While recruiting, I am confronted with the question “Is the KofC a Secret Society?” The answer is a firm “NO”. Secret Societies of the past did not allow their members to be actively visible to the general public. Their membership roles, charters, and rules were privileged to members only. Almost all activities were limited to members and held in secret.
Does that sound like the Knights of Columbus? NO!

We are a “Benefit Society”! The primary mission of the Knights of Columbus is to “protect widows and orphans”, openly support the Catholic Church and her values, enthusiastically assist our parish priest, and actively evangelize within our families and communities. As members, we are asked to wear our name badges or Colombian Lapel Pin at public events, volunteer as Knights around our parishes and within the community, invest our time and talent to recruit new members from the ranks of Catholic men (ages 18 or older), defend our principles of faith, respect our priest and the religious brothers and sisters, go to meetings, and whenever possible utilize the Insurance Program. No secrets here, though some people treat the Life Insurance Program as a secret to the extent that they avoid a FREE service.

Do you know exactly what kind of Life Insurance you have and how it works? Do you know if it can be “converted”? Will the premiums go up in the future? If the stock market plunges again or inflation “takes off” will your policy keep up with the times? Can your family afford not to have life insurance? Are you taking advantage of the “Riders” you paid for? Do you know the advantages and disadvantages between a Group Policy, a Term Policy, a Whole Life Policy, a Universal Life Policy, a Key Person Policy, a Survivorship Policy; the list goes on and on. When you bought your last policy, did you fully understand the difference between Guaranteed Values and Non-guaranteed Values with respect to the independent rankings by Standard and Poor’s or AM Best?

Let me provide a free pair of eyes to give you a second opinion and explain what you have. That is better than “no eye’dia” or I think…

Fraternally, Your Brother and Field Agent,
Marco Manrique
CA LIC 0I39878, FA16570
(707) 301-1783
marco.manrique@kofc.org

Knights of Columbus Insurance – “Your Shield for Life”

Many of our brother Knights and their wives have Term Life Insurance from the Knights of Columbus. They found value and security in this form of Insurance because they needed a substantial amount of financial protection if they die too young. Term Policies are mainly used to fund mortgage protection, college nest eggs, retirement savings, child care, and lost income if a family member dies too early. As you can see, most of these needs will probably be reduced as a family grows older and the children leave the home to begin their own lives. Because most Term Life Insurance has limits to the length of time the premiums will remain the same and they will always terminate at a certain age, you can’t rely on them for your “golden years”.

Note: The underwriting for Term Policies that approach age 70, 75, or 80 is very strict and if you qualify, statistically, you will probably outlive the policy. In most cases, Term Policies are not meant to be in force after age 70, 75, or 80 depending on the company. As a comparison, a Term Policy with a termination age of 80 will be substantially more expensive than a policy with a termination age of 70 and the death benefits may contractually change the older you get. (Decreasing Term Insurance) It is easy to conclude, living too long can strip you of the extra protection provided by Term policies.

Upon retirement, one may still owe on a remaining mortgage, a few college loans from the kids, and needs to provide a funeral. Also, your estate might need some extra cash upon your death to pay taxes and provide a smooth transfer of assets to your beneficiaries. Because of this shift in needs as you grow older, having a Permanent Cash Value Whole Life Insurance strategy from the Knights of Columbus will become more important because it will be with you regardless of your age. Buying a Whole Life policy when you are younger is always the best option but there are other avenues available. Here’s one.

Most members are unaware that members who have Knights of Columbus Term Policies and who are less than 64½ years of age have the opportunity to “Convert” some or all of your Term Policy to a Whole Life Policy without medical inquiry. The premium will be determined by your age at conversion, your tobacco status, and riders you transfer to the new policy. Your health rating will not be changed from the original policy unless you ask for a lower rating due to improved health. On the other hand, if your health has deteriorated since the Term Policy was issued, you can be automatically accepted at the original rating and no additional costs will be associated with your poorer health status. As a result, you can maintain some or all of your coverage past age 70 when all KofC Term Policies contractually terminate. As a result, we have brothers and their spouses who will convert a small amount of Term Coverage (minimum of $15,000) each year so the family budget is not “thrown out of whack”. It is a strategy that makes sense for those who know they will need coverage into their “golden years”.

Fraternally, Your Brother and Field Agent,
Marco Manrique
CA LIC 0I39878, FA16570
(707) 301-1783
marco.manrique@kofc.org

I always wonder why our insured members are so loyal to the Knights of Columbus Insurance Program and many of our Associate Members “run for the hills” when the insurance program is mentioned. I understand some of the reasons to “run” can be as simple as your age or medical condition, but the Insurance Program is not only about life insurance for the members.
How about your wife, your children under 18, or business protection, or estate protection, or retirement, or Long Term Care issues? To become an Insured Member, all you need is a one time $300 deposit into an annuity. This is an insurance company’s version of a savings account. In all cases, your money is guaranteed by the Knights of Columbus. Whatever money you invest in the Knights of Columbus does assist other Catholic families that are experiencing a financial loss due to death, disability, unemployment, retirement, and illness.
The virtues of Charity, Unity, and Fraternity are played out by being an Insured Member. Join our ranks today. To contact me with regards to any of your insurance needs, please call my office or send an e-mail. Fraternally, Your Brother and Field Agent,
Marco Manrique
CA LIC 0I39878, FA16570
(707) 301-1783
marco.manrique@kofc.org

As a member of this council, you know how important spouses can be to the charitable works of the Order. If you’re married, your wife is probably involved in a few of the many events that happen each fraternal year. This support adds great value and impact to what a council can
achieve.

When the Order was founded in 1882, Father Michael J. McGivney and the other brave men were setting out to protect Catholic families, but especially wives and children. We know today this is done through our insurance products which are designed with that goal in mind. One specific policy rider that you may not know about is called Spousal Waiver of Premium. This rider is unique to the Knights of Columbus
philosophy of helping our widows.

This rider is available on most permanent and Discoverer plans purchased at standard rates by a member and his wife on the same day. When both spouses apply, the rider provides for waiver of premiums on the spouse’s contract in the event of the insured’s death. Best of all, for members and spouses ages 18 to 60, this waiver can be added for no charge. The rider stays in effect until the spouse attains age 65 or certain other triggering events occur.

Our products are designed with your needs and budget in mind. With a solid portfolio of life insurance, long-term care, disability income and retirement products, the Knights of Columbus can help you meet all of your financial goals. To learn more about these solutions, contact me today.

Marco Manrique, CA LIC 0I39878
(707) 301-1783
marco.manrique@kofc.org

It seems like it was summer yesterday and Easter was last week. I hope you and your family had a great finish to 2013. Now, the first quarter of 2014 is 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.

Marco Manrique
CA LIC 0I39878
(707) 301-1783
marco.manrique@kofc.org

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.

Marco Manrique
CA LIC 0I39878
(707) 301-1783
marco.manrique@kofc.org