There are no great love songs about insurance. It’s not something that makes your heart skip a beat or launch a thousand ships.
What it really is is the fine print of love.
“That’s what love really is, when you get down to it, making sure your family is OK, that you’ve done your best for your family,” says Catherine Rabidis. Catherine’s an independent agent who admits that “insurance is probably the least sexy thing out there — and the most boring — but it’s the most wonderful feeling to know that you’ve helped someone make a difference. There’s so much you can do to improve people’s lives, just through their insurance.”
For a good agent, their clients become like family. “It’s because you get to know so much about them,” admits Catherine.
It helps when that agent has personal experience to share with those they work with. The miracle of planning for life means more that way, because it’s firsthand knowledge. That’s readily apparent when talking about things like setting up a future for your family through life insurance. Like a down payment on a house for yourself or even your kids. Or long-term care — that’s not just about caring for the elderly as their needs change. Life-changing conditions or accidents can happen at any time. Being ready for that is the ultimate in invisible devotion.
“Dignity is priceless,” says Catherine. “They’re not seen as ‘a patient.’ That’s still your dad, in his home. He’s still the husband, the father, or the grandfather. He’s not a patient. He just gets the extra help he needs, without disrupting lives. It’s a wonderful thing.”
Self-insurance isn’t peace of mind. Unless your assets top $10 million, it’s worth a conversation, according to Catherine. And since 34% of caregivers have a full-time job, the impact of committing to providing long-term care to a loved one on your own has many tentacles for any family, emotionally, professionally, and physically. The stress grows exponentially. Love suffers under stress; it endures with a plan.
It’s no coincidence that February is the “Insure Your Love” month. It is, after all, the month to think about love. And maybe it might inspire a couple of insurance-based sonnets.
Catherine Rabidis' office is in Saddle Brook. She can be reached at crabidis@ft.newyorklife.com