Personal Insurance
Protect the people who depend on you.
Life insurance is not about you. It is about making sure the people you love are not handed a financial problem on the worst week of their lives.
Why An Independent Agent
The right amount, explained without the sales theatre.
You should not need a finance degree to buy life insurance. We walk you through term versus permanent coverage, help you settle on a realistic amount, and shop carriers so you never pay more than you have to for the same protection.
Coverage
What we commonly place
Not every item applies to every situation. Part of our job is telling you which ones actually matter for you.
- Term life insurance (10, 15, 20, 30 year)
- Whole / permanent life insurance
- Final expense and burial coverage
- Income replacement planning
- Mortgage and debt protection
- Coverage for stay-at-home parents
- Child riders
- Key person and buy-sell coverage for businesses
- Simplified issue / no-exam options
- Policy reviews as your life changes
In Detail
The parts worth understanding
Term covers a set number of years at a much lower premium. It is the right answer for most households with a mortgage and dependent children, because the need itself is temporary. It ends when the mortgage is paid and the children are independent.
Whole life lasts your lifetime and accumulates cash value, at a a lot higher premium. It fits specific situations: permanent obligations, estate planning, a dependent with lifelong needs, or business succession.
Anyone who tells you one is always right is selling, not advising.
A common starting point is 10 to 12 times annual income, then adjusted for your actual obligations:
- Outstanding mortgage balance
- Other debts you would leave behind
- Years of income your household would need to replace
- Childcare, if a stay-at-home parent would need to return to work
- Future education costs
- Final expenses
- Less current savings and any employer coverage
Employer coverage is worth counting, but carefully. It usually ends when the job does, which is often exactly when you would least like to be re-shopping.
Fully underwritten policies with a paramedical exam almost always price best, and the exam is usually a short home visit.
Simplified issue policies skip the exam, using health questions and database checks instead. They cost more per dollar of coverage and cap the face amount lower, but they are a genuine option for people who cannot or would rather not go through underwriting.
Guaranteed issue exists too, mainly in final expense, with the smallest amounts and the highest relative cost.
Local Knowledge
Coverage that keeps up with your family.
A policy you bought while renting a studio does not fit a family with a mortgage in St. Johns and two kids. Life changes, and a marriage, a new baby, a new house, a new business, or a divorce are all good times to check your number again. We review your policy for free, even if we did not write it.
Already a client? Adding life insurance to your auto or home account makes billing simpler, and with some carriers unlocks extra household discounts. Just ask when you call.
Lisa and Keith answer the phone here. No call center, no robots. Just North Portland neighbors helping neighbors.
The Process
Is this difficult? Not with us.
Tell us about your situation
A few quick details about what you are insuring and what you have now.
We compare carriers
We shop multiple companies to find the best combination of coverage and price.
You get a clear recommendation
Straight answers, in plain language, and often same-day coverage.
Questions
Life insurance questions
How much life insurance do I actually need?
A common starting point is 10 to 12 times annual income, adjusted for your mortgage, other debts, dependants, future education costs and current savings.
What is the difference between term and whole life?
Term covers a set period at a lower cost and suits most families with a mortgage and children. Whole life lasts your lifetime and builds cash value at a higher premium.
Can I get life insurance without a medical exam?
Yes. Simplified issue policies use health questions instead of an exam. They cost more per dollar of coverage and cap the amount lower, but they are a real option.
Is my employer's life insurance enough?
Rarely on its own, and it usually ends when the job does. It is best treated as a supplement to a policy you own.
Does life insurance cover a stay-at-home parent?
It should. Replacing childcare and household work represents a genuine and often large cost.
Related coverage
Get your free life insurance quote.
We respond the same day whenever possible.