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Independent Life & Annuity Agent · Michigan

Protection for your family. Income for your retirement.

I'm Mckenzi Bassage. Because I'm independent, I can quote 11 top-rated carriers and bring you the two or three that actually fit. Plain answers, no sales pressure, and nothing it costs you to ask.

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Free 30-minute call · No obligation · No sales pressure

  • Independent, not captive
  • 11 top-rated carriers
  • Licensed in 4 states
  • NPN 22226132
Mckenzi Bassage, licensed life insurance and annuity agent

Mckenzi Bassage

Licensed Life & Annuity Agent · NPN 22226132

Contracted with 11 top-rated carriers, including

Independent means you get choices.

No single company decides what you're offered. I price the same coverage with every carrier I'm contracted with and show you where the differences actually are.

0carriers
quoted on every case
0states
where I'm licensed
0min
free call, no obligation
$0
cost to you, ever

How it works

What happens when you work with me?

Three steps, no jargon, and nothing you have to decide on the first call.

STEP 01

Tell me what you're protecting

One short call is enough. I ask about your family, what you want the money to do, and what fits your budget each month.

STEP 02

I run your numbers with 11 carriers

Every company I carry gets a look, including how each one underwrites your health. You get back the two or three that fit, in plain words.

STEP 03

You pick. I do the paperwork.

Application, underwriting, chasing the carrier: I handle all of it. And I'm still your agent long after the policy is issued.

What I offer

Life insurance and annuities.

Nine ways to protect the people who depend on you, or turn savings into income you can't outlive. Tap any one to see how it works.

Book a Free Call

Term Life Insurance

The most protection your dollar can buy.

Term life covers you for a set number of years, usually 10, 20, or 30, at a price locked in for the whole stretch. If you die during those years, your family receives a tax-free check they can put toward the mortgage, the monthly bills, or college.

Best for: Parents with kids still at home, homeowners carrying a loan, and anyone who wants the largest benefit for the smallest payment.

Common questions

What does term life cost each month?
A healthy 35-year-old can often lock in $500,000 of 20-year coverage for less than the cost of dinner out. Your price comes down to age, health, and how much coverage you want. I quote all 11 of my carriers so you see the real range instead of one company's number.
What happens when the term runs out?
You usually have two choices: renew it year by year at a higher price, or convert it to permanent coverage with no new health questions. I set the length up front so it ends around the time the mortgage and the college bills do.
Will I have to take a medical exam?
Often, no. Several of my carriers approve healthy applicants on an application and a phone interview alone. I tell you before you apply which companies can skip the exam for someone your age and health.
How much coverage should I buy?
A quick rule is 10 to 12 times what you earn in a year, plus whatever is left on the mortgage. I would rather build that number from your actual bills and goals than hand you a multiplier and call it done.
Is term better than whole life?
They do different jobs. Term buys the biggest benefit for the least money, but it ends. Whole life costs more and never ends. Plenty of families own both: a large term policy for the working years and a small permanent one for everything after.

Term Life Insurance

Wondering whether this fits you?

Book a free 30-minute call. I'll compare your options across 11 carriers and give you straight answers. No forms, no pressure.

Book a Free Call

Prefer to talk now? Call or text (517) 607-8087

Whole Life Insurance

Coverage with an expiration date of never.

Whole life stays in force your entire life. The premium is set on day one, the death benefit is guaranteed, and part of every payment builds cash value you can borrow against down the road.

Best for: People who want coverage that can't run out, a guaranteed savings piece alongside it, or a clean way to leave money behind.

Common questions

Is whole life worth the higher premium?
It depends on the job you need it to do. If you want money there no matter when you pass, plus cash value you can tap along the way, whole life earns its cost. If you only need coverage for the next 20 years, term is cheaper. I price both and let you compare.
Can I take money out of the policy?
Yes. Once cash value builds up you can borrow against it without a credit check and usually without a tax bill. There is no fixed repayment schedule, though anything you don't pay back comes out of the death benefit.
How does the cash value build?
A slice of each premium goes into an account earning a guaranteed rate, and it grows tax-deferred. Several of my carriers pay dividends on top of that, though dividends are never guaranteed. The early years are slow; the later years are where it adds up.
Can my premium go up later?
No. With a traditional whole life policy, the payment you start with is the payment you keep, no matter how old you get or what happens to your health.
Can I own term and whole life at the same time?
Yes, and it is often the smartest setup. A large term policy carries the mortgage-and-kids years while a smaller whole life policy handles final costs and whatever you want to pass on.

Whole Life Insurance

Wondering whether this fits you?

Book a free 30-minute call. I'll compare your options across 11 carriers and give you straight answers. No forms, no pressure.

Book a Free Call

Prefer to talk now? Call or text (517) 607-8087

Indexed Universal Life (IUL)

Permanent coverage that can grow with the market.

An indexed universal life policy pays a death benefit for life and holds cash value that earns interest based on an index such as the S&P 500. When the index falls, the interest credited is zero rather than negative.

Best for: Higher earners who already max out a 401(k) and an IRA, business owners, and families who want another tax-friendly bucket for retirement.

Common questions

How does an IUL actually earn money?
The carrier credits interest based on how the index moves, up to a cap, with a floor that is usually zero. You get part of the good years and none of the bad ones. How the policy is built matters far more than most people expect.
Could I lose money in an IUL?
Your credited interest won't go negative, but the policy still charges fees and the cost of insurance every month. Underfund it and the value can shrink. That's why I walk you through the whole illustration, worst-case column included, before you sign anything.
Can an IUL help with retirement?
For the right person, yes. A well-funded policy can hand you tax-free income later through loans, with no market losses credited to your account. It only works if you can fund it steadily for years, so I say so plainly when someone's budget says otherwise.
How is an IUL different from a 401(k)?
A 401(k) is pre-tax money invested straight in the market. An IUL is life insurance whose cash value tracks an index, with a floor and tax-free access through loans. They pair well together, and an IUL is never a reason to skip your employer match.
What if I stop paying the premium?
The policy pulls its monthly charges from the cash value. With enough built up it can carry itself for a while; with too little it lapses. I review every IUL I write once a year so nobody gets a surprise letter.

Indexed Universal Life

Wondering whether this fits you?

Book a free 30-minute call. I'll compare your options across 11 carriers and give you straight answers. No forms, no pressure.

Book a Free Call

Prefer to talk now? Call or text (517) 607-8087

Fixed Annuities

A guaranteed rate you can count on.

A fixed annuity works a lot like a bank CD, except an insurance carrier issues it. You put money in, the company guarantees an interest rate for a set number of years, and the growth is tax-deferred until you take it out.

Best for: Savers who want a guaranteed rate, retirees protecting principal, and anyone parking a 401(k) or IRA rollover somewhere steady.

Common questions

Is my money safe in a fixed annuity?
The guarantee is backed by the company that issues it, which is exactly why its financial rating matters. I place business only with highly rated carriers, and I show you the ratings before you decide anything.
Can I move my 401(k) or IRA into an annuity?
Yes. Qualified money can usually roll over without triggering a tax bill. Whether it should depends on when you'll need the income and how much risk you're comfortable carrying. That's a conversation, not a pitch.
How much income will it pay me?
That depends on your deposit, your age, when income starts, and the payout option you pick. Rather than quote averages at you, I pull the actual numbers from my carriers and lay them side by side.
What happens to the money when I die?
With most contracts, whatever is left goes straight to the people you name and skips probate. If leaving money to your kids is the priority, we choose a payout option that guarantees it.
When can I take money out?
Most contracts let you withdraw 10 percent a year during the surrender period and everything once it ends. Pulling money before age 59 and a half can trigger a 10 percent IRS penalty, so timing is part of the plan.

Fixed Annuities

Wondering whether this fits you?

Book a free 30-minute call. I'll compare your options across 11 carriers and give you straight answers. No forms, no pressure.

Book a Free Call

Prefer to talk now? Call or text (517) 607-8087

Fixed Indexed Annuities (FIA)

Index growth without the down years.

A fixed indexed annuity credits interest based on how an index performs, and it never credits less than zero. Your principal and the gains you have already locked in stay put when the market drops. Many contracts add an income rider you can switch on later.

Best for: Savers roughly 10 to 15 years from retirement who want growth but can't afford to lose what they've already built.

Common questions

How is an FIA different from a variable annuity?
A variable annuity puts your money directly in the market, so it can lose value. An FIA credits interest tied to an index while your principal stays protected. The fees on an FIA are usually lower too.
What are the downsides?
Your growth is capped, so you won't catch a full bull market. And pulling out more than the free amount during the surrender years costs you a charge. These suit money you can leave alone for five to ten years, so I check that against your plans first.
How does the interest get credited?
Each contract year the carrier looks at an index such as the S&P 500. If it rose, you're credited up to a cap or a share of the gain. If it fell, you're credited zero. Once interest is credited it locks in and cannot be taken back.
Is my principal really protected?
Yes, from market losses. Your deposit and your locked-in gains are protected by contract and backed by the issuing carrier. It's another reason I stay with highly rated companies and hand you the ratings first.
Who should skip an FIA?
Anyone who might need the whole balance in the next few years, anyone chasing maximum market upside, and anyone who hasn't built an emergency fund yet. If that's you, I'll say so and point you somewhere better suited.

Fixed Indexed Annuities

Wondering whether this fits you?

Book a free 30-minute call. I'll compare your options across 11 carriers and give you straight answers. No forms, no pressure.

Book a Free Call

Prefer to talk now? Call or text (517) 607-8087

Final Expense Insurance

So the funeral bill never lands on your kids.

Final expense is a small whole life policy, usually somewhere between $5,000 and $50,000. It's built to cover the funeral, the last medical bills, and small debts. Approval is simple, the premium never rises, and the coverage never expires.

Best for: Seniors, anyone on a fixed income, and people with health conditions who've been turned down for larger policies.

Common questions

Can I qualify with health problems?
Usually yes. Most of these policies ask a handful of health questions and skip the exam entirely. Even with serious conditions there are guaranteed-issue options. I start with the strongest plan your health can qualify for and work down from there.
What does a funeral actually cost?
A burial service in the United States commonly runs $8,000 to $10,000 before you add the cemetery plot. Sizing a policy to what you actually want means nobody has to find that money inside of a week.
What will it cost me per month?
Most of my clients land somewhere between $30 and $90 a month based on age, health, and coverage amount. The same person can be quoted very differently by two companies, which is exactly why I check several.
Is there a waiting period?
If your health qualifies you for level coverage, you're protected from day one. Guaranteed-issue plans that ask no health questions usually wait two to three years. I always try for day-one coverage first.
How is this different from regular life insurance?
It's the same idea in a smaller package: a permanent policy with simple approval, meant for end-of-life costs rather than replacing decades of income.

Final Expense Insurance

Wondering whether this fits you?

Book a free 30-minute call. I'll compare your options across 11 carriers and give you straight answers. No forms, no pressure.

Book a Free Call

Prefer to talk now? Call or text (517) 607-8087

Mortgage Protection

The house stays in the family.

Mortgage protection is life insurance sized to your loan and timed to your payoff date. If you die, your family gets the money to keep the house. Many of these policies can also pay out if a serious illness or a disability stops your paycheck.

Best for: New homeowners, anyone who just refinanced, and households where one income covers the mortgage payment.

Common questions

Is this the same as what my lender offered?
No, and the difference matters. Lender coverage usually pays the bank and shrinks as your balance drops. What I write pays your family directly, they decide what to do with it, and the benefit doesn't have to shrink.
I already have term life. Do I need this too?
Maybe not. A term policy that's big enough already does this job. Send me what you have and I'll tell you honestly whether you're covered. A fair number of people already are.
How much should I get?
Enough to clear the loan is the floor. Many families add a year of household bills on top so the surviving spouse isn't forced into a fast decision. We build the number from your actual loan and budget.
Does it cover disability or losing my job?
Many policies can add riders that pay if you become disabled or are diagnosed with a critical illness. Job loss coverage is rare. I'll show you which riders your carrier options include and what each one adds to the premium.
What does it cost?
For someone in good health it usually prices close to regular term life. Age, health, loan size, and riders all move the number, and companies price this one very differently, so comparing really pays here.

Mortgage Protection

Wondering whether this fits you?

Book a free 30-minute call. I'll compare your options across 11 carriers and give you straight answers. No forms, no pressure.

Book a Free Call

Prefer to talk now? Call or text (517) 607-8087

Retirement Income Planning

Turn savings into a paycheck.

Social Security rarely covers everything. I help you take part of what you've saved and turn it into income that arrives every month for as long as you live, using annuities whose guarantees I can show you in writing before you commit.

Best for: People within ten years of retiring, anyone holding a 401(k) from an old job, and retirees who want a floor under the monthly budget.

Common questions

When should I start planning for income?
Most people get the most out of it in the ten years before they retire, while there's still time to position money. It's worth a look at any age, though. If you're better off leaving things exactly as they are, I'll say so.
How much of my savings should be guaranteed?
A common approach is to cover your fixed bills, housing, food, insurance, and utilities, with guaranteed income, then leave the rest invested for growth and emergencies. There's no single right percentage, so we start from your actual monthly budget.
What should I do with an old 401(k)?
Money sitting in a former employer's plan can usually be rolled over without a tax bill. Whether it should move depends on the fees you're paying now and what you need that money to do later.
Will inflation eat my income?
It can, which is why some contracts offer increasing income options and why I rarely suggest putting everything in one place. We plan around prices going up instead of pretending they won't.
What does this planning cost me?
Nothing. The carrier pays me if you decide to move forward, and that doesn't come out of your deposit. If the right answer is to do nothing at all, that advice is free too.

Retirement Income Planning

Wondering whether this fits you?

Book a free 30-minute call. I'll compare your options across 11 carriers and give you straight answers. No forms, no pressure.

Book a Free Call

Prefer to talk now? Call or text (517) 607-8087

Living Benefits Coverage

Life insurance that can pay you early.

Most modern life policies can include riders that let you take part of the death benefit while you're still living if you're diagnosed with a critical, chronic, or terminal illness. It's the same policy protecting your family, doing double duty.

Best for: Anyone buying life insurance who also worries about what a heart attack, a stroke, or a cancer diagnosis would do to the household budget.

Common questions

What counts as a critical illness?
Every carrier writes its own list, though heart attack, stroke, cancer, and major organ failure appear on nearly all of them. I read you the actual list from your policy before you buy, because the wording is what pays, not the brochure.
Do these riders cost extra?
Several of my carriers build them in at no added premium. Others charge for them. Because I'm independent I can set those versions next to each other and show you what the difference actually buys.
How is the money paid out?
As a lump sum you can spend on anything: the mortgage, treatment your health plan won't cover, or replacing the income you lose while you recover. Nobody tells you how to use it.
Does using it reduce what my family gets?
Yes. Anything you take early comes out of the death benefit, which is why we size the policy with that possibility in mind rather than treating the rider as free money.
Can I add this to a policy I already own?
Sometimes, though it usually means applying for new coverage. Send me your current policy and I'll tell you whether adding a rider or replacing it makes more sense, even when the answer is to keep exactly what you have.

Living Benefits Coverage

Wondering whether this fits you?

Book a free 30-minute call. I'll compare your options across 11 carriers and give you straight answers. No forms, no pressure.

Book a Free Call

Prefer to talk now? Call or text (517) 607-8087

Who you'll be working with

Who is Mckenzi Bassage?

Portrait of Mckenzi Bassage, licensed life insurance and annuity agent

11

carriers I shop for you

I'm Mckenzi Bassage, and I own Integrity Solutions Agency. Being independent means no company gets to tell me what to sell you. I work with families on two things: life insurance that protects the people counting on them, and annuities that turn savings into income they can't outlive. My job is to lay out the options in plain words and let you decide without anyone leaning on you.

I'm based in Michigan and licensed in Alabama, California, Michigan, and North Carolina. Most of my clients and I never meet in person, since a phone call or a Zoom is usually all it takes.

Licenses & qualifications

  • Licensed in: Alabama, California, Michigan, North Carolina
  • National Producer Number: 22226132
  • Independent agency, not tied to one company
  • Contracted with 11 top-rated carriers

Why clients choose me

  • Every carrier I carry gets quoted, not just one
  • Straight answers, and nobody pressures you
  • Quick quotes and a process I walk you through
  • I'm still your agent after the policy is issued

What clients are saying

What do clients say?

A few notes from people I've helped sort this out.

“She lined up several companies for me and never once pushed. I actually understand my policy now, and I am paying less than I was.”

Maria S.

Term life client

“Patient and completely straight with me. She told me one of the products I asked about was not right for my situation. That is when I knew I could trust her.”

David R.

IUL & annuity client

“One short call and my family was covered. No pressure at any point. I have already sent two friends her way.”

Angela T.

Final expense client

Zero pressure. Ever.

Book a Free Consultation

Pick a time that suits you. Bring your questions and we'll walk through the options together. If I'm not the right fit for what you need, I'll say so and point you somewhere better.

Free 30-minute call

Grab whichever time suits you

Take any open slot below. It's free, there's no obligation, and we can do it by phone or on Zoom.

Prefer to talk right now? Call or text (517) 607-8087

Good questions

Frequently asked questions

Choose a topic. Plain answers, no jargon.

Does it cost anything to work with you?
No. The carrier you choose pays me, and your premium is exactly what it would be if you had gone straight to the company. What you get for free is someone comparing 11 of them instead of selling you one.
How fast can I be covered?
Some no-exam policies come back approved within a few days, occasionally the same day. Fully underwritten policies usually take two to six weeks. On our first call I can tell you which path fits your health and your timeline.
Do I have to take a medical exam?
Often not. Many of my carriers approve healthy applicants with no exam at all. When one is required it's free, takes about twenty minutes, and someone comes to your home to do it.
I have life insurance at work. Is that enough?
It's a good start, and it usually disappears the day you change jobs. Most group plans also cap out around one or two times your salary. A policy you own follows you anywhere. Send me what you have and I'll tell you honestly whether you already have enough.
Where are you licensed?
I'm licensed in Alabama, California, Michigan, and North Carolina, and I'm based in Michigan. Nearly everything we do happens by phone or on Zoom, so where you sit inside those states makes no difference.
What does term life cost each month?
A healthy 35-year-old can often lock in $500,000 of 20-year coverage for less than the cost of dinner out. Your price comes down to age, health, and how much coverage you want. I quote all 11 of my carriers so you see the real range instead of one company's number.
What happens when the term runs out?
You usually have two choices: renew it year by year at a higher price, or convert it to permanent coverage with no new health questions. I set the length up front so it ends around the time the mortgage and the college bills do.
Will I have to take a medical exam?
Often, no. Several of my carriers approve healthy applicants on an application and a phone interview alone. I tell you before you apply which companies can skip the exam for someone your age and health.
How much coverage should I buy?
A quick rule is 10 to 12 times what you earn in a year, plus whatever is left on the mortgage. I would rather build that number from your actual bills and goals than hand you a multiplier and call it done.
Is term better than whole life?
They do different jobs. Term buys the biggest benefit for the least money, but it ends. Whole life costs more and never ends. Plenty of families own both: a large term policy for the working years and a small permanent one for everything after.
Is whole life worth the higher premium?
It depends on the job you need it to do. If you want money there no matter when you pass, plus cash value you can tap along the way, whole life earns its cost. If you only need coverage for the next 20 years, term is cheaper. I price both and let you compare.
Can I take money out of the policy?
Yes. Once cash value builds up you can borrow against it without a credit check and usually without a tax bill. There is no fixed repayment schedule, though anything you don't pay back comes out of the death benefit.
How does the cash value build?
A slice of each premium goes into an account earning a guaranteed rate, and it grows tax-deferred. Several of my carriers pay dividends on top of that, though dividends are never guaranteed. The early years are slow; the later years are where it adds up.
Can my premium go up later?
No. With a traditional whole life policy, the payment you start with is the payment you keep, no matter how old you get or what happens to your health.
Can I own term and whole life at the same time?
Yes, and it is often the smartest setup. A large term policy carries the mortgage-and-kids years while a smaller whole life policy handles final costs and whatever you want to pass on.
How does an IUL actually earn money?
The carrier credits interest based on how the index moves, up to a cap, with a floor that is usually zero. You get part of the good years and none of the bad ones. How the policy is built matters far more than most people expect.
Could I lose money in an IUL?
Your credited interest won't go negative, but the policy still charges fees and the cost of insurance every month. Underfund it and the value can shrink. That's why I walk you through the whole illustration, worst-case column included, before you sign anything.
Can an IUL help with retirement?
For the right person, yes. A well-funded policy can hand you tax-free income later through loans, with no market losses credited to your account. It only works if you can fund it steadily for years, so I say so plainly when someone's budget says otherwise.
How is an IUL different from a 401(k)?
A 401(k) is pre-tax money invested straight in the market. An IUL is life insurance whose cash value tracks an index, with a floor and tax-free access through loans. They pair well together, and an IUL is never a reason to skip your employer match.
What if I stop paying the premium?
The policy pulls its monthly charges from the cash value. With enough built up it can carry itself for a while; with too little it lapses. I review every IUL I write once a year so nobody gets a surprise letter.
Is my money safe in a fixed annuity?
The guarantee is backed by the company that issues it, which is exactly why its financial rating matters. I place business only with highly rated carriers, and I show you the ratings before you decide anything.
Can I move my 401(k) or IRA into an annuity?
Yes. Qualified money can usually roll over without triggering a tax bill. Whether it should depends on when you'll need the income and how much risk you're comfortable carrying. That's a conversation, not a pitch.
How much income will it pay me?
That depends on your deposit, your age, when income starts, and the payout option you pick. Rather than quote averages at you, I pull the actual numbers from my carriers and lay them side by side.
What happens to the money when I die?
With most contracts, whatever is left goes straight to the people you name and skips probate. If leaving money to your kids is the priority, we choose a payout option that guarantees it.
When can I take money out?
Most contracts let you withdraw 10 percent a year during the surrender period and everything once it ends. Pulling money before age 59 and a half can trigger a 10 percent IRS penalty, so timing is part of the plan.
How is an FIA different from a variable annuity?
A variable annuity puts your money directly in the market, so it can lose value. An FIA credits interest tied to an index while your principal stays protected. The fees on an FIA are usually lower too.
What are the downsides?
Your growth is capped, so you won't catch a full bull market. And pulling out more than the free amount during the surrender years costs you a charge. These suit money you can leave alone for five to ten years, so I check that against your plans first.
How does the interest get credited?
Each contract year the carrier looks at an index such as the S&P 500. If it rose, you're credited up to a cap or a share of the gain. If it fell, you're credited zero. Once interest is credited it locks in and cannot be taken back.
Is my principal really protected?
Yes, from market losses. Your deposit and your locked-in gains are protected by contract and backed by the issuing carrier. It's another reason I stay with highly rated companies and hand you the ratings first.
Who should skip an FIA?
Anyone who might need the whole balance in the next few years, anyone chasing maximum market upside, and anyone who hasn't built an emergency fund yet. If that's you, I'll say so and point you somewhere better suited.
Can I qualify with health problems?
Usually yes. Most of these policies ask a handful of health questions and skip the exam entirely. Even with serious conditions there are guaranteed-issue options. I start with the strongest plan your health can qualify for and work down from there.
What does a funeral actually cost?
A burial service in the United States commonly runs $8,000 to $10,000 before you add the cemetery plot. Sizing a policy to what you actually want means nobody has to find that money inside of a week.
What will it cost me per month?
Most of my clients land somewhere between $30 and $90 a month based on age, health, and coverage amount. The same person can be quoted very differently by two companies, which is exactly why I check several.
Is there a waiting period?
If your health qualifies you for level coverage, you're protected from day one. Guaranteed-issue plans that ask no health questions usually wait two to three years. I always try for day-one coverage first.
How is this different from regular life insurance?
It's the same idea in a smaller package: a permanent policy with simple approval, meant for end-of-life costs rather than replacing decades of income.
Is this the same as what my lender offered?
No, and the difference matters. Lender coverage usually pays the bank and shrinks as your balance drops. What I write pays your family directly, they decide what to do with it, and the benefit doesn't have to shrink.
I already have term life. Do I need this too?
Maybe not. A term policy that's big enough already does this job. Send me what you have and I'll tell you honestly whether you're covered. A fair number of people already are.
How much should I get?
Enough to clear the loan is the floor. Many families add a year of household bills on top so the surviving spouse isn't forced into a fast decision. We build the number from your actual loan and budget.
Does it cover disability or losing my job?
Many policies can add riders that pay if you become disabled or are diagnosed with a critical illness. Job loss coverage is rare. I'll show you which riders your carrier options include and what each one adds to the premium.
What does it cost?
For someone in good health it usually prices close to regular term life. Age, health, loan size, and riders all move the number, and companies price this one very differently, so comparing really pays here.
When should I start planning for income?
Most people get the most out of it in the ten years before they retire, while there's still time to position money. It's worth a look at any age, though. If you're better off leaving things exactly as they are, I'll say so.
How much of my savings should be guaranteed?
A common approach is to cover your fixed bills, housing, food, insurance, and utilities, with guaranteed income, then leave the rest invested for growth and emergencies. There's no single right percentage, so we start from your actual monthly budget.
What should I do with an old 401(k)?
Money sitting in a former employer's plan can usually be rolled over without a tax bill. Whether it should move depends on the fees you're paying now and what you need that money to do later.
Will inflation eat my income?
It can, which is why some contracts offer increasing income options and why I rarely suggest putting everything in one place. We plan around prices going up instead of pretending they won't.
What does this planning cost me?
Nothing. The carrier pays me if you decide to move forward, and that doesn't come out of your deposit. If the right answer is to do nothing at all, that advice is free too.
What counts as a critical illness?
Every carrier writes its own list, though heart attack, stroke, cancer, and major organ failure appear on nearly all of them. I read you the actual list from your policy before you buy, because the wording is what pays, not the brochure.
Do these riders cost extra?
Several of my carriers build them in at no added premium. Others charge for them. Because I'm independent I can set those versions next to each other and show you what the difference actually buys.
How is the money paid out?
As a lump sum you can spend on anything: the mortgage, treatment your health plan won't cover, or replacing the income you lose while you recover. Nobody tells you how to use it.
Does using it reduce what my family gets?
Yes. Anything you take early comes out of the death benefit, which is why we size the policy with that possibility in mind rather than treating the rider as free money.
Can I add this to a policy I already own?
Sometimes, though it usually means applying for new coverage. Send me your current policy and I'll tell you whether adding a rider or replacing it makes more sense, even when the answer is to keep exactly what you have.

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