will often buy herbal supplements that are made from herbs that only grow in tropical Asia.  We sometimes use vanilla that comes from the South Pacific.  But given the choice I'd rather buy my goods and services from a person or company that lives in the community where I live, pays taxes in the community that I pay in to, and who's fortune and welfare is tied to the local community.  That person will help improve my community and is vested in the success of everyone in the area.

On the occasion that you have to spend money with companies that don't have an interest in your community, you are losing the benefit of that money to what ever community the company resides. 

It's greener, safer, economically sound, and more trustworthy than buying services and goods from far away places.

J

Special kids ... Special Needs!

I took a little time to visit the Easter Seals in Indianapolis last week and had a great time and really enjoyed seeing the great work they are doing.  The Indianapolis center is geared toward helping autistic adults and children learn the skills they need for a lifetime.  Everything from job training to loaner technology that can help them communicate (the get to try before they buy to see how well it works for them).

The social worker that gave us the tour was understandably proud of the center and the work that they do, and I was amazed and all that was available.  I went with a special needs consultant that I am working with to get plugged in to the current system.  We are looking to help those families that need a hand in planning for their special needs child ... someday that child will need financial support and their parents won't always be their to supply that need. 

Buttermilk Mountain is a special needs consultant that has years for experience.  They are helping me better understand the specific needs of families that have a special needs child, who will never be able to provide for themselves.  As an insurance agent my role is helping to fund the special needs trust that will provide for those kids for the rest of their lives.   Life insurance is the best way to fund these trusts.   I'm really excited to start helping those families create a lasting legacy for the children that bring hem so much joy.

I will write more about this subject in the near future, as it is near and dear to my heart!

J

Did you lose some money?

Things don't always go as we plan , and sometimes that can get in the way of receiving all the money that is due to us.  I know this from experience, but then again who hasn't left town and forgot the $10 in a savings account.  Or perhaps over payments on property taxes and utilities that are forgotten as you move to a new location, job and life. 

It's hard to find those lost bits and pieces even knowing where you've been, but imagine if you didn't know that money was left there.  Imagine if it was left by a relative that you knew or maybe just knew but rarely spoke to.  

Imagine that an Uncle left a life insurance policy and you were his closest heir, but he lived in Seattle and you only talked to him once a year.  The life insurance company may find out that he passed away within a few months but they won't necessarily know who you are and where you live.  In fact many states make a healthy revenue from the languishing life insurance proceeds that can not be paid to the heirs.

One expert from IU stated that an estimated $351 million was transferred to the state governments in 2009 and he feels that is a conservative number.  So how do you keep from leaving your legacy to the state government? 

First off, find a life insurance agent that you trust and review your life insurance with them every year.  Make sure that your agent knows what group term you have through work and if you have any policies through other companies that you don't have an agent with.   Your agent will make a record of these policies and be a resource for your loved ones when you pass.  A good agent will be in your community and will know if something happens to you.  They will be able to speak to your spouse or children and guide them through the process as well as helping them get all the benefits you have in place for them.

If you think a loved one may have left money or life insurance behind you can search for it here http://www.unclaimed.org/ at the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators.

Read more in the New York Times article linked here http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/26/your-money/life-and-disability-insurance/26wealth.html

Stupidity in the State House?

My 2nd daughter told me about the most  egregious affront suffered by disabled vets in recent memory.  I'm ashamed that it told my daughter and the Ball State campus newspaper to inform me on the insanity happening at the Indiana State House this month.

But, here is the long and short of it, SB 577 is a bill that passed the state senate this month and will be voted on in the house soon.  It is called a financial aid bill and in the first section it establishes tuition assistance for incarcerated felony offenders.  Later in the bill (buried in endless droning about all things financial aid) it cuts the tuition assistance Earned by DISABLED Vets.

It's that simple folks they are taking the benefits from disabled vets and giving them to convicted felons.  I know it sounds stupid and it is, even my youngest daughter said "they would never do that ... it's too stupid to pass."  Unfortunately it quietly passed in the senate and is heading for the house vote.

I know there is a lot in the news as far as government goes today but don't let this slip through, call your legislator today and tell them to vote NO to SB 577.  If you don't know who to call, check out this site to find out  http://district.iga.in.gov/DistrictLookup .

Here is a facebook group to join and be hear on http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_180427128666411 

J

Romance is in the air!

Well it's Valentine's Day and I'm sure all you guys got your gals something romantic.  I know I did!  But let's look at what the experts say about the most romantic gift you can give.  Now before I tell you this I just want to make sure you know that the statistics I'm about to show you are true and real ... even though it's hard for me to say them with a straight face.

However, anyone that knows me, knows I'm a shameless self promoter and I've made no secret of the fact that I'm in insurance and that this blog is mainly for the purpose of promoting my business.  I mean, the name of this blog is "Beginner's Guide to Insurance". So I'm going to just come out and say it.

88% of women surveyed think that buying life insurance is a good way to show that you love them!  I'm just saying!

For just a few bucks a month you can give them piece of mind and more importantly the bill each month will remind them that you love them.

Call me if you want to show the woman in your life that you really love them!  :-)

Who will win the Super Bowl?

As one of the biggest sporting events in the world the Super Bowl gets a lot of attention every year.  Both teams get bragging rights for having just made it to the game and the winning team gets one of the most elite pieces of jewelry on the planet.

But who is the real winner on game day?  yep you guessed it ... the advertisers.  In fact I watched a TV show yesterday evening dedicated to the top 10 best Super Bowl commercials of all time, and yes it is an annual show.  Part of the draw is that it is such a shared event that people want to talk about every aspect of it, which includes rehashing the best and worst commercials.

This year ... my company, Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance (the official corporate sponsor of the Indianapolis Colts) will air it's new commercials for all the world to see (well at least in Indiana) and I don't think you'll be disappointed.  It's not like we're going to tackle Betty White or have a bunch of models mud wrestling but we think they are pretty cool.  Just ask yourself, do I know for sure my insurance covers what I need?  No matter who you're with, know what you have!  You shouldn't have to knock on wood every time you think about your coverage.

So enjoy the game (and our cool new commercials) and after it's over check out our new micro site

J

Local Guy Writes Book! (blog post)

The older I get the more I appreciate our local talent and culture.  I like that facebook allows me to stay connected and this week it supplied me with a real gem that satisfies both the need to stay connected and the love of local 'stuff '.  I received a notice that a friend of mine from high school had wrote a book. 

Sometimes a person shouldn't write a book, they should stick to other pursuits more tailored to their skills, but in this case I've read the snippets available on line and the story description and .... well, I'm excited to check it out.  Jon Cook has written a book that details the experiences of a Civil War POW ... I know, you're going "what does Jon know about a Civil war POW?"  Great question!  It appears that his great great grandfather was a POW during the Civil War and grew up in Greene County Indiana.  Coauthored by Russell Cook this looks like a winner.

Check them out on facebook (link below)

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Among-the-Sterling-Youth/101050943302829