Dave Dailey - Country Financial

12/26/2024

Our Market & Economic Outlook helps COUNTRY clients navigate financial markets, so they make informed decisions about their money. See for yourself at https://cfin.us/MEO-09-4

12/23/2024

Teens and driving – the impending milestone may cause you to stress, we get it. We also get that you want to help your teen drive safely and find ways to save on car insurance. Keep reading to learn how.

🔸Discuss distracted driving with your teen🔸

A moving car should be a distraction-free zone for a new driver. Have your teen use an app that will disable incoming texts while the car is moving and handle all tasks they may be tempted to do while driving before they start the car, like starting their playlist and setting up their map app.

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🔸Know the driving laws for teens🔸

All U.S. states (and D.C.) have enacted a three-stage graduated driver licensing system that reduces high-risk driving situations for teens. This includes limiting the number of passengers and restricting driving at night.

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🔸Use auto telematics to track driving behavior🔸

Many insurance companies offer auto telematics apps that gather data on things like acceleration, braking, cornering and phone usage. Auto telematics programs can reward drivers for safe driving with a discount on car insurance.

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🔸Save money on car insurance for teens🔸

Car insurance for teens can be more expensive than for adults. Here are a few ways to save money: completing a safe driving course and qualifying for a Good Student discount.

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we know a thing or two about keeping families protected through all stages of life. We’ve been at it since 1925. Follow us for more on how to protect what matters most.

12/19/2024

Winter weather can take a toll on your house. Get ahead of winter by remembering these winter home maintenance tips.

1. Disconnect garden hoses
Water left inside the hose could freeze and cause the lining to crack. Also, if the main nozzle on your hose freezes, ice could cause damage to the pipes connected to your house.

2. Keep heat on to prevent pipes from freezing
If you plan on being away from your home for a long period of time, do not turn off your heating system. Set your thermostat to ≥65° F to help prevent pipes from freezing.

3. Shut off your water main if you’re going away
You likely have two shut off handles: one before and one after the water meter. We suggest shutting off the one before the meter.

4. Prevent ice dams
Remove leaves and other debris from your gutters before winter to help prevent ice from forming inside the gutters, known as “ice damming.” Ice dams can cause water damage to your home.

5. Take care of your furnace
Change your furnace filter every three months. Be sure to call your HVAC service provider for your fall service check-up before winter hits.

Don’t let winter sneak up on you before you have a plan to help prevent damage to your home. But if a loss occurs, I will be here to help. Call me to make sure your insurance coverage is ready for winter.

we’ve been protecting families and providing insurance to our clients since 1925. Follow us for more tips on ways to protect what matters most.

12/17/2024

Life insurance is a vital part of protecting your financial future and it will never be more affordable than it is today.

So, how affordable is life insurance, really?
The truth is, it depends on many factors, like age, health, lifestyle, coverage amount, etc. The good news is that even though the factors influencing your rate may feel extensive, getting life insurance is easier than ever. Life insurance companies use advanced underwriting methods to make the process easy for you.
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How can I lower my life insurance cost?
There are a variety of life insurance options that can fit your needs and budget. But if you want to try to lower your rate, these steps may help:
✅ Purchase a policy at the youngest age possible. Parents may consider purchasing a policy for children as their premiums are typically much lower than an adult’s.
✅ Live a healthy lifestyle. Individuals who live healthy lifestyles generally have lower premiums than those who don’t, as they tend to live longer and have a better quality of life.
✅ Review your insurance options. Term life insurance is typically less expensive than whole life insurance, since you are only paying for it for a certain amount of time.
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If you don’t have life insurance or haven’t reviewed your policy in a while, meet with me to discuss what life insurance is best for you right now and how much you can expect to pay for it. You might be surprised to learn that it’s more affordable than you first thought.

10/25/2024

If you’re the parent of a younger child, recent high school grad, or are looking to further your own education, this thought has likely crossed your mind — how exactly am I going to pay for college? One of the most popular options available to you is a 529 college savings plan. Here’s what you need to know:

What is a 529 plan?
A 529 college savings plan is a state-sponsored plan for the educational benefit of a child or adult that can help you save for college expenses. Each state has their own plan, and you’ll usually get state tax benefits from picking the 529 plan from your home state.

Who’s it for?
A 529 plan can be a good choice if your main goal is to use the money for college costs for you or your kids and you want high contribution limits.

Who can contribute and how much?
Almost anyone can contribute to a 529 plan — parents, grandparents, friends, corporations, and tax-exempt organizations. The maximum total contribution varies by plan, but the limits are usually over $200,000 per beneficiary.

What schools can this be used for and what investments are available?
The money in a 529 plan can be used at accredited public or private colleges in any state. Investment choices vary depending on the plan.

How will contributions be taxed?
All contributions are made after federal taxes, but contributions qualify for the $18,000 annual federal gift tax exclusion ($36,000 for joint filers).

What do I need to know about earnings and withdrawals?
Earnings in a 529 plan grow income-tax deferred. You won’t pay taxes on withdrawals either, as long as they’re used to pay for qualified education expenses like tuition, books, fees, supplies, equipment, and reasonable room and board.

To learn more about 529 college savings plans, visit https://cfin.us/529plan

10/22/2024

I dream of RVing the United States one day, but it’s not just a financial commitment. Maintaining your RV is the absolute best way to protect your investment (besides having the right insurance, of course!). Check out our 9 favorite tips to keep your RV in tip-top shape: https://cfin.us/3WGR8CS

10/17/2024

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 me 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.

10/14/2024

Why invest the time to do an inventory of your home? Think about this. If something were to happen to your home and the belongings inside of it were destroyed, could you list every item you own right then in that moment?

Probably not. That’s why you should do one. It’s easier to do than you think and only takes about 10 minutes. We’ll show you how.

✔️ Use your phone – Capturing it on video is the most efficient way to do a home inventory. The more detailed you are, the better it will be. You don’t need to capture video of everything you own. But you do need to go room by room and show what you can see.
✔️ Use narration – This is a key step. Use your words and describe what you’re recording. To make things easier, do a video clip for each room in your home (don’t forget closets and the garage).
✔️ Focus on big-ticket items – Think of things like flat screen TVs, computers, expensive furniture and valuables (jewelry, etc.). If those items have stickers with serial or product numbers, zoom in and show those in your video.
✔️ Save the video in the cloud – If you only save your video on your computer, what happens if it’s destroyed along with your other stuff? That’s why you should email it to yourself, share it with your spouse or relative, or send it to your insurance agent.
✔️ Update your home inventory once a year – Check in with your insurance agent annually to discuss any major purchases you’ve made since the last time you did an inventory. Be sure to add those new items to your update.

Learn more about creating a home inventory here: https://cfin.us/home-inventory

10/09/2024

We put together some information to help you understand the basics of a homeowners policy so you’re better prepared when you need to purchase or switch insurance providers. This information is not specific to COUNTRY Financial and is meant to provide a general overview.

◾ What is home insurance?
Home insurance is protection for your home and possessions. You pay your home insurer a premium and in exchange, they agree to pay for the cost to repair or rebuild your home if it’s damaged or destroyed by a covered event (these are outlined in your policy).
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◾ What does home insurance cover?
Home insurance provides protection against damage caused by sudden and accidental incidents. A standard home insurance policy will usually include three main types of protection:
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◾ Dwelling Coverage
Designed to repair or rebuild your main home structure, dwelling coverage is the main protection provided by home insurance.
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◾ Personal Property Coverage
Personal Property Coverage allows you to replace items such as electronics, furniture, clothing and other belongings.
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◾ Liability Coverage
Liability Coverage provides financial protection for you if someone is injured on your property or a member of your household causes damage to someone else’s property. Umbrella insurance is added liability coverage that goes beyond the limits of your existing car and home insurance.
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◾ What is a covered loss?
Covered losses are events, sometimes called perils, covered by homeowners insurance. Talk to your insurance agent about the covered losses contained in your specific home policy.
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◾ How much is home insurance?
Factors affecting the cost of home insurance include: Location, age, size and condition of your home
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◾ How can I be sure I’m covered for a home insurance claim?
You choose how your property will be valued if you have a claim, and that affects the amount of coverage you have to rebuild. While it may vary by home insurer the levels of protection are actual cash value and replacement cost.
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Learn about our home insurance coverage
https://cfin.us/Home-Insurance-101

10/03/2024

I'm proud to be part of a Fortune 1000 company! COUNTRY Financial was ranked 701. Why does that matter? Fortune Magazine recognizes the 1,000 largest American companies according to revenue. That level of financial strength and stability means we’ll be here for you when you need us. Contact me to learn more about why you should choose COUNTRY and, in the meantime, check out the list.

The Fortune 500, in its 70th year in 2024, ranks the biggest U.S. companies by revenue.

09/30/2024

Talking to your insurance agent once a year can help you prepare for major life events and unexpected curveballs. Here’s what to discuss and why it’s important to meet with your agent annually.

What should I discuss with my insurance agent?
When life changes, so do your priorities. In an annual review, talk to your agent about changes in your life, as well as your plans and priorities, to ensure you're protected.

Are there other times I should contact my insurance agent?
Yes! Here are other times when giving your agent a call is worth the time.
1. Your policy is up for renewal.
Take time to evaluate your needs and your coverage since your last renewal to ensure you’re protected.

2. You’ve made major lifestyle changes.
Got married, quit smoking or had a baby? These changes can impact your insurance coverage needs.

3. You bought or received valuable items.
Receiving gifts such as jewelry or buying anything new for your home, like TVs or even artwork, means you might need additional personal property protection.

4. You’ve updated your home.
Made home or property improvements such as replacing the roof or installing an alarm system? Depending on the upgrade, you may qualify for a home insurance discount.

As an insurance agent, I’m committed to providing you with the best solutions for your needs, so you can experience all that life has to offer.

Give me a call today, and let’s talk!

Source: https://ilfbpartners.com/resources/learn-why-you-should-meet-annually-with-your-insurance-agent/

08/28/2024

Three times and counting! For the third year in a row, COUNTRY Life has been recognized on Ward’s 50 list of top performing life insurance companies for 2024. This award is given for outstanding financial results in the areas of safety,
consistency and performance over a five-year period (2019-2023). Give me a call today to find out how you can protect what matters most.