Universal life insurance: Security with flexibility

Life insurance is a great option for people who want to enhance their financial security. Universal life insurance takes this security a step further by generally allowing you to modify your premium payments and death benefits, subject to certain limitations. A universal life policy is similar to other types of permanent life insurance in that it can accumulate tax deferred cash value. As the policy owner, you can generally borrow against any cash value while the policy is still active, or collect any cash value in full – less any surrender fee and outstanding policy loans – if you decide to end the policy. Unlike other types of life insurance, a universal life policy offers added flexibility that allows you to adjust your premium payment and death benefit, with certain limitations. As you become more financially secure, you can make additional premium payments that can increase the cash value of the policy. These additional payments are subject to maximum amounts set by law. If your financial situation becomes less stable, you may be able to temporarily lower or stop payments as long as the policy has enough surrender value to pay the monthly insurance deduction, loan interest and policy fees. Premium payments are subject to minimum requirements provided in the policy. Some universal life insurance policies also include an “adjustable death benefit,” which generally allows you to change the death benefit amount – up or down – without having to issue a new policy. Increases may be subject to insurability. You will not be able to decrease the benefit below the minimum policy size and certain decreases may have adverse tax consequences. If you are interested in learning more about universal life insurance, sit down with an agent you trust to determine if it’s a product that’s right for you. Visit www.amfam.com to find a Life Needs Calculator to determine individual life insurance coverage needs and to learn more about Simply Protected Term life insurance and the entire portfolio of life insurance products offered by American Family Life Insurance Company, a member of the American Family Insurance Group. ____________________________________________________________________________________ Todd Stanley has been an agent for American Family Life Insurance Company since 2011. His office is located at 2500 Glenn Ave., #45, Sioux City, Iowa. Todd can be contacted at 712-274-1045 to learn more about the entire portfolio of life insurance products offered by American Family Life Insurance Company, a member of the American Family Insurance Group, home office Madison, Wis., 53783. Some products are not available in all states

Whole life insurance: Security with cash value

A certain peace of mind comes with knowing that you’ve taken steps to help protect your loved ones’ financial future. While all types of life insurance can give you this sense of comfort, whole life insurance offers permanence that allows you to plan ahead. Most whole life policies contain several important features: a level death benefit and level premium payments, which means the amount you pay doesn’t change. A whole life policy also may accumulate tax deferred cash value over time. The major differences between term and whole life insurance are the length of coverage, premium and cash-value components. A term life policy provides coverage for a fixed period of time, with premium payments that increase gradually as you get older, and does not accumulate cash value. Subject to policy limitations, you may be able to borrow against the cash value of your whole life policy. You can also collect any cash value in full – less any surrender fee and outstanding policy loans – if you decide to end the policy. With a level premium and growing cash value, whole life insurance is an option worth considering for people who value those features. Interested persons should contact an insurance agent they trust to learn if it’s an option that will work for them. Visit www.amfam.com to find a Life Needs Calculator to determine individual life insurance coverage needs and to learn more about Simply Protected Term life insurance and the entire portfolio of life insurance products offered by American Family Life Insurance Company, a member of the American Family Insurance Group. ____________________________________________________________________________________ Todd Stanley has been an agent for American Family Life Insurance Company since 2011. His office is located at 2500 Glenn Ave., #45, Sioux City, Iowa. Todd can be contacted at 712-274-1045 to learn more about the entire portfolio of life insurance products offered by American Family Life Insurance Company, a member of the American Family Insurance Group, home office Madison, Wis., 53783. Some products are not available in all states

Proud to be an Insurance Agent

Every September 11th the nation pauses in remembrance of the tragedy that occurred in 2001. Every year my family and I pause for that moment of silence too. This year is a little different for me. This year I realized that I am part of an industry that has made a real difference for victim’s families. Not only for this tragedy by tragedies in general. I feel proud knowing that I work in an industry that can have a great impact on peoples’ lives. I know that if or when tragedy strikes for one of my clients, I will be there. I can offer them the reassurance that their family can go on, because of the power of life insurance.

Term life insurance: A popular choice for many

People often don’t look at the complete picture of life insurance until something big happens. By that time, however, it may be too late. Term life insurance is an excellent option for people who can’t afford permanent life insurance or need life insurance for a limited period of time. A term life policy lasts for a fixed period of time, from one to 30 years or longer. It’s often purchased to provide funds for financial obligations, such as a mortgage or child’s tuition, in case the insured dies. An advantage of a term life policy is that its initial premiums are typically less expensive than other types of life insurance. This may be ideal for young families who want additional coverage for expenses such as childcare in the event one or both of the parents pass away. Depending on your reasons for purchasing term life insurance, you can choose either a level or decreasing death benefit. A level death benefit provides the same amount of coverage for the entire policy period. If you select a decreasing death benefit, your amount of insurance will go down over the length of the policy. Term life insurance is often renewable, subject to limitations in the policy, although the premiums will likely increase to compensate for the higher age of the policy owner. Some term policies may also be converted to whole life or universal life insurance. Unlike whole life or universal life policies, term life insurance does not accumulate cash value. I will talk more about whole life and universal life insurance in my next two columns. Visit www.amfam.com to find a Life Needs Calculator to determine individual life insurance coverage needs and to learn more about Simply Protected Term life insurance and the entire portfolio of life insurance products offered by American Family Life Insurance Company, a member of the American Family Insurance Group. ____________________________________________________________________________________ Todd Stanley has been an agent for American Family Life Insurance Company since 2011. His office is located at 2500 Glenn Ave., #45, Sioux City, Iowa. Todd can be contacted at 712-274-1045 to learn more about the entire portfolio of life insurance products offered by American Family Life Insurance Company, a member of the American Family Insurance Group, home office Madison, Wis., 53783. Some products are not available in all states

Life insurance 101: The right coverage depends on your personal circumstances

Understandably, the subject of life insurance can be difficult to discuss. Like developing a will or designating a guardian for our children, it centers on the idea that we are no longer here to enjoy and care for our loved ones. No amount of life insurance can replace the emotional support we give the special people in our lives. However, it can provide them an income they can use to continue – and grow – in their lives. Consumers can select from a variety of life insurance policies and providers. Three common options are term life insurance, whole life insurance and universal life insurance. Term life insurance can offer coverage from one year to 30 years or longer, and is often purchased to provide funds for financial obligations such as a mortgage or a child’s tuition in the event the policyowner dies. A term policy contains no cash accumulation features. Whole life insurance generally provides coverage throughout a person’s life with level premium payments, as well as a level death benefit. Unlike term insurance, a whole life policy may gradually accumulate a cash value, which you may be able to borrow against while the policy is still active or cash in upon surrender of the policy. Universal life insurance offers more flexibility than whole life insurance. It allows policyowners to increase premium payments, subject to certain limits, which may increase the cash value of the policy. The death benefit may also be increased subject to continued insurability. Selecting life insurance protection that’s right for your situation is a deeply personal decision. Your loved ones’ immediate and future expenses, the income that will be lost if you die, and the amount of premium you can afford to pay are several of the factors that need to be considered. In the next three columns, I’ll address the term, whole life and universal life options in more detail. Visit www.amfam.com to find a Life Needs Calculator to determine individual life insurance coverage needs and to learn more about SimplyProtected Term life insurance and the entire portfolio of life insurance products offered by American Family Life Insurance Company, a member of the American Family Insurance Group. ____________________________________________________________________________________ Todd Stanley has been an agent for American Family Life Insurance Company since 2011. His office is located at 2500 Glenn Ave., #45, Sioux City, Iowa. Todd can be contacted at 712-274-1045 to learn more about the entire portfolio of life insurance products offered by American Family Life Insurance Company, a member of the American Family Insurance Group, home office Madison, Wis., 53783. Some products are not available in all states