Michael Basile, Certified Financial Planner

08/27/2024

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.

08/16/2024

Life changes fast. Has your life insurance kept up with you? Whether you’re welcoming a new child or have purchased a new home, now is the time to reevaluate your needs to ensure you have the proper protection. With the right policy, you can feel protected while still paying an affordable monthly premium for Forbes’ #1 ranked life insurance in the U.S. Lets talk!

06/21/2024

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.

06/07/2024

Just like you see a doctor to monitor your health and a mechanic to maintain your car, COUNTRY Trust Bank Financial Advisors like me can help keep your future on track. Whether it involves retirement planning, investments or protecting your loved ones, I'll create a plan just for you.

06/05/2024

Don’t wait until you’re under a severe weather alert to gather supplies and make a safety plan. Start preparing today:

✔️ Have an emergency plan.
• For storms and tornadoes, plan to seek shelter in the safest place in your home. That could be a basement, crawl space, internal closet, or bathtub.

• If you had to evacuate, where would you go? Identify family members or friends who live far enough away for you to get beyond the path of a hurricane, wildfire, or other natural disaster. Tell them you’d like to include them in your emergency evacuation plan and make sure they’re willing to take you in.

• If you have young children, walk through your plan with them, including how they should take shelter in your home.
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✔️ Build an emergency preparedness kit. Put together a supply of essentials and safety items:
• Three-to-five-days' supply of bottled water and nonperishable food
• Battery-operated flashlight and radio
• Extra batteries
• A first-aid kit
• Cell phone charger or battery source
• Personal hygiene items
• Blankets or sleeping bags
• Download the FEMA app for real-time weather and emergency alerts.
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✔️ Gather important personal information.
• Make sure you have phone numbers of neighbors, family, friends and utility companies in your phone.
• Keep copies of your insurance and property information in your emergency kit. Many insurers, like us, make this information available through their app. If you’re a client, download our COUNTRY Financial mobile app so these documents are easily accessible.
• Check to see if your healthcare provider offers online resources to store your medical information on your phone.
• Keep critical documents, like birth certificates, in a safe or another location you can get to if your home is damaged or destroyed.
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✔️ Make sure your home and possessions are covered.
• Create a home inventory with your phone. Save it to the cloud and email a copy to your insurance agent.
• Meet with your insurance agent yearly to review your home insurance policy.
• Check your emergency fund to make sure there’s enough to cover your insurance deductible.

Learn more here: https://cfin.us/4aVZ7AT

05/24/2024

In times of economic uncertainty, it’s important to have a plan to help you reach your financial goals, and to have the tools that can help to ensure you stay are still on track.

As a Financial Advisor with COUNTRY Trust Bank, I help my clients monitor their progress using the Planning Tool – a one-stop portal that helps them manage their accounts in one place. And when market volatility may be causing concern, I’ll help you plan for what’s next.

Learn more about the planning tool and then call me to get started.

05/21/2024

Those big moments go by so fast. They’re easier to enjoy when you know you have the right protection. Switch your home and car insurance today. Message me to find out.

05/16/2024

Life insurance provides protection for your family and their future. Yet, you’ll find more than 400,000 requests on crowd funding sites to pay for funeral expenses. Why do so many people avoid life insurance? USA Today breaks it down.

🔗 http://cfin.us/3xhriIw

04/09/2024

03/05/2024

Life insurance does more than protect your family. The right policy can help you take on some of life’s biggest challenges, from paying for college, to supplementing your income, or putting a down payment on a vacation home. Let’s connect and go over all your options.

02/20/2024

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.

02/06/2024

Life changes fast. Has your life insurance kept up with you? Along with providing necessary protection, it’s a valuable planning instrument that can help secure your future. Use this easy tool to see how much insurance you need to protect your family and loved ones: countryfinancial.com/LifeNumber