Small Business Leadership and Sales Blog

Dear Marvelous People!

Unless you are an insurance industry expert, more than likely you have never been made aware of the miracle benefits that can only be provided with a Life Insurance program.

Life insurance is so much MORE than leaving money for the surviving family members.

No other financial product can offer you the benefits of Life Insurance.


Life Insurance has the following uses:

• It can create an estate.
• It can pay death taxes.
• It can fund a business transfer.
• It can continue a business.
• It can protect against the loss of a valuable employee.
• It can provide funds to charity.
• It can ensure your own legacy.
• It can pay for college education.
• It can provide emergency funds at unexpected times.

What matters most is that you talk to a trusted professional in your town or city. Just talk. It’s more affordable than you think.

Marvin LeBlanc, LUTCF,CNP
Let's Connect on LinkedIN!

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Marvin LeBlanc is a left-handed, right-brained, fun-loving Cajun that is obsessed with Life Performance and Overcoming Adversity. He is an entrepreneur, writer, speaker and founder of Marvelous Performance Systems. Marvin is available for business retreats, keynotes, breakout sessions, workshops, & individual coaching programs. His book “COME HELL OR HIGH WATER” will be available in the Fall of 2011 through New York Publisher www.BloomingTwig.com. To rent Marvin’s brain, contact him at marvinleblanc@aol.com and request a Free Personal Coaching Session.

You may know me as a professional speaker. You may also know me as an Insurance Agent of 23 years. I wanted to share a post from my dear friend in Alabama, Mike Coleman. Take a read, feel free to contact him directly at 800-308-5220. This information is applicable to anyone, so make sure you share with EVERYONE!

FIVE BIG INSURANCE MISTAKES

The Insurance Information Institute says there are five big insurance mistakes that should be avoided.

Mistake #1: Insuring a home for its real estate value rather than the cost of rebuilding. When real estate prices go down, some homeowners may think they can reduce the amount of insurance on their home. But insurance is designed to cover the cost of rebuilding, and not the sales price of the home. You want to have enough coverage to completely rebuild your home and replace your belongings. A better way to save: take a higher deductible. If you raise your deductible from $500 to $1,000 for example, you could save up to 25%.

Mistake #2: Selecting an insurance company by price alone. You want a company that is financially sound with good customer service. Check the financial health of an insurance company by using ratings from independent ratings agencies. A better way to save: ask friends, relatives and business colleagues for recommendations. You want a company that will respond to your needs, answer questions and handle claims fairly and efficiently.

Mistake #3: Dropping flood insurance. Damage from flooding is not covered under standard homeowners and renters insurance policies. Coverage is available from the federal government’s National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). A better way to save: before purchasing a home, check with the NFIP to see if the home is in a flood zone. It might be better to purchase a home that is in a less risky area. If you are already living in a flood zone area, look at mitigation efforts that can reduce your risk to flood and purchase flood insurance.

Mistake #4: Only purchasing the legally required amount of liability protection for a car. In today’s litigious society, buying only the state minimum means you’ll likely pay more out-of-pocket in a crash and these costs could be steep. A better way to save: Consider dropping collision and/or comprehensive coverage on older cars. As a general rule, it’s not cost effective to pay for comprehensive or collision coverage on a car worth less than $1,000. Instead, use the money you saved to up your liability limits. The insurance industry and consumer groups generally recommend a minimum of $100,000 of bodily injury protection per person and $300,000 per accident. Since accidents may cost far more than the minimum limits mandated by most states.

Mistake #5: Neglecting to purchase renters insurance. Renters insurance covers your possessions in the event of fire or other disasters. It also provides additional living expenses should you have to move out. Most importantly, it provides liability protection in the event someone is injured and sues. A better way to save: Look into multi-policy discounts. Buying several policies with the same insurer, such as renters, auto and life will generally provide savings in the form of a discount.

Peace, Love and Gumbo~

Marvin LeBlanc

Are you Planning Ahead?

In Louisiana, 61% of individuals lack a “rainy day” fund to cover expenses for three months, in case of emergencies such as sickness, job loss or economic downturn. Other states are better, but most are as bad if not worse.

In the case of job loss, the average time out of a job is 8 months. So a logical question is this. Do you have 8 months of income, stashed away in a bank account, that you are currently not touching, that you can use to pay your bills if you lose your job unexpectedly?

Very few people reading this blog article can say that they are 100% SECURE that they won’t ever lose their job.

So if you don’t have 8 months of income, IN THE BANK –  right now, what is your plan?  Are you confident that you can lean on a friend, neighbor, co-worker or relative that will come up with money for your bills? Go ahead and call them now. Just for the heck of it and see what they say. Then tell them you were just joking. THIS TIME. And are you prepared for the bad energy this “borrowing” of cash will have on your relationship with someone that you know well?

Please remember:   “PROCRASTINATION is NOT a MONEY STRATEGY!”

Proper planning is your only solution.  And did you know it doesn’t cost you a penny for us to have a casual conversation on this matter?

Let’s have that conversation, beautiful people. BEFORE you lose your job.

Planning ahead helps you to overcome adversity much easier.

Peace, Love and Gumbo~

Marvin

Hello Marvelous People!

Ok, stop right now! Answer this simple question.
Are you a Spender or a Saver?

If I asked your significant other, or your parents, or your best friend–would they give me the same answer that you would? Go ahead. Ask them now. I’ll wait.

After interviewing thousands of couples since 1978,  I’m totally convinced that the two most important factors in our lives is: 1. Emotional Security 2. Financial Stability. These 2 factors are interconnected.

And whether you are a Spender versus a Saver has a huge impact on your emotional security and your financial stability. If you are a Spender,  how many more years are you “willing” to work? How much longer will you “need” to work? If you are a Saver, how many more years are you “willing” to work? Or “need” to work?

At this point,  if you’re unwilling to face these questions, then let me make it easy for you. Chances are you’re a Spender. And you will never retire.      Seriously. How’s that make you feel?

My dear people, in volatile times, it’s EASIER to REDUCE LIFESTYLE than it is to INCREASE INCOME. Now I didn’t say it was EASY. But I did say it was EASIER. Frivolous, spontaneous, unplanned spending today will only do two things for you.

1. It will extend the number of years you will need to work. Possibly NEVER retiring.

2. It will choke your chances to pursue your dreams that really matter. Friends, Family, Travel, Career choices – they all suffer.

So my action step for you is to take hold of your finances. One small step at a time. You didn’t get into your situation over night. So it’s gonna take a little bit of work and some commitment on your part. But we can get you there. I promise. Take faith.

If you email me, MarvinLeBlanc@aol.com, I will give you my time and a formula to get you on the path to Emotional Security and Financial Stability. It won’t cost you a cent. That’s not what this is about. I will give you something much more valuable than money. I will give you my time & my experience and the first step.

I can’t wait to connect with you. Let’s move forward to a better place.

Marvin LeBlanc (LUTCF, CNP)

If you’d like to visit with me, call 225-938-4177 to set up an informal visit in person or for a phone appointment.