Getting Married Top 10 to Dos!

Congratulations on your engagement!  Getting married is one of Life's Pivotal Moments. 


You have a great adventure in front of you! Pivot would like to extend an engagement gift to you:  Get the Top 10 Things to Do Before Your I Dos today to start your marriage off on the right track.

What Does Life Insurance Have to do With the Cost of Raising a Child?

It's no secret that raising a family is expensive but what does that have to do with life insurance? Plenty actually, but we will get to that shortly.

A recent US Department of Education annual report on the subject found that a middle-income family raising a child born in 2014 can expect to spend about $241,080 over the next 17 years, that's for one child. Given that the average family has 2.01 children, you can double(or more)that figure),sticker shock to be sure. Though these costs can vary based on a child's geographic location and family income, it's a very good estimate.

This kind of realistic information regarding the long term costs associated with raising a family can be helpful when thinking about how much term life insurance you need. It's best to talk with a knowledgeable life insurance marketplace specialist from a reputable company to decide what best meets your needs but in general, your life insurance need is determined as some multiple of your annual income.  15-20 times is generally a good starting point. While this is a good starting point, knowledge us power and knowing the approximate costs associated with a mortgage, heath care, child care and education can get you closer to the amount of  life insurance coverage you would truly need to ensure that your family is well taken care of should the unthinkable happen. .

Raising a family is a wonderful ,sometimes challenging and as we've seen, expensive adventure. Make sure you've taken steps to secure your family's future for the ride.

Planning Early for Retirement with Life Insurance and Savings Provides Big Benefits

You are young, just out of a college maybe a few years into your career and feeling like you have all the time in the world. Prepare for retirement? The reasons why you might feel that way are numerous. Maybe, you feel like you are just too young, or maybe you feel you can't afford life insurance or to save money every month . Common concerns and sentiments to be sure but the fact is, the earlier you start the easier planning for retirement  the easier and less stressful it will be.

If you have an employer sponsored  401k,that's a great place to start. A 401k with matching funds provided by your employer, even better! Another advantage that most  people who are just starting out have are low taxes. If you are just beginning your career and expect to climb tax brackets as time goes on, this is a great time to put some after-tax money into a Roth IRA. Money in a Roth grows tax-free and is typically not taxed when you take distributions. Pay taxes today for the right to avoid high, and potentially very high taxes in the future. If your employer has a Roth 401k, invest there. The plan is like any other Roth IRA save for the fact that contributions are withdrawn from your after-tax paycheck.

If you don't have a 401k through an employer but have money to invest (graduation gift, wedding present,inheritance, etc.) start with a Roth IRA through  respected brokerage or financial institution offering low-fee investments. If you are working as a freelancer or consultant, basically anything where you receive a 1099,looking into a self-employed IRA, which provides benefits where taxes are concerned.

Another key piece to the retirement puzzle is the right life insurance policy. As with the 401K ,IRA or saving in general,where life insurance is concerned, your youth is on your side. The earlier you get life insurance in place, the more comprehensive, and less expensive it will be.

Life insurance underwriters use a laundry list of criteria in the life insurance application process. Many of these factors include health and wellness issues. Simply stated the younger you are the less likely you are to suffer from  serious medical issues or have symptoms of serious issues such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure or even insulin resistance. Putting a policy in place while you are young ensures that you are more likely to get the coverage you want.

At the end of the day, no matter how old(or young) you are, if you aren't already saving and planning, now is the time to start! Time is indeed on your side, but you have to take advantage of it. Planning for the future now can save you a great deal of money and provide serious peace of mind.

Celebrating New Year Traditions with Healthy Holiday Recipes - From Our PivotCare Team Family to Yours!

These healthy holiday dessert recipes will keep your family happy and healthy this holiday season!  Start your new year out right and keep your new year resolutions on track!  Enjoy this free holiday dessert recipes download from our PivotCare Team Family to Yours!  Happy Holidays!


Celebrate healthy family holiday traditions with Pivot.com - Download new healthy holiday desserts and holiday ideas to share with your family this holiday season. Enjoy gluten free, delicious and indulgent options to choose from. Find gluten free gingerbread, decadent chocolate cupcakes, dairy free eggnog, healthy desserts for everyone! 

From our family to yours, Happy Holidays!
Pivot - Your Life Insurance Marketplace

Having A Baby? Don't Put Off Decisions About Life Insurance

Becoming a parent is one of the most exciting and life changing experiences couples and individuals have. As your baby's due date approaches, think past all the tiny clothes,nursery decor,baby showers,bottles and baby gear,and give some thought to securing your new baby's future with life insurance.

Many people don't ever think about the need for life insurance  before having a baby. There are many reasons for this,maybe you are single and no one else is depending on you, or perhaps your spouse earns as much as or more than you and would be fine should something  happen to you.  No matter why you've put off life insurance,bringing a child into the equation  changes everything. Securing life insurance can be an important piece of being a responsible parent.

First, your baby is depending on you for everything,food,clothing,love and financial support. It’s going to be a long time until your child grows up and is financially independent. If tragedy were to strike and you were unable to be there to provide, could your family get by?  A life insurance policy can help make sure that there would be enough money coming in even if something happens to you.

Second, your household may be transitioning if you or your spouse is planning to stop working and stay at home with the baby. You may be getting by on only one income instead of two, making it even more important for the working parent to take out a life insurance policy. If something should happen to the working parent, the surviving parent and your child would still have an income.

Starting a family gives your life a whole new meaning. Do your best to be prepare for the unexpected by securing life insurance that will help protect your child should something happen to you.

Raising a Happy Family with Healthy Holiday Dessert Recipes

Happy Holidays! Celebrate healthy family holiday traditions with Pivot.com - Download new healthy holiday desserts and holiday ideas to share with your family this holiday season. Download gluten free, delicious and indulgent options to choose from. Find holiday dessert recipes like gluten free gingerbread, decadent chocolate cupcakes, dairy free eggnog, healthy desserts for everyone! From our family to yours, Happy Holidays! www.Pivot.com - Your Life Insurance Marketplace

Starting A New Chapter-Life Insurance After Graduation

If you’re headed toward graduation, life insurance may not be the first thing you think about as you leave college for the real world. There are so many things that cross your mind when you’re about to be on your own. Not only do you have to find a job, an apartment, and more - you also have to start paying your own bills and learning how to manage your finances. However, graduation is one of those times to begin thinking about life insurance.

Life changes, or Pivotal Moments, give us an opportunity to realize that current insurance coverage might not meet your needs - or that a lack of coverage may need to be remedied. Life insurance isn’t just for established adults - it’s for everyone who has responsibilities such as a car payment, mortgage or student loans. Purchasing life insurance and being fully insured is a great way to secure your financial future.

As you enter the world of car payments and career changes, it’s probable that you don’t have life insurance. Your parents may have had a life insurance policy on your behalf, but as you graduate and enter the real world, it’s time to insure yourself. Just as you pay for your own car or health insurance, life insurance can be something you purchase as well. Sometimes, your employer or health insurance provider may provide a life insurance option, which is often a great start. However, even if you have a life insurance policy provided through your employer, purchasing additional life insurance is a great idea. After all, when it comes to life insurance, you want a safety net that is big enough for every need you and your future family might have. So really, as you build a life for yourself, there are several life insurance questions you can consider. For example, you’ll want to gather information about your current life insurance coverage, and if you don’t have coverage, you’ll want to consider if a life insurance policy is right for you. You may also want to take a look at any life insurance coverage you do have, whether it’s through your parents, your employer, or your health plan. Then, determine if you have enough life insurance coverage to take care of your financial responsibilities if something were to happen to you.

Just like you, your life insurance package will be unique. After all, do you need the same life insurance coverage as your downstairs neighbor, who owns her own business? Or do you need the same coverage as your college professor who has three children? The answer is, of course not. Each person’s life insurance need is different! So, as you consider what your life insurance needs are, you can work with a PivotCare team life insurance professional who understands your situation and your future plans.

There are some basic elements that are important for you to know. For example, there are two primary types of policies, and you can typically personalize each type of life insurance policy based on your needs. Permanent life insurance policies cover you from the time the policy is purchased until the end of the policyholder’s life, regardless of age. Term life insurance policies are usually less expensive than permanent life insurance policies, but term plans only cover a specific time period - for example, from purchase to age 65. Something to keep in mind for new college graduates is that term policies get increasingly more expensive with age, so most younger policyholders decide to purchase the longest term available to lock in the best monthly premium price possible.

The next thing to consider:  How much life insurance is right for you? As we have already mentioned, each person’s life insurance needs are unique. An industry rule of thumb you can consider as a baseline for your situation is that you should purchase enough life insurance to replace five to seven years of your salary at a minimum. However, you may have other financial obligations you’re responsible for - such as the purchase of a new car or your first home. So, if your goal is for your family to have no financial concerns if something were to happen to you, you’ll want to consult with a PivotCare team life insurance professional to determine the coverage that’s right for you. (Place link to insurance calculator here).

Many recent graduates may think that because they’re on a tight budget, life insurance isn’t an affordable option. It may sounds cliché, but you can’t afford not to be covered. Securing your financial future is something that can never be put on the back burner. Plus, the younger you are when you buy your life insurance policy, the more affordable it often is. So waiting to make an important financial decision such as purchasing life insurance could cost you. Don’t make a costly mistake by waiting to consider life insurance coverage. Investigating life insurance options now will likely surprise you with how affordable being covered can be.

Before buying any life insurance policy, research the company you’re considering purchasing your policy from. Life insurance can be an emotional decision, but it’s also a business transaction. You should work with a reliable company that has a track record of offering the best for their policyholders. One thing you can do to be certain you’re working with a reputable firm is to check rating agencies such as Standard and Poor’s and A.M. Best, which rate insurance companies regarding their claims paying abilities. After all, there’s more to life insurance coverage than just having the best price. You want your life insurance company to be there for you for the long term.

Most importantly, when you consider the specific coverage that’s right for you, you can call our PivotCare team and work with a life insurance professional who you can trust, and who gets what you want out of life. Life insurance may be a serious decision, and it can intimidate people too - but it shouldn’t! If you work with a PivotCare team life insurance professional who explains things to you in terms you can understand, you will be able to make a smart decision that gives you extra security, now and into the future.