Category: Life

Secure your family’s future with expert advice on life insurance coverage and planning.

3 Ways to Set Your Child Up for Financial Success

As a parent, you want nothing but the best for your child. One of the most important gifts you can give your children is a secure and promising future. It’s never too early to start investing in their future, so here are three ways to set your child up for financial success: 

Life Insurance

Life insurance might not be the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about setting your child up for success, but it can provide an essential safety net. Securing life insurance for your child while they are young and healthy can lock in lower premium rates. This coverage can continue into adulthood, ensuring they have access to affordable protection as they embark on their journey toward success.

Life is unpredictable, and during unfortunate events, life insurance can help cover funeral expenses, medical bills, and more. Additionally, some life insurance policies have an investment component that can grow over time, providing a financial cushion for your child’s future.

College Funds

Investing in your child’s education is one of the most impactful ways to ensure their future success. The cost of education is a growing expense. Setting up a college fund can help you create a savings strategy to help your child during their college years. 

We offer a few options for college funds. For example, the 529 Plan is a tax-advantaged education savings plan in which you select options to invest in. These assets can then be used to pay for qualified education expenses at any eligible educational institution. Talk to your local OKFB agent about our financial services to get started. 

Estate Planning

Estate planning is a comprehensive approach to ensure that your child’s future is secure, no matter what life throws their way. This option involves preparing for various scenarios, including unforeseen incapacitation or unfortunate events, like a parent’s passing. During the process, your advisor may suggest you work with an attorney to draft important documents that will make decision-making easier for your loved ones. For example, determining financial and medical powers of attorney, guardianship documents to designate caretakers for your minor children and a will to outline what you’d like to have happen to your assets after your death.

Life is complicated and unpredictable, but taking steps now to set up your child for financial success can bring some peace of mind. Plan now for your child’s next phase in life by setting them up for success.

We’re Here to Help

Whether you’re a longtime policyholder or just starting to look for insurance options, we’re here to help. If you have questions or concerns that you want to discuss, connect with your local OKFB agent today. If you have any insurance-specific questions, we would love to help you find the coverage that best meets your home, auto, commercial and life insurance needs.

Don’t forget to follow us on social! This kind of information and more is just a click away. You can find us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

7 Life Insurance Terms You Need to Know

You probably already know that life insurance is a way to protect your loved ones financially if something happens to you. But do you know all the terms that go along with it? Don’t worry, we’re here for you. Keep reading as we break down seven life insurance terms that you should know about while considering your options.

Term life insurance

Term life insurance provides coverage for a specific period of time, usually 10-30 years or the number of years until you reach age 65. If you pass away during the term, your beneficiary will receive the death benefit. This option is perfect if you’re just starting out, raising your family or building your business.

Whole life insurance

Whole Life provides coverage for–you guessed it–your whole life, as long as you pay the premiums. It also accumulates a cash value over time, which can be borrowed against or used to pay premiums. This type of policy is typically more expensive, but it offers more long-term financial protection.

Universal life insurance

Universal Life insurance is similar to Whole Life, but offers more flexibility. You can adjust elements of the policy, such as premium payments and death benefits, as needed. This type of policy is often used as an investment vehicle, as the cash value can grow over time. Universal Life is a good option if you want to have life insurance and save for retirement at the same time.

Now that we’ve talked about the different types of life insurance, let’s dive into some more general terms.

Beneficiary

A beneficiary is the person (or people) who will receive the death benefit from your life insurance policy if you pass away. It’s important to designate a beneficiary so that your loved ones know who to contact and how to receive the funds.

Lump sum

When it comes to payout options, a lump sum is usually the default for most life insurance policies. This means that your beneficiary will receive the entire death benefit in one large payment. While this can be helpful for those who need the money immediately, it may not be the best option for everyone. Talk to your local OKFB agent to discuss payout options.

Retained asset account

A retained asset account is like a checking account for your beneficiary. Instead of receiving a lump sum payment, the insurance company holds onto the payout in an interest-accruing account. Your loved ones can then write checks from the account as needed. This option can be helpful if your beneficiary isn’t quite sure how to manage a large sum of money.

Pre-death benefits

Did you know that some life insurance policies allow you to access the death benefit while you’re still alive? Pre-death benefits, also known as accelerated death benefits, can help you pay for medical expenses or other costs associated with a terminal, chronic or critical illness.

While it may not be the most lighthearted topic, understanding these terms can help you make informed decisions about your financial future.

We’re Here to Help

Whether you’re shopping for life insurance or want to update your policies, we have agents who can help. If you have questions or concerns that you want to discuss, connect with your local OKFB agent today. If you have any insurance-specific questions, we would love to help you find the coverage that best meets your home, auto, commercial and life insurance needs.

Don’t forget to follow us on social! This kind of information and more is just a click away. You can find us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

3 Things to Consider Before Getting Married

Congratulations, lovebirds! You’ve found the one and are ready to embark on a new journey together as newlyweds. Marriage brings many changes, including combining your lives and everything that comes with them. While moving in together and honeymooning may be exciting, it’s important not to overlook the practicalities of managing your assets as a couple. Here are three things to consider as newlyweds, or even before you tie the knot.

Auto Insurance

If you don’t already own or share a car together, you might have different auto policies from different insurance companies. However, as a married couple, it’s typically best to combine your policies into one. Why? Because you’ll get the convenience of having one bill to pay, and you might qualify for discounts as a result, since a policy with more than one vehicle is often cheaper than separate policies. It’s a win-win situation!

Home or Renter’s Insurance

If you’re moving in together or buying a new home, it’s time to talk insurance. Make sure your home or renter’s policy covers both of you and your new shared assets. This can include your electronics, furniture and any other personal belongings. Don’t worry, our OKFB agents can help you assess your coverage needs and make sure you’re protected in the event of a loss. Need another reason to combine home policies? Getting married typically tends to lower your premiums, though savings will depend on your specific policy.

Life Insurance

It’s not the most romantic conversation, but it’s important to discuss life insurance. If something were to happen to one of you, it’s crucial to ensure the other has financial protection. A life insurance policy can provide financial support for funeral expenses, debt and income replacement. Plus, the younger and healthier you are when you purchase life insurance, the less expensive the policy will be. Consider getting a policy for your new or soon-to-be spouse. We offer three types of Life Insurance policies: Term Life, Whole Life and Universal Life. Talk to your local OKFB agent to see which option is best for you and your family.

Combining your policies and considering life insurance for your new or soon-to-be spouse are key to discuss as a newlyweds or before getting married. These are practical steps that can help you save money, protect your assets and ensure that you and your partner are financially secure in the long run. When it comes to insurance, you can trust OKFB Insurance to be your partner every step of the way.

We’re Here to Help

Whether you’re a long-time policyholder or just starting to look for insurance options, we have team members who can help. If you have questions or concerns that you want to discuss, connect with your local OKFB agent today. If you have any insurance-specific questions, we would love to help you find the coverage that best meets your home, auto, commercial and life insurance needs.

Don’t forget to follow us on social! This kind of information and more is just a click away. You can find us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

Top Insurance Questions Answered by Insurance Agents – Part 3

Insurance can be confusing and that’s why some of our agents took the time to answer a few of the most frequently asked questions. If you have any other questions or need additional clarification, please do not hesitate to reach out and contact your local OKFB agent today!

What is Insurance?

Insurance is a contract between you and a provider. You pay your premiums (typically monthly or annually) and an insurance company agrees to pay for your covered losses. It can help protect you from the financial consequences of unexpected events, such as car accidents, fires, or theft.

What Does Homeowners Insurance Cover?

Homeowners Insurance can help protect your home and possessions from damage or loss due to covered perils. This can include fire, windstorm, hail, water damage and theft. It also offers personal liability coverage. It can also help financially protect you if you are sued for causing property damage or someone is severely injured at your home.

What Does It Not Cover?

Every home policy is unique to each individual, location, cost of a home, and past credit history. To cover other aspects, you may need extended coverage. Have an open conversation with your agent about which parts of your policy may need to be expanded (i.e. by-laws, earthquakes, floods, etc.). However, typical wear and tear is not covered and should be maintained over time.

What Does Auto Insurance Cover?

Auto coverage can help financially protect you if you are in covered accident. It may cover damage to a car, as well as potential medical expenses and property damage incurred by you or other people involved in the accident.

Does a Small Business Need Insurance?

A business that is run through your home by one or two people might not need workers’ compensation insurance, but it could need more coverage than your average homeowner’s policy. Make sure to double-check your home liability and property policy to see whether you are financially covered. Be sure to stay in touch with your OKFB agent about your business coverage needs.

What is the Difference Between Term Life and Whole Life Insurance?

Term life insurance provides coverage for a specific period of time, such as 20 years. Whole life insurance provides coverage for your entire life. Term life typically has lower premiums than whole life, but it does not build cash value. Whole life typically has higher premiums than term life policies, but it builds cash value over time.

We hope you found these questions and answers helpful! If you have any other questions, please do not hesitate to connect with us. We would be happy to help you find the coverage that best meets your home, auto, commercial, and life insurance needs.  

Don’t forget to follow us on social media! This kind of information and more is just a click away. You can find us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.