Make a New Year’s Resolution That You’ll Be Able to Keep
Eating healthier sounds good… until the first time that your friends invite you over for pizza and wings.
Hitting the gym more often can be invigorating for a while… but it’s getting hard to find a treadmill during peak hours.
And when it comes to being a little smarter with our finances, well, sometimes unexpected expenses are out of our control and sometimes, we just have to have something… or at least we feel that way in the moment.
We’ve all surely have had varying success with our New Year’s resolutions over the years. The reality is that it can be hard to modify your lifestyle over something as arbitrary as the date you need to switch out your wall calendar. Small, incremental changes are generally what create the habits that make a successful New Year’s resolution – or any kind of life goal you set, regardless of the time of year.
But something is invigorating about using a new year to start fresh with smarter choices, and when we succeed, it’s motivating to look back at our little wins and use them to continue down a better path.
What are the most common New Year’s resolutions?
According to a 2023 Forbes Health/OnePoll survey, the most common New Year’s resolutions are likely the ones you’d expect: improve your mental health, improve your fitness, lose weight, improve your diet, and improve your finances1. And many of those things will tie into each other – a better diet can lead to weight loss, just as improved finances can lead to better mental health.
Improving your finances can mean a lot of things: spending less, saving more, asking for a raise, starting an investment account, or setting a long-term financial plan. For many of us, it’s a combination of all the above. If you can’t figure out where to start, we have a suggestion: start with life insurance.
Of course a life insurance company would recommend that, but think back to your most successful goals: did you make several significant changes all at once, or break it down into more manageable steps? Life insurance can be one part of improving overall financial wellness. Plus, it can provide important financial protection for your loved ones, so you can feel more confident along your path to overall financial wellness knowing you’ve taken a critical first step2.
Life insurance can seem complicated, but when you work with an experienced life specialist, like those at AAA Life, it may be simpler than you think.
Three steps to life insurance coverage
There are a variety of life insurance options available to meet any lifestyle and budget, and AAA Life offers resources to help you get started. Or you can take the time to review these three simple steps as a quick way to jumpstart the process.
1. Assess the coverage you have. You may already have coverage through your employer, but that benefit typically only covers one or two times your annual salary, which may not be enough for your family. If you already own an individual policy, it’s a smart idea to reassess the term length, your monthly cost and the benefit amount to make sure it still meets your needs. Needs can change over time!
2. Determine how much coverage you need. Life insurance can pay for a lot of things: mortgages, future college educations, and monthly bills your family will still have if you were gone, on top of any final expenses. AAA Life offers a Needs Calculator to provide a ballpark estimate of a number to target. Alternatively, our licensed life insurance agents can walk you through this for free at no obligation to you!
3. Get a quote. Once you know what you have and what you need, it’s time for a quote. This process is also free of charge, so there’s no harm in getting a quote and discussing with your spouse to make sure that it’s enough coverage and still meets your budget. You can get your free term quote online or by calling one of our agents at (888) 422-7020.
And that’s it! Once you’re covered, you can feel good about being one of the over [1.6 million] policyholders experiencing the AAA Life difference – our promise to be there when you and your family need it most. Not to mention, you’ve checked that first box and can feel better knowing you’re well on your way to meeting that New Year’s resolution.
1Davis, Sarah. New Year’s Resolution Statistics 2023. Forbes. March 9, 2023.
2AAA Life and its agents do not provide legal, financial or tax advice. Therefore, you may wish to consult independent professional advice prior to the purchase of a contract.
AAA Life Insurance Company is licensed in all states except NY. Life insurance underwritten by AAA Life Insurance Company, Livonia, MI. Products and features may vary by state.
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6 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Buying Life Insurance
6 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Buying Life Insurance
The journey toward added peace of mind starts now
So you’re ready to buy life insurance. Congrats on taking a big step towards protecting your family. You might be wondering where to start. To help, we’ve outlined six key questions to ask yourself before purchasing a life insurance policy below. There’s also a handy downloadable guide that can help you stay organized when meeting with a life insurance agent or purchasing a policy online.
Who would you like to protect
Your husband or wife
Your children
What would you like your life insurance policy to achieve?
Pay final expenses
Pay and outstanding balance remaining on a mortgage or other debts
Contribute to the future education of your children
Offset the loss of your income
Send funds to a favorite organization or trust
What is your total debt?
Remaining mortgage balance or monthly rent
Student loans (yours and loans you cosigned)
Credit card, taxes, and other debt
Health insurance costs
Medical bills
What should you consider when applying?
Apply for coverage online, over the phone, or in person
Some policies require a health screening
Pre-existing medical conditions don't rule out coverage
Lifestyle changes can help improve your rate
How many years would you like your policy to cover?
I'd like the coverage to last indefinitely
I'd like the coverage to last a specific length of time: about 10 years, about 20 years, about 30 years
How much coverage do you think you'll need?
This formula will help you find your minimum number: your income x 7 = 7 your number
Take a deeper dive to find your number with this helpful article.
After asking yourself all of these questions, you may still be leaning toward a life insurance company that offers the best rates. But there are a few other things to look at as well. Does the company provide products that fit your current needs? Does the policy pay out enough to take care of your expenses? There are also several fly-by-night companies out there, so it’s important to ask: Is this an accredited and reputable company that's going to be around when my family needs them most? These are all questions you can ask yourself to help make the best decision possible. Other factors in your decision should include the ability to contact customer service or speak directly with an agent if you have questions about your policy or premiums. While customer service may seem like a minor component now, it can be critical in a crisis. When you have time, discover all of the things that AAA Life can provide you on your journey.
We hope you now have better understanding of how to help you prepare to buy life insurance. Remember, you don’t have to go at this alone. When you’re ready to take the next step, we’re here for you. Talk with one of our agents today or get a quote online.
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