Craig Jenkins: Country Financial

09/15/2026

It’s Construction Appreciation week! Take a moment to thank all the contractors out there who do the hard work to make our lives more pleasant. Painters, electricians, plumbers, the list goes on and on. Thank you!

09/14/2026

One of the biggest gaps in home planning is assuming the house is fully taken care of just because it is insured. September is Life Insurance Awareness Month and is a reminder that your home repairs may be protected with insurance, but mortgage payments are two very different issues. If a spouse needs to refinance to keep the house, the bigger question becomes whether money is available at the right time. Life insurance for mortgage protection speaks to that exact concern in a simple way. It is not just about a payment; it is about helping a family hold on to a place filled with everyday life. A little planning today can help protect more than property tomorrow.

09/10/2026

Why Blended Families Need Life Insurance Planning

Blended families can be more complex because there are different people and responsibilities that need to be protected. Instead of looking at life insurance as one big policy, think about it as separate policies for separate needs: His, Hers and Ours.

His Needs

• His Children
Provide money specifically for children from a previous relationship, creating an inheritance or financial safety net for them.

Her Needs

• Her Children
Provide money specifically for children from a previous relationship and help ensure they are financially protected.

Their Needs

• Family Income
Replace the income lost if either parent dies, helping protect the mortgage, childcare, education and everyday expenses.

• Long Term Goals
Provide funding for goals for their children together.

Blended families do not necessarily need more insurance. They need more intentional planning. Identify who needs to be protected, what needs to be protected and how much money each responsibility requires. Different needs can require different policies, each with a specific purpose.

09/09/2026

If wedding bells are in your future, let’s talk about uniting your insurance policies, too.

Finances in marriage are challenging. Have regular conversations about budgeting, saving and paying off debt to manage money as a married couple.

09/08/2026

There are a lot of myths about life insurance floating around out there. According to the Life Insurance Statistics, Data and Industry Trends 2024 report published by Forbes, 52% of Americans say they don’t have life insurance because they believe it’s too expensive. In fact, 82% of people surveyed overestimate the cost of a life insurance policy, with a majority of people incorrectly estimating the cost of life insurance to be 3x as high as it actually is.

Why is this? The truth is, there may not be a very good reason for this belief. According to the 2024 Insurance Barometer Study Report, 54% of people surveyed said their life insurance cost estimate was based on “gut instinct” or a “wild guess.”

The right life insurance for your needs might be more affordable than you think. Contact Craig today to see how we can affordably enhance your life insurance coverage or get you set up with a policy from Forbes’ #1 ranked life insurance in the U.S.

Life insurance policies issued by COUNTRY Life Insurance Company®️ and COUNTRY Investors Life Assurance Company®️, Bloomington, IL.

09/06/2026

Life insurance should be customized for your needs, whether that’s a term policy with an affordable monthly premium or a permanent policy that can help you pay for future expenses. Contact me today to discuss which option is right for you.

09/05/2026

09/04/2026

Every contractor I work with has one thing in common: you don’t cut corners on your craft.

But I see a lot of people unintentionally cutting corners on their protection.

Whether you’re building custom cabinets or restoring historic homes — your work is one-of-a-kind. Your coverage should be too. Curious what most contractors miss in their policies? I’m happy to share.

09/02/2026

September is Life Insurance Awareness Month. Do you know how much coverage you and your family need? Try our new tool to calculate your needs:
https://bit.ly/4y86gcy

09/01/2026

BUSY Life Reminders:
-Bills paid
-HVAC and water filters changed
-Pet meds for heartworm, flea and tick prevention
-Appointments noted
-Subscriptions reviewed
-Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors
-Budget review