“A Reminder to Be Thankful: How Life Insurance Helped My Family”

“A Reminder to Be Thankful: How Life Insurance Helped My Family”

As a broker, it truly pains me when I see people pushed toward products that don’t always fit their family’s needs—like quoting payout percentages on term coverage just to sell whole life. I’ve been on the receiving end of this reality in the most personal way.

My mom was healthy—vibrant and full of life—until she wasn’t. She passed away shortly after I graduated college, and the loss hit harder than words can describe. In that moment, nothing else mattered. I would trade every payout, every policy, for just one more day with her.

But then there’s the reality of life, and the term policy she had left behind has been a lifeline in ways I never imagined. That coverage helped put a down payment on my house. It funded 529 plans for my siblings’ children—the next generation. It provided stability when everything felt uncertain.

These things aren’t about replacing her. I’d choose having my mom back over any amount of money in a heartbeat. But they are reminders. Daily reminders to be thankful, to honor her memory, and to carry forward the lessons and love she left behind.

Ultimately, life insurance is a way to turn something negative into a positive. It’s not about the money—it’s about ensuring your love and legacy carry on, even when you’re gone. And sometimes, the best any of us can do is leave behind a safety net that lets our families keep living, thriving, and remembering the ones we lost.