How much life insurance do I need?

Enough to close the gap that would open if your income stopped — the mortgage, education still to fund, and the years of income that would need replacing. That is an arithmetic question about your situation, not a multiple of salary someone quoted at you.

Do you sell insurance?

We recommend coverage only where a genuine gap exists, and it is usually straightforward term insurance. We are fee-based rather than commission-driven, and any compensation arrangement is disclosed in writing in Form CRS and Form ADV before you engage us.

Is term or permanent life insurance better?

For most families the need is temporary — it ends when the mortgage is paid and the children are independent — and term covers that far more cheaply. Permanent insurance solves specific estate and business problems. It is a poor default and a frequently mis-sold investment.

When should I think about long-term care?

The planning conversation usually belongs in your fifties or early sixties, while coverage is still underwritable and premiums are lower. The alternative to insuring it is deciding deliberately to self-fund it, which is a valid answer — but it should be a decision rather than an omission.

Insurance & Risk Review, High Point NC

Insurance is a tool, not a product line. The useful work is figuring out which specific risks would derail the plan — death during earning years, a long-term care event, a disability that ends a career early — and then covering those, at the lowest cost that does the job.

In practice most families need less than they are sold. Where coverage is genuinely warranted, it is usually term life, and we will tell you plainly when the answer is that you already have enough.

How we approach it

Quantify the gap
We work out what your household would need if income stopped, net of existing assets, employer coverage, and survivor benefits. That number is the whole basis of the recommendation.
Cover it simply
Term insurance handles most earning-years risk at a fraction of the cost of permanent policies. Complexity is only worth paying for when it solves a problem you actually have.
Plan for care, not just death
A long-term care event is statistically likelier than an early death and far more expensive. We model it against your assets before deciding whether to insure it.
Revisit as the need shrinks
Insurance need usually falls as assets rise and dependents become independent. Coverage that made sense at 40 often should not be renewed at 65.

What this covers

Insurance Needs Analysis & Review
Life Insurance
Long-term Care Insurance
Disability Insurance
Medicare & Healthcare Planning

On individual securities, risk, and reward

Individuals have access to a variety of investment vehicles that can be used to help them meet their short and long-term goals. The suitability of one investment over another depends largely on the individual’s financial situation, preferences, priorities, and tolerance for risk.

For those with excess funds who have built a solid foundation of savings, protection, and diversification, individual securities such as stocks and bonds may present a suitable opportunity for additional growth and income. As these investments entail substantial risk, investors need a sound knowledge of their use and a clear understanding of their potential risks.

Stock values reflect the current valuation of a company as well as its near-term prospects for achieving earnings growth. Over time, stocks have the potential to generate returns that can outperform other investments, and stocks that pay dividends can also be a source of current income.

Bonds are issued at full face value with a specific interest rate affixed. Because bonds are sensitive to the movement of interest rates, their values increase or decrease as rates move down or up. Bonds held to maturity are redeemed for their principal amount, but there is a risk that the issuing company could encounter financial difficulties and default.

Risk Management

Questions we get asked

Enough to close the gap that would open if your income stopped — the mortgage, education still to fund, and the years of income that would need replacing. That is an arithmetic question about your situation, not a multiple of salary someone quoted at you.

Who this usually matters most for

The rest of the picture

What happens to my family if something happens to me?

How we approach it

Quantify the gap

Cover it simply

Plan for care, not just death

Revisit as the need shrinks