Courtney Wilkinson - Country Financial

04/17/2026

When you need us most, we’ll be there. Whether you recently moved, changed jobs or have a new teen driver, you can count on our 100 years of experience and award-winning service. Let’s meet today.

04/16/2026

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 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.

08/04/2025

Deductibles are a key part of your car insurance policy. When you have a car insurance claim, your deductible is the amount of money you pay for car repairs before insurance starts paying.
❔-- How does a deductible work?
When you buy a car insurance policy, you’ll select a deductible amount that you're comfortable paying. Your insurance company will use this amount to set your premium.
If something happens to your car, you’ll file an insurance claim. Your insurance company will take your deductible amount out of the total payout of the claim.
❔-- How do deductibles affect rates?
Your chosen insurance deductible will impact the premium you pay for your car insurance policy. In general, if you choose a higher deductible, you'll have a lower premium, and vice versa.
❔-- Why do I have to pay a deductible?
Insurance deductibles play a key role in how car insurance works. You pay a deductible to help:
• Control insurance costs
• Encourage responsible behavior
• Prevent fraud
As always, contact me so I can help you choose the right deductible for your car insurance needs.
Learn more about ways to save on your car insurance with our Multi-Policy discount here: www.countryfinancial.com/en/multi-policy-discount.html
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08/03/2025

When fires threaten your home, be prepared with these wildfire tips. 🔗 Wildfires |

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08/01/2025

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.

1️⃣ Your policy is up for renewal.
Take time to evaluate your needs and your coverage since your last renewal to ensure you’re protected.

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

3️⃣ 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.

4️⃣ 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!

07/31/2025

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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Call me for a quote today!

06/24/2025

COUNTRY Financial continues to maintain its financial strength and deliver on promises to clients. AM Best, an independent insurance ratings agency, affirmed our A+(Superior) rating.

This is especially notable, as many other insurance companies have received downgrades as the industry struggles with higher costs and rising losses.

COUNTRY has been in business for nearly 100 years, and we are making long-term decisions that will help us to be there for clients for the next 100 years.

06/23/2025

You need car insurance, but do you understand why? Get the answers to your car insurance questions to get the protection you need.
▪️ ▪️ What is car insurance? ▪️ ▪️
Car insurance is protection for your car. You pay your auto insurer a premium and in exchange, they agree to pay for the cost to repair or replace your car if it’s damaged in a collision or other covered event (these are outlined in your policy).
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▪️ ▪️ What's covered? ▪️ ▪️
Most standard car insurance policies include 5 types of car insurance coverages:
Collision coverage for protection for if your car collides with another car or something else.
Comprehensive coverage to protect your vehicle from theft and non-collision damage.
Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist coverage for protection if you’re in an accident caused by someone with no, or not enough, insurance.
Medical Payments or Personal Injury Protection pays for costs resulting from injuries to the driver and passengers in the insured’s car.
Liability coverage pays for damages and injuries to others in an accident that you cause.
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▪️ ▪️ Why do I need car insurance? ▪️ ▪️
All states require car insurance, but the level and types of insurance vary by state. Your insurance agent can help you through your state’s requirements.
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▪️ ▪️ How much does it cost? ▪️ ▪️
What you pay for car insurance will vary based on many factors. Some are about you and your car (like the car you drive and where you live), while others are based on what types and levels of coverage you choose.
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Talk to your insurance agent to make sure you have the right car coverage for your needs!

06/22/2025

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.

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

06/21/2025

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 at https://bit.ly/3F0LaXf

06/20/2025

Planning some fun at home this summer? Make sure your backyard is safe for all your favorite activities by using this summer safety checklist.

Pool safety
• Never leave children unattended
• Kids should never be alone in or near a pool (even if they know how to swim)
• Sign your kids up for swimming lessons

Learn emergency skills
• Young children should learn when to get help. Older children and adults should learn CPR and first aid
• Keep a first-aid kit, ring buoys and reaching poles nearby. Easy access to these items could be lifesaving

Install a safety fence
• Make sure your pool safety fence covers all pool sides and has self-closing gates. Also, install locks and alarms on doors with pool access.
• Create and post safety rules and enforce them.

Trampoline safety
• Add safety features
• Make sure your trampoline has padding and netting. An enclosed trampoline can help prevent falls
• Maintain your trampoline
• Inspect your trampoline regularly for missing pads, tears, exposed springs and other issues that could cause injury
• Enforce safety rules: Only one jumper at a time to reduce risk of injury

Playground safety
• Inspect your playground equipment regularly
• Create a safe landing
• Teach playground rules
• Supervise young children at play

Review your home liability insurance limits

Even if you follow all these tips, accidents happen. Keep your liability insurance coverage updated (and consider adding an umbrella liability policy). If you add a pool, trampoline or playground to your yard, meet with your insurance agent to see if you need to increase your home liability coverage. Stay safe and have fun this summer!