Larry Cook

Author's details

Name: Larry Cook
Date registered: May 24, 2013
URL: http://www.cookandcookassociates.com/

Latest posts

  1. First Comes Love, Then Comes Insurance? — June 18, 2014
  2. Costs to Consider in Retirement — September 20, 2013
  3. Retirement Planning Should Include Social Security Claiming Decision Strategy — August 30, 2013
  4. Safety Net Concerns? — August 16, 2013
  5. A Fixed Index Annuity Can Help Reduce Your Risk — August 9, 2013

Author's posts listings

First Comes Love, Then Comes Insurance?

Bridal bouquet close up and blurred newlywedsAs unpredictable as life may seem, if you step back and look at the big picture, you’ll see it tends to flow in an orderly fashion. You’re born, go to school, find a job, get married, have children, and so on.

In many ways, your insurance needs follow an equally predictable path. In fact, they tend to change in lockstep with many common life events:

Marriage: When you’re just starting out, your primary financial concern is usually income replacement. Since you haven’t had much time to save, term life insurance can be an affordable first step for many newlyweds.

Adding a child: As your family grows, so do your responsibilities. Not only do you have more mouths to feed, but a host of future expenses – such as college – to consider. Permanent life insurance can address both needs by giving you dependable, lasting protection, plus the growth potential of cash value.

Changing careers: When you switch jobs, chances are any life insurance you had through your employer will come to an end. Buying an individual policy before you leave will eliminate any gap in coverage, and give you the freedom to take your coverage with you wherever you go.

Transition to retirement: There are many reasons to add permanent life insurance prior to retirement. Not only are you likely to lose your employer-sponsored coverage (see above) but you can also use the cash value to help pay retirement expenses. Having life insurance at the time of retirement may also allow you to enjoy the higher monthly payments of a single life pension (since your spouse will have a death benefit to live on after you are gone).

Creation of an estate: In addition to paying final expenses and eliminating outstanding debts, life insurance can help you leave behind a substantial legacy. Even if you have no other assets, your death benefit is a tax-free give that can make a real difference to your loved ones – or favorite charity.

If you are about to experience these common or major life events, please give me (Larry Cook) a call at 858-361-0734 for assistance you may require. That way you can make sure that your life – and life insurance are headed in the same direction.

Larry Cook specializes in life, health, disability and long term care insurance planning for individuals, families and businesses. Larry has an ability to offer multiple types of insurance coverage from many different insurance companies. Larry’s motto is to tailor the insurance plan to the individual’s needs, preferences, and budget.

“There is no need to shop, we shop for you.”

Permanent link to this article: http://www.cookandcookassociates.com/2014/06/18/first-comes-love-then-comes-insurance/

Costs to Consider in Retirement

Calculate CostsHave you considered how much some basic needs will cost you in retirement, such as health care?  Did you know that a 65-year-old couple that retired in 2012 need about $240,000 to cover medical expenses throughout retirement?

The rising cost of health care in the United States has become one of the primary risks to a financially secure retirement.  Health care costs are expected to continue increasing faster than inflation.

Costs to consider include:

  • Long-term care services:  How will you pay for any needed long-term care services?  Do you have long-term care insurance?
  • Health Care Costs: Do you know what your out-of-pocket health-care costs might be after you retire?  Are you aware that Medicare, while it covers man health-care costs, has significant limitations?  Are you familiar with the various types of insurance that can help pay health and long-term care costs not covered by Medicare?
  • Life Expectancy: In 2011, men reaching age 65 had an average additional life expectancy of 17.3 years, while woman reaching age 65 could expect to live an additional 20.0 years on average.
  • About one-third of individuals who turned 65 in 2010 will need at least three months of nursing home care, 24% will need more than a year, and 9% more than five years.
  • The average daily rate in 2012 for a private room in a nursing home was $248.
  • The average length of a nursing home stay is 835 days.
  • At an average daily rate of $248, an average nursing home stay of 835 days currently costs over $207,000.

Concerned about potential costs in your retirement?  Consider contacting Cook & Cook Associates for a complimentary Retirement Planning consultation.

Permanent link to this article: http://www.cookandcookassociates.com/2013/09/20/costs-to-consider-in-retirement/

Retirement Planning Should Include Social Security Claiming Decision Strategy

Social Security - Yes or noWhen to take Social Security Benefits can affect a client’s financial bottom line.  When you elect Social Security is one of the most important decisions you will make in your retirement life.  When you claim benefits will impact the amount of income you receive, the amount of taxes you will pay, and how you utilize your other retirement assets.

A financial advisor can help you develop a strategy to maximize your benefits.  The importance of having a strategy and making an informed decision is critical as once you claim, your benefits become permanent after twelve months; there are no “do-over’s”.

Permanent link to this article: http://www.cookandcookassociates.com/2013/08/30/retirement-planning-should-include-social-security-claiming-decision-strategy/

Safety Net Concerns?

Safety Net ConcernsMany consumers have expressed concerns about the safety of entitlement programs.  Some have expressed concerns about the future of social security.  There are concerns about future funding for social security and the call by some politicians for means testing as a way to reduce social security payments.

Clients can address these concerns by creating a backup plan.  One strategy that clients can employ is to utilize life insurance to address a shortfall in benefits if a future full means test excludes them from having the benefits they thought they would have.  Life insurance can contribute to a family’s financial security regardless of what happens to entitlement programs in the future.

Permanent link to this article: http://www.cookandcookassociates.com/2013/08/16/safety-net-concerns/

A Fixed Index Annuity Can Help Reduce Your Risk

Reduce RiskThough investors have been getting great returns with bonds, and more recently with equities, one should always consider looming investment risks.

What happens if inflation goes up?
What happens if stocks decline or interest rates rise? 

As a protection from market volatility and inflation or interest rate risk, rebalancing into a fixed indexed annuity might be the answer to reduce these risks.  Fixed indexed annuities reduce interest rate risk, lower volatility, and provide better inflation protection than cash.  Most clients nearing retirement need to reduce market volatility.  Annuity cash value offers growth potential linked to a market index with no downside risk.

Permanent link to this article: http://www.cookandcookassociates.com/2013/08/09/a-fixed-index-annuity-can-help-reduce-your-risk/

Baby Boomer Aftermath

Couple holding hands.Financial Planning is more important than ever for the 78.2 million people labeled “baby boomers” (those born between 1946 and 1964). Part of the reason is we have a lot of Baby Boomers who are dealing with aging parents. In addition, those same boomers have lived through two huge setbacks in the stock market the last 12 years. Finally, boomers are concerned about the consequences of living longer and the resulting reality that they will likely live longer without a continuing employment based source of income. Utilizing the services of a trusted insurance & financial advisor can help boomers prepare for & navigate their future financial life in a positive way.

Permanent link to this article: http://www.cookandcookassociates.com/2013/06/20/baby-boomer-aftermath/

Retirement Catch-Up

Seascape and cloudscape from water villa in Maldives

Have you turned 50? Are your retirement savings going to be insufficient when you retire? Individuals age 50 and over are allowed to make “catch-up” contributions to their 401(k) or IRA accounts in addition to their regular contributions.

Call me for details.

(We do not provide tax or legal advice).

Permanent link to this article: http://www.cookandcookassociates.com/2012/12/02/retirement-catch-up/

Why “Not” To Delay Estate Planning Any Longer

house in  handOn January 1, 2013, the federal estate exemption is scheduled to fall from $5,120,000 to $1,000,000 and the federal estate tax rate is scheduled to rise from 35% to 55%.

Contact me for assistance on getting your estate plan in order now.

 

(We do not provide tax or legal advice).

Permanent link to this article: http://www.cookandcookassociates.com/2012/11/23/why-not-to-delay-estate-planning-any-longer/

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