Where did 2016 go? It seems like it was summer yesterday and Easter was last week. I hope you and your family had a great finish to 2016. Now, the first weeks of 2017 are speeding by.

Hopefully, you’ve established a few goals for this year. I’ve learned a great tip regarding resolutions. First, write them down. It’s not too late if you haven’t already done this. Commit your goals to paper and post it someplace you will see it often. Writing down a goal is the first step towards achieving it. I don’t know exactly how this works, but I’ve heard stories of the success this simple task can bring. Whether your goal is to exercise more, give more to charity, read more or watch less television, you’re more likely to accomplish it if
you write it down.

Second, resolve to have an expert look at your finances. I recommend that you have a team of experts help you, and I should be among the first you sit with. Schedule some time to visit with me, your professional Knights of Columbus insurance agent, and I’ll provide an “insurance check-up” (at no cost!) that will quickly
identify any gaps in your family’s life insurance program. And you’ll want to fill those gaps now, not later. Unlike many other products, you don’t just need money to obtain life insurance; you also need good health, and no one knows when your health could change.

Did I mention my check-up is free of charge? When was the last time you received something for free that could be providing value to you and your family for generations? Call me today.

Fraternally,
C. Philip De Leon (CA License #OK63623)
(916) 607-1645
philip.deleon@kofc.org
www.philbetterinsured.com

The initial reaction for many people when you mention life insurance as a gift is a quick step back and a questioning stare. How morbid, they may think quietly or aloud. While it may seem that way when you first mention it, life insurance is a really thoughtful gift that can be a financial life preserver in tough times.

The problem with life insurance is the general perception. Many think of life insurance only in cases where someone dies. Life insurance should, in fact, be thought of as a precautionary protective measure for a family unit. The purchase of this product can mean saving your home, sending your children to college, and preserving your spouse’s quality of life in the event of your death.

One of the times you may want to purchase life insurance for someone is when a family has a new baby. It’s a great, low-cost way to set money aside for the future (i.e. college tuition, housing, business start-up, etc.). Of greater importance, it ensures these children will have insurance as adults, in case an illness later in life makes him or her uninsurable.

Newlyweds are also ideal recipients for life insurance. As they join their lives and financial responsibilities, young couples need to make sure that their early investments are fully protected. If something were to happen to one of them, the other may be faced with serious financial hardship. A life insurance policy is an ideal way to ensure their future and protect their assets.

As nontraditional as it may be, life insurance is a wise and caring gift to purchase for many people. To learn more about our various life insurance products, contact me today.

Fraternally,
C. Philip De Leon (CA License #OK63623)
(916) 607-1645
philip.deleon@kofc.org
www.philbetterinsured.com

As parents, we worry about our children and do everything we can to protect them. We try to raise them right and make sure they are prepared to become adults. But have you ever thought about buying life insurance for your child?

When you insure a child, you are protecting his or her future. Did you know that one out of every six adults get rated, postponed, or denied for insurance coverage? If you purchase a policy for your child from the Knights of Columbus with a guaranteed purchase option (GPO), it guarantees that more insurance can be purchased for that child at certain set dates, without proving evidence of insurability.

Unfortunately, as fathers we don’t have a crystal ball, and we don’t know what the future may have in store for our children’s health. But did you know that right now you can purchase a child’s policy, in many cases, for less than $10 a month?

I’ve heard it said that people don’t want to “profit” from the death of a child, so they won’t purchase coverage on their children. God forbid something tragic happens.

But, with Christmas around the corner that policy can also be a wonderful gift. It can be used as investment to help fund your child’s future college tuition or help with the down payment of your child’s first home when they become a young adult. Those funds can also come in handy at a time when finances will be the last thing on a parent’s mind. I have never heard a story about someone who regretted buying coverage on their child. Contact me today to discuss the many policy options for children and youths, including 10- and 20-Pay life insurance.

Fraternally,
C. Philip De Leon (CA License #OK63623)
(916) 607-1645
philip.deleon@kofc.org
www.philbetterinsured.com

Concerned about a comfortable and worry-free retirement? In addition to our traditional Flexible Premium Annuity, the Knights of Columbus offers the VANTAGE Single Premium Deferred Annuity, and it may be part of the answer for you.

With a single deposit of $25,000 or more, the VANTAGE allows you to lock-in a guaranteed interest rate for five years. In addition, there are several attractive renewal options once the five-year period has expired, including keeping the funds in another VANTAGE Annuity, placing them in a more traditional flexible premium annuity where the interest rate can be changed on a quarterly or more frequent basis or — in the 30-day period prior to the fifth and tenth policy anniversaries — withdrawing the funds without a surrender charge.

The VANTAGE Annuity, along with our Flexible Premium Annuity, provides the guarantees that Knights of Columbus members have come to expect — guaranteed interest rates along with absolute safety of principal. In addition, we can easily accommodate rollovers and transfers free of charge.

I will be happy to meet with you at your convenience — in your home — to discuss with you in detail how the Knights of Columbus can help you to secure the comfortable, worry-free retirement you want and deserve.

Fraternally,
Philip De Leon (CA License #OK63623)
(916) 607-1645
philip.deleon@kofc.org
www.philbetterinsured.com

You know the old saying, “The grass seems greener on the other side of the fence,” but we all know that it rarely is. The same holds true when it comes to replacing your existing Knights of Columbus life insurance with coverage offered by another company. Perceptions are deceiving. A move to the “greener” grass on the other side of the fence might seem like a good one, but it can leave you with less green in your wallet — in some cases, a lot less. That’s why it pays to remember another old adage, “Read the fine print.”

There are many reasons to keep your existing coverage in force, whether that coverage is with the Knights of Columbus or with another company. I’ll focus on the potential pitfalls of replacing coverage here — pitfalls that an agent trying to convince you that the grass actually is greener might neglect to mention.

First, all life insurance contracts contain a contestability period, which allows the insurer to contest claims made for a period — typically two years — after the contract is issued. Chances are this is no longer an issue with your current coverage.

Second, it’s unlikely that you can obtain the same amount of coverage, for the same premium, that you were able to obtain with your existing contract. The two factors that determine how much you’ll need to pay for life insurance coverage are age and health. Certainly, you’re older now than you were when you took out your current coverage. There’s no way around that. And you have to ask yourself, has your health changed during that time? Is your blood pressure the same? Your cholesterol? Have you gained weight? All these factors can affect the amount of coverage you’ll get for your premium dollar.

If someone encourages you to replace — or worse, drop — your existing coverage, please call me. I’ll show you how your existing coverage is working for you and why replacement is rarely in your best interest.

Fraternally,
Philip De Leon (CA License #OK63623)
(916) 607-1645
philip.deleon@kofc.org
www.philbetterinsured.com

One of the biggest mistakes you can make regarding disability insurance is to assume you can’t afford it or you won’t qualify. Before you make that assumption, do some basic research and apply for coverage through the Knights of Columbus. The Order’s Income Armor product gives you options that can help you fit this critical protection into your risk management budget.

For example, here are two ways you can reduce your premium:

Choose a two-year or five-year maximum benefit period.
Depending on your age, the best option is probably a policy that pays benefits until you reach age 67. But a two-year or five-year maximum benefit period would cover many types of partial or total disabilities you might encounter in your working life.

Choose a longer elimination period.
An elimination period is the number of days a total disability must exist before benefits begin to accrue. Typical elimination periods are 30, 90, or 180 days. Choosing a longer elimination period lowers the policy’s premium. But be sure you have enough set aside in your business’s contingency fund to account for the longer gap.

As your professional insurance agent, running a small business and the challenges of risk management are two of my specialties. Let’s talk about how to protect your business income, your retirement needs, and your family’s financial future.

Fraternally,
Philip De Leon
(916) 607-1645
philip.deleon@kofc.org
www.philbetterinsured.com