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Peace of mind comes from knowing that you have done what is needed to be prepared for life's challenges.

 

REALLIFESTORIES

 

Over the years, LIFE has collected stories of real people who benefited from insurance during a time of great personal and financial need, and turned them into brief essays and videos. By choosing from the menu on the media player, you can view these stories to gain a more personal understanding of what it means to have insurance when you need it most.

 

For more real life stories click here

Kathy Custead
Mark and Kathy Custead enjoyed a comfortable, middle-class lifestyle, but their financial obligations were considerable. So with their agent’s help, they completed a life insurance needs analysis, which showed that both needed to substantially increase their coverage. They each made life insurance purchases, something neither had done since their first child was born 17 years earlier. That spring, Mark was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and died five weeks later. Proceeds from his insurance helped to pay funeral expenses, medical bills and credit card debt, and have allowed Kathy to set aside money for the kids’ college costs.

Dennis Danduran
Jodie and Dennis Danduran decided to purchase life insurance shortly after adopting the first of their five children. Though Dennis was the primary breadwinner, they wisely determined that Jodie, a stay-at-home mom, also needed a considerable amount of coverage because of what it would cost to pay someone to perform all her functions. That planning* made all the difference when Jodie died suddenly of an aneurysm at 39. The insurance money has allowed Dennis to switch to a job that gives him more time to take care of the kids, and has also been used for living expenses and to set up college funds.

Ken Howell
After Ken Howell lost his business partner and longtime friend, Jeff Moses, in a small plane crash, he knew their automotive manufacturing company would be all right because of a smart business continuation plan. Life insurance policies funded a buy-sell agreement and the two remaining partners were able to take control of the company. Key person insurance on Jeff’s life provided the money needed to hire a new salesman to take over many of Jeff’s duties. As for Jeff’s family, they are financially secure because of money they received through the buy-sell agreement as well as life insurance Jeff owned individually.

Barry Shore
Barry Shore, a 55-year-old real estate executive, was enjoying a normal life when a rare neurological disorder struck suddenly, causing him to lose all movement in his body. Throughout his ordeal, money is one thing Barry and his family haven’t worried about thanks to smart insurance planning*. Disability insurance payments have replaced more than half of Barry’s income. And long-term care insurance has provided more than enough to pay for in-home care as well as physical, occupational and water therapy.