Matt Howes-COUNTRY Financial

Life insurance should be customized for your needs, whether that’s a term policy with an affordable monthly premium or a permanent policy that can help you pay for future expenses. Contact me today to discuss which option is right for you.

Life changes fast. Has your life insurance kept up with you? Along with providing necessary protection, it’s a valuable planning instrument that can help secure your future. Learn more and get a quote for Forbes’ #1 ranked life insurance for 2024: https://cfin.us/LetsTalkLifeInsurance

Life insurance provides more protection than you might think. If something happened and you were no longer here to help pay for the mortgage, life insurance is a great way to help your family stay in your home. Plus, enhancing your coverage might be more affordable than you expect. Contact me today to discuss your options and feel confident your loved ones have the financial security they need.

There are a lot of myths about life insurance floating around out there. According to the Life Insurance Statistics, Data and Industry Trends 2024 report published by Forbes, 52% of Americans say they don’t have life insurance because they believe it’s too expensive. In fact, 82% of people surveyed overestimate the cost of a life insurance policy, with a majority of people incorrectly estimating the cost of life insurance to be 3x as high as it actually is.

Why is this? The truth is, there may not be a very good reason for this belief. According to the 2024 Insurance Barometer Study Report, 54% of people surveyed said their life insurance cost estimate was based on “gut instinct” or a “wild guess.”

The right life insurance for your needs might be more affordable than you think. Contact me today to see how we can affordably enhance your life insurance coverage or get you set up with a policy from Forbes’ #1 ranked life insurance in the U.S.

Life insurance policies issued by COUNTRY Life Insurance Company®️ and COUNTRY Investors Life Assurance Company®️, Bloomington, IL.

Planning some fun at home this summer? Make sure your backyard is safe for all your favorite activities by using this summer safety checklist.

Pool safety
⁃ Never leave children unattended
⁃ Kids should never be alone in or near a pool (even if they know how to swim).
⁃ Teach children to swim
⁃ Sign your kids up for swimming lessons if you haven’t
⁃ Learn emergency skills
⁃ Young children should learn when to get help. Older children and adults should learn CPR and first aid.
⁃ Buy pool safety equipment
⁃ Keep a first-aid kit, ring buoys and reaching poles nearby. Easy access to these items could be lifesaving.
⁃ Install a safety fence
⁃ Make sure your pool safety fence covers all pool sides and has self-closing gates. Also, install locks and alarms on doors with pool access.
⁃ Keep everyone in the know. Create and post safety rules and enforce them.

Trampoline safety
⁃ Add safety features
⁃ Make sure your trampoline has padding and netting. An enclosed trampoline can help prevent falls.
⁃ Maintain your trampoline. Inspect your trampoline regularly for missing pads, tears, exposed springs and other issues that could cause injury.
⁃ Enforce safety rules. Only one jumper at a time to reduce risk of injury.

Playground safety
⁃ Inspect your playground equipment regularly
⁃ Look out for protruding bolts, open hooks, broken ropes or rusted chains that could cause injuries. Replace equipment as needed.
⁃ Create a safe landing
⁃ Invest in soft-landing material like rubber tire chips or mulch to reduce or prevent injuries.
⁃ Teach playground rules
Having kids follow simple rules can contribute to playground safety and help avoid injuries.
⁃ Supervise young children at play
⁃ Keep a close eye on kids to reduce injuries and ensure your backyard safety expectations.

Review your home liability insurance limits
Even if you follow all these tips, accidents happen. Keep your liability insurance coverage updated (and consider adding an umbrella liability policy). If you add a pool, trampoline or playground to your yard, meet with your insurance agent to see if you need to increase your home liability coverage. Stay safe and have fun this summer!