Essential Plans of Insurance

01/07/2026

Long-term care is a reality for most of us, and planning now can protect your savings, choices, and peace of mind. I just published a new blog, “Why Long Term Care Insurance Matters More Than Ever,” that explains who’s likely to need care, what LTCI covers, and how modern hybrid policies can reduce risk while preserving a legacy.

Read the full post and get practical next steps: https://essentialplansusa.com/1626-long-term-care-insurance-matters-more

Long-term care insurance matters more than ever — protect savings, preserve independence, and plan now for rising care costs and peace of mind.

12/18/2025

This is the second posting by my friend, Wendy Leggett, regarding retiring with dignity:

The Comparison Trap in Retirement
When everyone else looks fine, it's easy to think you're the only one who's struggling.

Myth #2: Everyone Else Is Doing Great
Reality: Most people are quietly figuring it out - just like you.

From the outside, it can look like everyone else is thriving. Friends seem endlessly busy with travel, grandkids, or new passions. Social media reinforces the highlight reel: smiling faces, fulfilled days, seamless transitions.

But beneath the surface, many feel uncertain, bored, or disconnected. Research shows that up to half of retirees don't feel mentally or socially prepared for this phase of life. Most just don't talk about it.
That quiet comparison creates a dangerous illusion, that everyone else has it together, and you somehow missed the memo.

Old Approach: Measure your progress against what others appear to be doing.
New Direction: Focus on your own truth and what's meaningful, energizing, and authentic for you.

The moment you stop comparing, you reclaim energy for what actually matters. You stop performing and start participating in your own life again.
The most satisfied retirees aren't the ones who look like they're winning retirement. They're the ones who've learned to define it on their own terms.

One woman I worked with admitted that every time she saw friends posting travel photos, she felt like she was falling behind. But when she paused to really reflect, she realized that what she valued most wasn't adventure — it was connection. Her happiest moments came from hosting dinners, mentoring former colleagues, and volunteering locally. Once she stopped measuring joy by someone else's yardstick, contentment returned almost instantly.

Consider this: Where do you notice comparison creeping in, and how might you redirect that energy toward what you truly value?

You'll start to see that the moments that matter most have nothing to do with keeping pace, and everything to do with finding your own rhythm.

Stay tuned as we continue breaking down the illusions that quietly shape how we experience this next chapter.

Warmly,

Wendy Leggett
Professional Certified Retirement Life Coach
Conflux Retirement Coaching LLC

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12/16/2025

The First Retirement Myth (and Why It's So Easy to Believe)

Myth #1: Financial Planning Is the Whole Plan
Reality: Money creates options, not fulfillment.

We've been told that if we're financially secure, the rest will take care of itself. But even with a healthy portfolio, many retirees feel unanchored. That's because spreadsheets can't solve for identity, purpose, or connection.
Financial planning prepares your portfolio, but not the person behind it. When the structure of work disappears, the question becomes: What am I working toward now?

Too often, we stop at security and forget about satisfaction.
We plan the dollars, not the days.
And that's where the illusion begins.

Old Approach: Treat financial readiness as the finish line.
New Direction: Treat it as the foundation for the life you actually want to live.

One client told me, “I thought once I hit my retirement number, I'd finally feel free.” But when the big day came, the sense of relief didn't last. His calendar was empty, but his mind was full of uncertainty. As we talked, he realized that his real question wasn't Can I afford to retire? It was What do I want to create next? That awareness shifted everything.

The truth is, money can give you options, but it can't tell you which ones matter most. That comes from understanding what gives you energy, meaning, and a sense of belonging - the true currencies of this next chapter.

Take a moment to reflect:
Where have you invested in your financial security but not yet in your future self?
That's the balance this series is here to help you find - redefining readiness not by what you have, but by how you feel about what's next.

Next week, we'll explore another powerful illusion: the belief that everyone else has it all figured out.
Spoiler alert ~ they don't.

Stay tuned as we keep questioning, reframing, and breaking the myths that hold retirement back.

Warmly,

Wendy Leggett, PCC
Professional Certified Retirement Life Coach
Conflux Retirement Coaching LLC

12/09/2025

With all of the challenges that come with aging, how to pay for home care or assisted living doesn't have to be one of them. We've got insurance for that.

12/04/2025

Long-term care planning can't wait. Our latest blog explains why planning now protects your savings, gives you more care choices, and prevents family stress later. Read more: https://essentialplansusa.com/122425-long-term-care-planning-cant-wait

Long-Term Care planning can't wait. Learn steps to protect savings, preserve choices, and avoid crisis with legal, financial, and insurance strategies.

12/02/2025

What Do Insurance Companies Do with Your Money?

Simply put, insurance companies must invest its assets in “investment grade” segments, such as AAA/AA rated corporate bonds, for example. Most States regulate and monitor how much (or how little rather) of an insurance company’s assets are not considered “investment grade”, and that usually puts insurance carriers somewhere around 85% - 90% of their portfolio, typically invested in AAA/AA rated bonds.

The remaining 10% or so of an insurance carrier’s portfolio is then used to buy slightly riskier (and I stress “slightly”) investments such as stocks, real estate, and mortgage-backed securities, and then rounded out with cash, for example.

An insurance carrier will typically publish information about its investment portfolio on its public website. To learn more about a carrier’s investment portfolio and financial strength, please take time to visit their website and explore the information provided.

Ready to talk to an insurance expert? Schedule a call: calendly.com/jimbetter. Find more resources in our blog: https://essentialplansusa.com/blog/

Welcome to Essential Plans of Insurance blog, a leading provider of Long Term Care Insurance to the New Hampshire and Maine regions. Call or email us today.

11/26/2025

Caring for a loved one? Start with small, practical steps that make a big difference.

Home Safety Advisors shared a Bathroom Safety Guide you can use at discharge, during home visits, or as part of a care plan. It includes:

• Immediate fixes: non‑slip mats, remove rugs, keep essentials within reach
• Grab‑bar guidance: recommended placement, height, and anchoring tips
• Shower options: low‑step shower and walk‑in tub pros/cons and when to recommend them
• Lighting & seating: ways to reduce nighttime risk and balance strain
• Free home assessment: how to schedule a personalized visit

Read more here:

These quick tips for caregivers can lower fall risk, reduce readmissions, and give clinicians a trusted referral for practical home‑safety solutions.

11/25/2025

Everybody's biggest fear: being sick and running out of money!

11/13/2025

Watch this short video from Jim Better, CLTC, for a short story about home care coverage. https://youtube.com/shorts/r0GmaDvs9PQ

Ready to talk to an expert about your home care coverage plan? Schedule a call: https://calendly.com/jimbetter. For more resources, visit our blog: https://essentialplansusa.com/blog

Watch this short video from Jim Better, CLTC, for a short story about home care coverage. Ready to talk to an expert about your long term care coverage plans...

11/13/2025

A reminder that long term care planning is a family matter. Our latest 73 year old female client has coverage now because her son is paying for her long term care policy. She can stay at home as long as possible. She is also guaranteed an above average facility should she ever need it.
Happy Day for that family!

11/07/2025

Watch this short video from Jim Better, CLTC, to hear a client’s gratitude after getting long‑term care guidance. Ready to talk to an expert about your coverage? Schedule a call: https://calendly.com/jimbetter. For more resources, visit our blog: https://essentialplansusa.com/blog

11/04/2025

While many people should prepare for the cost of aging, to preserve their money and save their love ones from becoming care givers, these four are at the top of the list.

Call us for a free consultation to see if long term care insurance is right for you.