Get into the saving habit early. Money you begin accumulating now will one day help pay for your wedding or the down payment on your first home. You’ll also want to create an emergency fund equal to three to six months worth of basic living expenses. When you consider all the demands on your monthly budget, the thought of setting aside money for long-term savings probably seems quite daunting. Fortunately, you have time on your side and that’s very valuable. The power of compounding will really pay off one day. Just $25 a week set aside over 15 years builds a net egg of more than $31,000, assuming a 6% annual return.

If you haven’t already, you should immediately enroll in your company’s 401(k) retirement savings plan. This will probably be the primary source of your retirement savings, so you should start early. Some companies match employee contributions to these plans, so not participating is like turning down free money.

It may seem counterintuitive that “empty nesters” need life insurance after the kids have left home. But some retirees still have dependents, such as disabled adult children. Many empty nesters also still have financial obligations, such as the mortgage on a home or second home, that could become burdensome if a spouse dies or becomes disabled.

More importantly, if you died today, your spouse could outlive you by 10, 20 or even 30 years. Would your spouse have to make drastic lifestyle changes to make ends meet? Your death could reduce the Social Security benefits your spouse had been counting on. It also could bring on unplanned medical and funeral expenses and other costs. Life insurance coverage can preserve the retirement plan you worked so hard to put in place.

Life insurance also can ensure your estate will be passed on, intact, to your survivors. A policy’s death benefit can help foot the estate tax bill from Uncle Sam. It also can provide a legacy for your children and grandchildren even if you use up most of your assets during your lifetime. For all these reasons, if you’ve been thinking about dropping your coverage, you may want to reconsider.

But what if your retired or nearing retirement and you don’t have life insurance? You may think that you’ll no longer qualify due to your age or health conditions you may have. That’s not necessarily the case. Americans age 60 and older is among the fastest growing markets for life insurance purchases.

Even if you’re considerably older or coping with serious health challenges, there still may be an option for you. Final expense insurance is a form of life insurance that requires little or no underwriting, which means almost anyone can qualify. Policies are available in face amounts typically ranging from several thousands of dollars up to a maximum of $50,000 or $75,000 – much less than a standard life insurance policy. That’s because these policies are only intended to cover final expenses and not longer-range expenses like ongoing living costs or college or retirement funding.

 Final expense insurance typically comes in two varieties. Immediate full benefit policies, which pay the full face value upon your death, are generally available to people with no serious health concerns. Graded benefit policies provide limited benefits during the first few years and are available to people with serious health concerns. These policies can provide the peace of mind of knowing that your survivors won’t struggle to pay for your funeral or be saddled with outstanding medical bills and other debts.

 Long-term care insurance usually takes effect when you cannot perform at least two activities of daily living, such as bathing, eating or dressing. The cost of this insurance rises as you grow older. But if you do not have it and can afford it, you should consider it. The cost of home health care aid, an assisted living facility or a nursing home can quickly deplete your life’s savings. Medicaid, a government program, only kicks in once your assets are significantly depleted, and you may not get exactly the care you want through Medicaid.

 On the other hand, long-term care insurance isn’t right for everyone. If you have substantial assets and won’t be adversely impacted by the cost of long-term care, you won’t need the insurance. Or, if your assets are modest (less than $80,000 if you’re married, or $30,000 if you’re single) it’s probably not cost effective.

Many workers from our parents’ generation could count on a financially secure retirement thanks to a guaranteed lifetime pension from their employers. That’s no longer the case. Nowadays, workers must take responsibility for their own retirement. At this point you should have quite a bit of savings tucked away in a 401(k), and IRA or some other type tax-deferred retirement plan. If not, it’s not too late to get going. Most of these plans have a so-called “catch-up” provision that allows you to contribute extra money to your retirement plan. For example, the $15,500 maximum annual contribution to a 401(k) plan rises to $20,500 once you turn 50.

Make sure your retirement investments are well diversified in a broad mix of stocks and bonds. Many workers unwittingly allow their own company’s stock to take up a dangerously large portion of their retirement accounts. Companies often encourage this by offering their stock for sale to employees at a discount or by using it to match retirement plan contributions. But if you’re receiving a regular paycheck – not to mention health insurance and other benefits – from a company, a great deal of your personal financial security already rides on the fortunes of that firm. Don’t compound that risk by making its stock a large part of your retirement portfolio.

Now that your children are self-supporting, you may feel you no longer need the life insurance policy you bought when they were babies. But if you are like many families, you may have wiped out your savings to put your kids through college. Now you need to begin saving aggressively for retirement. Life insurance can be an important part of a retirement savings program.

At this point you may have 10 or 20 more years of an active working life left. These are likely to be the most productive and highest-earning years of your life. What would happen if you died suddenly? Your spouse, deprived of the benefits of your most productive years, could be forced to drastically cut back on his or her retirement plans. Life insurance proceeds, invested wisely, could provide your spouse a stream of income for several decades.

Life insurance can also ensure your spouse is not saddled with debts if you should die prematurely. In the past, a family’s home mortgage was largely paid down by the time the kids were in college. But nowadays many people have cashed out some or all of the equity from their homes to finance a better lifestyle or perhaps a second home. Life insurance can ensure that your spouse can continue to live in the style to which he or she has become accustomed.

The first step in establishing your financial security is to confront the biggest threats to it. That requires asking yourself some tough questions: What would happen if you or your spouse became sick or injured – or died? What if you lost your job? What if your home was seriously damaged in a storm or by fire? What if you were in a serious auto accident? All of these situations are potentially devastating to your family’s financial health. That’s where insurance comes in.

Life insurance can provide your family members the resources to maintain their lifestyle when you die. It can replace some or all of your income. It also can pay off debts and cover funeral costs. It can even help fund longer-range needs like college tuition or retirement. Don’t forget to insure your spouse as well, even if he or she doesn’t work outside the home. A stay-at-home parent provides vital household services that would be expensive to replace, like childcare, transportation and household chores.

Life insurance is a must for any young family, and disability insurance is no different. A young person is actually four times more likely to become disabled than to die. Disability insurance will replace a portion of your income if you are unable to work due to a disabling illness or injury. Why is that important? Think about how long you could make ends meet if your paycheck suddenly disappeared because of a disabling event. Surveys indicate that a large majority of workers wouldn’t make it more than a month before serious financial sacrifices would have to be made. Many larger companies and some smaller ones offer some disability coverage to employees through a group plan. If you need more, it may make sense to buy additional coverage through your employer’s group plan, if it is available. Buying your own disability insurance policy outside of work is another option worth considering. Unlike group coverage, privately owned insurance stays with you even when you change jobs.

Health insurance is also a must. Most Americans have health coverage through their employer’s group plan. If your spouse also works, choose the plan that provides the highest level of family coverage. If you don’t have health insurance through work, look into to buying an individual policy for you and your family. It’s generally more expensive than group coverage and may create a strain on your family budget, but it’s the only thing that will shield you from the catastrophic costs associated with major surgical procedures and hard-to-manage chronic medical conditions.

If you borrow money to buy your home or auto, the lender will require you to purchase at least some insurance to protect your investment. In addition, state laws require drivers to have liability insurance as well. But don’t assume the minimum required level of home and auto insurance is enough. Consider adding inflation protection to your homeowners insurance so the policy will continue to cover your home’s replacement value in the future. And make sure the liability coverage in your homeowners and auto policies is enough to protect you in all contingencies.

‘Tis the season for holiday get-togethers with food, friendship, fun and alcohol. If you do consume alcoholic beverages, make sure you have a designated driver. Even in low doses (one to two drinks), alcohol lowers inhibitions, impairs concentration, slows reflexes, impairs reaction time and reduces coordination.

According to the National Commission Against Drunk Driving (NCADD), over 17,000 Americans die each year in alcohol-related traffic crashes; that averages out to about one person every 30 minutes. Even if you are not involved in an alcohol related crash, you can still be pulled over and convicted of driving under the influence (DUI). State laws and punishments vary for a DUI conviction, but consequences with your insurance company are pretty standard.

“When your insurer finds out about a DUI conviction, they will most likely increase your rates and might even cancel or not renew your policy,” says Cindy Steinbach, Mayville Insurance Agency. “You will be labeled a high-risk driver and most likely have to file proof of insurance or financial responsibility for three to five years with your state’s department of motor vehicles.”

Steinbach continues, “If your insurer cancels your insurance mid-term or terminates the policy at the end of the term, you will have to purchase insurance from another company. This can be difficult to do once you have a cancellation in your history. However, many insurers don’t use the DUI as the only criteria for raising your rates or cancelling your policy. Some will also consider your claim history before making a decision. But your fate is in the insurer’s hands.”

“The best way to protect yourself is to never drink and drive,” says Steinbach. “Always use a designated driver and you won’t have to deal with any of the unpleasant consequences of a DUI or worse yet, a crash.”

When purchasing life insurance, there are many variables to consider including which type of life insurance is right for you: term or whole life. Term insurance can protect your family’s finances; providing money for college and/or living expenses for minor children. Some financial planners recommend you buy term life insurance for the cheaper premium, and then invest the money left over in mutual funds or other investments. Others advocate whole life insurance policies with cash value components because they force you to save money.

“When you purchase a whole life policy, the money you invest is then re-invested in stocks, bonds, and mutual funds that increase or decrease in value based on their performance,” says Paul Backhaus, Mayville Insurance Agency. “Any partial withdrawals or loans will reduce your death benefit. Each year you own the policy, more of your premium goes to insuring you and less goes toward the investment.”

Backhaus continues, “Term life insurance covers you for a set period of time. The term can be as short as one year or as long as 30 years. Term life insurance protects loved ones by covering specific debt and protecting family finances. Insurance companies usually require a basic medical exam that covers your height, weight, medical history, and blood and urine testing before issuing life insurance. The results of the tests could affect your premium, or even your ability to buy a policy.”

Those with preexisting medical conditions or that engage in risky activities, such as smoking or drag racing, will pay a higher premium. Older individuals also pay higher premiums because the likelihood they will die sooner increases with age. Those having difficulty finding life insurance due to illness or medical history can purchase guaranteed issue life insurance, which requires no medical exam, but typically has higher premiums and yearly fees.

If you know how to shop for insurance, you could save hundreds of dollars on premiums. Here are ways you can save money on your next life insurance purchase:

• Have your professional independent agent shop around to find the best rate to fit your needs.

• Improve your health. Eat right, exercise and quit activities like smoking. If you do have a preexisting medical condition, such as diabetes, show that you take your medication regularly and act responsibly about your health.

 • If you need more life insurance, a “rider” may let you expand your coverage without sacrificing the built-up cash value of a whole life policy.

 • Don’t buy a guaranteed issue policy if you are healthy.

 • Buy life insurance early in life. You’re annual premiums will be lower.

 • Maintain good credit. If there are problems with your credit, you could be denied coverage or be placed in a higher risk class.

 • Save money by the way you’re billed. Some insurers charge less if you pay annually and more if you pay monthly.

 To determine how much life insurance to buy or if your needs have changed since purchasing a policy, meet with your professional independent agent at least once a year. They will be able to find the best rate on the coverage you need and will be able to answer any questions you may have about your policy.

With the arrival of warmer temperatures, Wisconsinites begin to make weekend trips to enjoy the many lakes and rivers our state has to offer. But in all of their preparations, boaters often overlook reviewing their boating insurance because they assume they are covered.

•

Boat insurance is only required if a boat is 24 feet or longer. It is recommended to have coverage on any size boat.

•

Boat insurance covers you anywhere you go boating in the continental U.S. Some policies only cover the boat when it is on the waters it is most frequently used or limit coverage to within 100 nautical miles of a home port.

•

Your boat will be covered if you store it outside. Most policies say it has to be fully

Many claims situations are not covered by standard homeowners policy endorsements such as: lost or stolen fishing equipment or personal belongings or your boat is destroyed and the wreckage needs to be removed..

•

Drinking and boating penalties are less than drinking and driving. The penalties for drinking and boating are just as stiff as they are for drinking and driving.

To ensure that your boat is properly covered, review your coverage with your professional independent agent.

• more than half of homeowners polled think damage from a break in the water line on their property supplying their home is covered

•over a third of home owners think sewer-line breaks, earthquakes and mold are covered, and

•over 30 percent think damage from termites or other infestation is covered.

“It is important for homeowners to fully understand the policy they are buying,” says Cindy Steinbach, Mayville Insurance Agency. “Typical exclusions from homeowners policies include earth movement, water damage, neglect, war, nuclear action and mold. If you aren’t sure if you are covered in a specific scenario, explain it to your professional independent agent. They will be able to tell you whether or not you are covered.”

Steinbach continues, “A typical homeowners policy will cover fire, theft, liability, vandalism and smoke damage. Damage from some natural disasters like windstorms, hail, and lightning also may be covered. With the summer storm season approaching, this is a great time to review your policy with your professional independent agent. They can help you determine whether or not your current level of coverage is adequate.”

According to the American Council of Life Insurers, one third of all Americans between the ages 35 and 65 will become disabled for more than 90 days. 46 percent of all mortgage foreclosures in the U.S. are caused by disability, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Although people tend to associate “accidents” with disability, you can become disabled through a disease such as cancer or other long-term illnesses.

So why do only 15 percent of U.S. workers carry disability insurance? Many consider disability insurance to be too expensive or assume they won’t need it because “it won’t happen to them.” This is a dangerous assumption.

“Disability insurance replaces a portion of your income if you become disabled and are no longer able to work,” says Paul Backhaus, Mayville Insurance Agency. “Many employers provide disability insurance in the form of a group plan. A typical group plan replaces up to 60% of your regular salary and has limits on the amount of time it will pay benefits.”

“You can also choose to purchase an individual plan, either as your primary disability insurance if your employer doesn’t offer a group plan or to supplement another policy,” says Backhaus. “An individual plan will allow you to insure another 10% to 20% of your income and the amount that you receive is not offset by any other benefits you may receive, such as Social Security.”

There are two types of disability insurance: short term disability and long term disability. Short-term disability insurance starts soon after you’re unable to work due to an illness, injury or the birth of a child. Many employers provide some type of coverage, ranging from just a few days to as much as one year. Long-term disability insurance begins once your short-term disability benefits run out.

“Purchasing disability insurance can be confusing,” says Backhaus. “Pricing varies based on your age, gender, amount of coverage, health status and even your occupation. Your professional independent agent can help you decide what type and amount of coverage will best protect you and your family.”