Brett Ostertag COUNTRY Financial

03/31/2026

Life insurance provides more protection than you might think. If something ever happens and you are no longer here to help pay for the mortgage, life insurance is a great way to help your family stay in your home. Plus, enhancing your coverage might be more affordable than you expect. Contact me today to discuss your options and feel confident your loved ones have the financial security they need.

03/30/2026

03/24/2026

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.

03/10/2026

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. Learn more and get a quote for Forbes’ #1 ranked life insurance for 2024: https://cfin.us/LetsTalkLifeInsurance

02/03/2026

Your dream of retirement doesn’t have to feel so far off. Whether you pine for cross-country travel or a beachside view, you deserve a plan that will help get you there. Schedule an appointment with me today to learn more.

01/20/2026

As a Financial Advisor of COUNTRY Trust Bank®️, I can help you reach your goals so you can experience more in life. Contact me today to learn more!

01/09/2026

Happy to host McHenry Basketball Varsity Basketball for a team dinner. Go Warriors!

12/28/2025

Debt is a bummer. Fortunately, reducing debt isn’t as hard as you’d think. Here are two of the most common ways you can attack your debt.
▪️Avalanche approach▪️
Credit card interest rates are typically higher than rates on cars, mortgages, student loans, etc. And to be honest, paying interest on debt is wasting your hard-earned money.
So that’s where you’ll start attacking debt with the avalanche approach.
Look at your most recent credit card statement and rank your debt based on interest rate, highest first.
Work towards making bigger and bigger payments on those high-rate cards and, over time, you’ll pay less interest each month.
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▪️Snowball strategy▪️
This approach takes a bit longer than the avalanche approach because you’re starting small, but it works better for some people.
Using the snowball strategy, rank your debts by the total amount owed, smallest balance first.
And just like in a snowball fight, start knocking down the debt one-by-one.
Pay your smallest debt as quickly as possible so you can cross it off your list. Once that debt is eliminated, move to the next smallest debt.
For both methods, make sure you’re making minimum required payments on all other debts.
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Pro tip: Use the money that was going to the now paid-off debt to make larger payments on remaining debt.

Debt doesn’t have to keep you down. Whether you choose the avalanche approach or the snowball strategy, working to pay off your debt will set you up for financial peace.

12/26/2025

If you received an expensive gift this holiday season, you need to make sure it’s properly insured in the event something happens to it. Here’s why:

• Typical homeowners insurance policies cover furniture, clothing and other personal possessions, but only up to a certain dollar amount.

• High-value items like jewelry, artwork, smart phones and computers may need additional coverage.

• Do you have any fi****ms or recreational vehicles (like ATVs, jet-skis, etc.)? Those would need to be listed on your policy as well.

The answer is easy: Talk to your insurance agent and make sure everything is covered properly.

While you think about having the right insurance protection, can you spare 10 minutes? That’s all the time you need to do a video inventory of the items in your home. Learn how: cfin.us/How-To-Add-New-Items-To-Your-Policy

12/23/2025

When planning a getaway, you’re looking to relax and enjoy a break from the stress of everyday life. The last thing you want to worry about is what happens if things go wrong during your trip. Thankfully, you can count on your home and car insurance to protect you even when you’re away. Here are a few ways your home and auto insurance protect you when you’re traveling:

1. Roadside Assistance
While hitting the open road is a great adventure, sometimes breakdowns happen. Your auto insurance may provide you with emergency road service coverage, which can reimburse you for towing expenses, delivery of fuel, repair parts and labor charges.

2. Car insurance coverage for other drivers
Sharing driving duty with others on a road trip? Rest assured, if you give other licensed drivers permission to use your car, they are usually covered. This includes teens with learner’s permits!

3. Rental car insurance coverage
You might be wondering, “does my car insurance cover rental cars?” Generally, your auto policy should apply to the rental vehicle as long as you are driving within the United States (including your deductible). Always read the contract carefully and ask the rental agent to explain anything if you’re unsure.

Additionally, you can add vehicle rental and trip interruption coverage to your auto insurance to provide coverage for a rental vehicle if you have an accident away from home. With this protection, you may be reimbursed for a rental car if you have a covered claim, and if you have an accident more than 100 miles from home, you could also apply this coverage to travel expenses like transportation, lodging and meals. Expense limits differ by state, so talk to your insurance representative about the types of coverage available where you live.

4. Insurance coverage at a hotel or vacation home rental
If you are the victim of theft while you’re renting a vacation home or staying in a hotel, you may have coverage through your home insurance for your personal property. If you accidentally cause damage to the property you're staying in, you may have liability coverage as well.