Contributed by Kathy Post, Agent Post Insurance & Financial

Part 4 of a 4 Part Series on Life Insurance

St. Lucie County, FL - As Life Insurance Awareness Month comes to a close, I wanted to share first-hand the benefits of life insurance. Not from me, but from Jill McCarthy - a survivor. Her tragic story demonstrates the importance of proper insurance planning, and is provided as a public service of the nonprofit LIFE Foundation.

Jill's Story
Jill McCarthy and her husband Bob, a 37-year-old delivery truck driver, were in the process of buying a home. Each of them owned a small life insurance policy. But Jill knew the hardships that could befall a family and was determined to obtain additional protection.

The McCarthys wanted to drop their current coverage and purchase two larger life insurance policies. Her agent encouraged her not to drop her old policies, and certainly not until the new ones were in effect. Jill will always remember that advice.

One week later, Bob's delivery truck rolled and hit a guardrail, killing him instantly. Jill was devastated and obviously concerned about her family's future. She had four children and barely enough money in the bank to pay the funeral expenses. Jill also didn't know if the new insurance policy was in force. She had only signed an enrollment form electing to have a payroll deduction of the premium.

When her agent heard the tragic news, he called to reassure her that the life insurance company would pay the insurance money simply based on the signed receipt for the payroll deduction. He called the insurance company's president and explained the immediacy of the situation. Three days later, Jill received a check. Her agent also helped her receive payment from the original life policy he hadher hold on to.

Today, Jill is back on her feet. She was able to buy a house and pay off her mortgage. Owning her home adds security to herself and her children. "If it wasn't for the life insurance and our agent we wouldn't have a roof over our heads," said Jill. "I know the value of insurance, it keeps a family together."

How would you manage?
There's no way that Jill or any family suffering a death can anticipate the challenges they'll face. As much as we'd like to think that "it'll never happen to me," the reality is that none of us knows what the future holds. Smart insurance planning prevents emotional struggles from being compounded by financial hardship.

To see Jill's video or other stories like hers, visit the Life Insurance Foundation website at www.lifehappens.org/reallifestories/life-insurance-for-individuals/. I hope you'll take this opportunity to talk with your family about how you would manage financially if faced with similar challenges. If you've got an unmet need for insurance, then call your agent today to discuss it. Your family's financial future is too important to leave to chance.

About Life Insurance Awareness Month
Held each September, Life Insurance Awareness Month is an industry-wide effort that is coordinated by the nonprofit Life and Health Insurance Foundation for Education (LIFE). The campaign was created in response to growing concern about the large number of Americans who lack adequate life insurance protection. For more information on life insurance, visit LIFE's website at www.lifehappens.org.

This article is provided as a courtesy of Agent/Owner Kathy Post of Post Insurance & Financial, Inc. Founded in 1979, Post Insurance is a Trusted Choice agency serving St. Lucie County for almost 30 years. They are a team of professionals who understand the complexities of insurance but explain it to customers in 'plain old English.' They offer home, auto, business, and life insurance and are located in St. Lucie West. The agency is open from Monday through Friday, 8:30 - 5:00, but customers can request quotes 24/7 on their website at www.InsurewithPost.com.

This article is for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace your policy contract language. For information on your specific insurance needs or situations, please contact your insurance agent or Post Insurance at 772-878-8184 or info@insurewithpost.com

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