When was the last time you updated your life insurance coverage or the beneficiaries designated to receive the proceeds of your policy(ies)?

It’s hard enough to sit down and buy coverage in the first place. Once we have that coverage, many people stuff the policy in a drawer and forget about it.

There’s a danger in that decision though: Any time a major life event such as marriage, divorce, birth of a child, child reaching maturity, change of employment status or death in the family occurs, it’s the right time to consider updating your life insurance coverage and beneficiaries.

An upcoming wedding, for example, is an ideal time to consider if you need to change your life insurance coverage – or purchase your first policy – and revise or add a beneficiary.

After a wedding

When two lives, or two families, become one, a new house and new name aren’t the only possible changes. Life insurance policies are legal documents that could be impacted by major life events. Parents and couples may assume their life insurance benefits will automatically be paid to their children, including those that have now become their children through marriage.

“If you don’t name a beneficiary, benefits could be payable to your estate or to your next of kin, depending on the policy language,” Jones says. “Next of kin could be your spouse, if living, or your children — but that includes only natural and legally adopted children. Step-children wouldn’t receive any proceeds under a next-of-kin provision. So if you want to include them, you’d need to name them specifically.”

Bear in mind a minor child may not be able to receive the life insurance proceeds before age 18, unless the court appoints a guardian to handle the funds. Additionally, a minor child can’t assign any of their proceeds to cover funeral expenses.

In the extremely unlikely event you and your spouse die simultaneously and each of you have listed the other as your primary beneficiary, life insurance benefits could pass to your estate or next of kin, or to your beneficiary’s estate. Also keep in mind, laws vary by state.

“In some states, if a beneficiary survives the insured by even a minute, they’re considered to have survived and benefits will be due to that beneficiary’s estate — not yours,” Jones says. “Other states have a 120-hour survival rule, where the beneficiary must survive the insured by at least 120 hours to receive the proceeds.”

Best bet: Ask questions when you buy and when you make updates.

Putting out old flames

A new marriage is also a good time to make updates if you previously named a then-significant other as your beneficiary. It’s a mistake to assume your new spouse automatically becomes your beneficiary, Jones says. “I’ve seen claims where someone named a girlfriend/boyfriend or fiancée as their beneficiary, but at the time of their death they’re no longer in a relationship with that person. We don’t know if they meant to leave the person named as their beneficiary or not, but that person may still receive the proceeds.”

Your ex-spouse, on the other hand, may automatically be out. Some states have laws that automatically revoke an ex-spouse as beneficiary if you don’t re-designate them after your divorce. But if your state law doesn’t revoke an ex-spouse, or if your policy is subject to ERISA, the ex-spouse may still be eligible to receive the proceeds. Make the update and remove the doubt.

At open enrollment

Another optimal time to review life insurance coverage, including beneficiaries, is at open enrollment time for your benefits every year, usually around October or November. Review each policy separately, since beneficiary changes for one policy may not apply to others.

When considering updating beneficiaries, it’s also a good idea to review the amount of life insurance you have to make sure it’s both adequate and appropriate for your life situation. Ideally, you should have enough life insurance to cover eight to 10 times your salary when you’re in your prime earning years. If you’re nearing retirement, your life insurance needs may be different.

Whether you’re getting married, expecting children, or raising your family, purchasing life insurance can help give you peace of mind and financial protection through your working years and beyond. Preserve that peace of mind by reviewing the policy annually and updating your beneficiaries in a timely manner.

“In your anger do not sin: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry.”   Ephesians 4:26

This is one of those verses that I share with young couples before marriage. Don’t let the sun set on your anger because the devil will get a foothold in your life (My Paraphrase). Differences exist in any kind of relationship – think about conflicts with friends, family and even colleagues. We will all be tempted to lose our cool and to become angry, but we need to deal with the situation then and there. Don’t let it simmer and prolong making the problem grow even greater. Don’t let the sun set on your anger – deal with it.

1. Don’t Lose your Cool: Losing our temper is not only sinful, but it’s destructive for both ourselves and very often for others.
2. Act vs. React: Act in a positive way. Get a hold of yourself; it’s that important.
3. Confront when Necessary: Not in a mean way, but in a firm way when someone steps out of line.

If you have wronged someone in one way or another, confess your sin first to God and then to that person. Ask for forgiveness and move on. Don’t make excuses for your behavior – that will only further irritate the person you’ve hurt. Keep it simple: “I was wrong. I’m sorry.” This doesn’t mean that every person we wrong will accept our apology, but God’s Word is clear: “If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men (Romans 12: 18).”

How do you respond when angry? Don’t let the sun go down on your anger. Confront it. Confess it, and remember that Jesus got angry, but never sinned. Jesus is the perfect example of how to deal with anger in the best possible way.

                                   Two Wolves

One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people.  He said, “My son, the battle is between two wolves inside us all.

“One is Evil – it is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.”

“The other is Good – It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith.”

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather:  Which one wins?  The old Cherokee simply replied,

“The one you feed.”

~Unknown

We had over 30 people sign up, get weighed and pay their $10 today.  We took some before photos but need you to send us more photos so we can see the transformations that will take place during the next two months.  GOOD LUCK everyone!  Glad to see those who want better health.  

Regal Automotive Group will be closed on Tuesday, July 4th in observance of Independence Day.  Enjoy your holiday with family and friends and we will see you on Wednesday, July 5th.  Mr. C and Sal would like to wish you all a safe and happy 4th of July.

 

NAME	POSITION	BIRTHDATE	LOCATION
VICENTE HERNANDEZ	SERVICE TECH	1-Jul	SOUTH
KRISTA JAMES	CASHIER	3-Jul	NORTH
HUNTER JAYNE	SERVICE ADVISOR	5-Jul	SOUTH
STEPHEN HACKETT	DLR TRADE DRIVE	5-Jul	SOUTH
BRITTANY BRINSON	SERVICE PORTER	6-Jul	NORTH
ERIC SANCHEZ	SERVICE TECH	7-Jul	SOUTH
BRIAN PENNEY	PARTS COUNTER	8-Jul	SOUTH
MICHAEL DUNBAR	PREOWN SALES N	9-Jul	NORTH
MATTHEW GONZALBEZ	SERVICE ADVISOR	9-Jul	NORTH
BARBARA THEODORSON	SHIPPING/RECEIV	10-Jul	SOUTH
LINDSEY DIAZ SANTIAGO	BDC	12-Jul	NORTH
RAMON MORALES	DETAIL TECH	12-Jul	SOUTH
DAVID “007” JOSEPH	FACILITIES	19-Jul	SOUTH
ERIKKA HALBERT	BDC	20-Jul	NORTH
SAL CAMPISI	PRESIDENT	21-Jul	SOUTH
MARSHA HICKEY	ACCESSORY MGR	21-Jul	NORTH
JORDAN JOHNSON	LUBE TECH	21-Jul	SOUTH
JEFFREY COKER	TOW TRUCK DRIVR	24-Jul	NORTH
BILLY VARNADORE	VAN DRIVER	24-Jul	NORTH
BOZ BOSWELL	SALES MANAGER	25-Jul	SOUTH
JOSE BUSTOS	HONDA SALES	26-Jul	NORTH
ROBERT WALKER	PARTS DRIVER	28-Jul	NORTH
ISSA BENDECK	LOT PORTER	28-Jul	NORTH
HARRY DMOHOWSKI	PARTS DRIVER	29-Jul	SOUTH
LYNDSAY BAKER	KIA SALES	30-Jul	SOUTH
BEAU STANLEY	CHEVY SALES	30-Jul	SOUTH
MATTHEW MACDOWELL	PREOWN SALES S	31-Jul	SOUTH

NAME	EMP DATE	POSITION	LOCATION
ROBERT WRIGHTSMAN	6/2/2017	FINANCE CLOSER	NORTH
KIRSTEN DINKEL	6/5/2017	RECEPTIONIST	SOUTH
DAVID CONSTANT	6/5/2017	SALES MANAGER	NORTH
WILLIE WRIGHT	6/12/2017	CHEVY SALES	SOUTH
STEPHANIE MOLINA	6/12/2017	RECEPTIONIST	NORTH
MIGUEL VAZQUEZ JR	6/12/2017	SERVICE TECH	NORTH
BROOK DLUGOKECKI	6/12/2017	BDC	SOUTH
VICKIE MURRAY	6/19/2017	SERVICE DRIVER	NORTH
RYAN STEVICK	6/19/2017	DETAIL WASH	SOUTH
TIFFANI BATY	6/19/2017	CHEVY SALES	SOUTH
KELSEY JOHNSON	6/19/2017	PORTER	SOUTH
GABRIEL DE JESUS	6/24/2017	PREOWN SALES	NORTH
MIGUEL LANTIGUA III	6/26/2017	KIA SALES	SOUTH
CARLOS ORTEGA	6/26/2017	PREOWN SALES S	SOUTH
ANTHONY LUNETTA	6/26/2017	HONDA SALES	NORTH