With this in mind, lenders have protected themselves against catastrophic loss from natural events or acceleration with Home Owners Insurance and mortgage insurance. 

What protects your family if you become disabled and can't work or die prematurely during the years required to payoff the loan?  Statistically, this is more of a threat.  This is where Defensive Strategies become invaluable. 

As a Friends of Heroes affiliate in the triad and a fellow military veteran, it is my desire that you have the opportunity to inquire with no cost or obligation from an Independent Insurance professional what it will take to ensure your family continues to live in the Family Home for years to come, despite what may come ( Hell or High Water).

To make this a reality, I will take the time to counsel with you and / or your family, one on one, Face to Face, over coffee, to determine the most cost efficient way to achieve the protection goals you desire.

To access this benefit, please reply to jay@jaythurlow.com and in the subject line put "HERO".  I will contact you from that point.

Your Financial Defensive Coordinator,

Jay A. Thurlow

Insurance IQ: Life Insurance

Do you know the difference between Term and Whole life insurance? Permanent versus Variable policies? Make sure you understand the basics about life insurance.

We Are All That Stands Between The Monsters And The Weak

The sun beat like a hammer, not a cloud was in the sky.
The mid-day air ran thick with dust, my throat was parched and dry.
With microphone clutched tight in hand and cameraman in tow,
I ducked beneath a fallen roof, surprised to hear, "Stay low."

My eyes blinked several times before in shadow I could see,
The figure stretched across the rubble, steps away from me.
He wore a cloak of burlap strips, all shades of grey and brown,
That hung in tatters till he seemed to melt into the ground.

He never turned his head or took his eye from off the scope,
But pointed through the broken wall and down the rocky slope.
"About eight hundred yards," he said, his whispered words concise,
"Beneath the baggy jacket he is wearing a device."

A chill ran up my spine despite the swelter of the heat,
"You think he's gonna set it off along the crowded street?"
The sniper gave a weary sigh and said, "I wouldn't doubt it,"
"Unless there's something this old gun and I can do about it."

A thunderclap, a tongue of flame, the still abruptly shattered;
While citizens that walked the street were just as quickly scattered.
Till only one remained, a body crumpled on the ground,
The threat to oh, so many ended by a single round.

And yet the sniper had no cheer, no hint of any gloat,
Instead he pulled a logbook out and quietly he wrote.
"Hey, I could put you on TV, that shot was quite a story!"
But he surprised me once again — "I got no wish for glory."

"Are you for real?" I asked in awe, "You don't want fame or credit?"
He looked at me with saddened eyes and said, "You just don't get it.
You see that shot-up length of wall, the one without a door?
Before a mortar hit, it used to be a grocery store.

"But don't go thinking that to bomb a store is all that cruel,
The rubble just across the street — it used to be a school.
The little kids played soccer in the field out by the road."
His head hung low, "They never thought a car would just explode.

"As bad as all this is though, it could be a whole lot worse."
He swallowed hard, the words came from his mouth just like a curse.
"Today the fight's on foreign land, on streets that aren't my own,"
"I'm here today 'cause if I fail, the next fight's back at home."

"And I won't let my Safeway burn, my neighbors dead inside,
Don't wanna get a call from school that says my daughter died;
I pray that not a one of them will know the things I see,
Nor have the work of terrorists etched in their memory."

"So you can keep your trophies and your fleeting bit of fame,
I don't care if I make the news, or if they speak my name."
He glanced toward the camera and his brow began to knot,
"If you're looking for a story, why not give this one a shot."

"Just tell the truth of what you see, without the slant or spin;
That most of us are OK and we're coming home again.
And why not tell our folks back home about the good we've done,
How when they see Americans, the kids come at a run."

"You tell 'em what it means to folks here just to speak their mind,
Without the fear that tyranny is just a step behind;
Describe the desert miles they walk in their first chance to vote,
Or ask a soldier if he's proud, I'm sure you'll get a quote."

He turned and slid the rifle in a drag bag thickly padded,
Then looked again with eyes of steel as quietly he added;
"And maybe just remind the few, if ill of us they speak,
That we are all that stands between the monsters and the weak."

Michael Marks
Somewhere in Iraq
January 25, 2006

'Click to Enlarge'

          My clients drive my searches and most recently, the request has been for a safe alternative to CD’s purchased through a traditional or non traditional bank.  This intrigued me. 

Why the request?

www.Bankrate.com shows national average interest rates for CD’s on 2-22-12:

1 year CD .35% APY

2 year CD .53% APY

5 year CD 1.15% APY

IS this a GOOD investment? 

I cannot answer that for you, but inflation is normally calculated at 3%.  

IS there an option for Safe money other than the “Banks”? 

The answer may surprise you.  YES, there is an alternative to traditional bank CD’s for stable and reliable growth.  Insurance companies offer a product line that works similarly to a CD. 

Ah, but is it secure? 

Once Again, YES.  Bank products are typically secured by the FDIC.  A lesser known group called the NAIC (National Association of Insurance Commissioners), backs insurance products and provides protection for consumers against an insurer going insolvent.

What should I expect and with whom?

3 year MYGA (Multi Year Guarantee Annuity) at a minimum of  1.0%

5 year MYGA at 3.0% with an 8.0% GLWB (Guaranteed Lifetime Withdrawl Benefit).

These were exciting finds for me and my clients after the recent comments by the Federal Reserve, “rates will remain at this low level for the foreseeable future”. 

If you would like more information on options available to you while we are waiting on interest rates to come back to NORMAL, contact me directly at 336-971-7765 

It's simple.  In the absence of good data, stocks will go down until we all get to see what earnings are in July.  July earnings are 5 weeks away.  This means that the path of least resistance for the market is lower until we see whether or not earnings come in where we think they are going to.  If we have a bad earnings season…then we will all have to admit that our current political administration not only failed…but put us in a spending hole that will take a huge amount of time to work through.

Bottom line, to save this market, companies better come through in 5 weeks or this sell-off gets even worse.  At some point though, as long as earnings don't decline in a big way, the market will get too cheap and we'll have another rally.  Earnings are up dramatically from the bottom in Q1 2009.

If we can keep earnings in-line, then we'll make it through this and it's just a summer swoon.

That's the short version.

This is a person that I will gladly put you in touch with for the “Growth” part of your investment solution.

Please remember to Protect first and venture out with what can be lost.

Your Friend and Advisor,

Jay A. Thurlow

What are you doing to take control of your financial situation?  Leaving to the Investment advisors (Stock brokers)? 

NOT SMART!

Have a plan that capitalizes on volatile markets and you can sleep at night again!!

I have a solution, call or email to set an appointment for coffee 336-971-7765   or email me at jay@jaythurlow(dot)com

We have had some momentous occasions this year:

•    Passing of the Healthcare reform ENTITLEMENT act
•    Financial regulatory reform
•    Unprecedented spending in Washington and Raleigh
•    The Stealth Tax (inflation)

The markets are in a tailspin and more volatile than ever before.  I wonder why?

Nov 2, 2010 brought HOPE back to the capitals.   Will they continue to act like professional politicians, let’s hope not.

I do apologize about the morbid reality of this letter and would like to end this with a bright cheery smile.  I can’t.  

For many of you, the exposure to an already uncertain market is the thing of insomniacs nationwide. How do I protect my family from the Powers to be?

What steps can I take to reduce my exposure to practices without guarantees?

There are steps that can be taken and processes that can and will minimize the risk you are personally accepting.

The end of the year is the end of the Bush Tax cuts.  This will cost each of us more.  How much, remains to be seen.  

You rely on me to see reality and then present a solution that effectively avoids the financial negatives..  I take this responsibility seriously.

Planning for YOUR future is important.  This planning should begin with NOT losing the assets you have acquired over time.  Followed by growth.  How do you accomplish this?  

We need to talk.  Hopefully before the end of the year.

Call today to schedule as all schedules are pushed this time of year.
 

We are coming up on that “time of the year”, when people will gather, turkeys will be stuffed, and family planning decisions will be made.  Many are concerned with,

“What will happen when Mom and Dad……?”, and

“How do we take care of them while managing our already hectic Life?” 

Also,

“How do we deal with the continued rising cost of care?” and

“Will there be enough money to pay for it all?”

These are common, and very Real concerns that we all face at some time.  As a fellow member of the Sandwich Generation with similar concerns, I have been able to put together some answers.  They are available at www.jaythurlow.com or we can schedule a time to meet for coffee to discuss.  Thank you and don’t wait too late to begin.

A life review checklist is a must! And its complimentary! Just contact me today and I'll get one right out to you. Request yours Here or call 336-971-7765.