The Only Thing We Have

The Only Thing We Have
Ron Cohen, RHU

Last night, I was watching the evening news and was fascinated by one of the key stories which related a one word phrase most Americans are familiar with.
The report focused on one individual and his family during the past couple of years. Why? It was a story relative to many Americans and their current situations.
This individual lost his job two years ago and took 4 days to finally get up the courage to tell his wife. She was a stay at home mom who then realized, things were about to change for her entire family.
When they asked the husband what the greatest obstacle he had to overcome was, his response was simply: “Fear!”
Roosevelt said it best with his famous speech, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” It seemed to comfort many Americans at the time and yet for most unemployed Americans nowadays, fear is quite overwhelming to say the least.
Protecting our families is a priority which most individuals readily accept. Yes, I would agree, the maternal instinct is even greater than the male ego when it comes to protecting children. Some might disagree, but nonetheless, being placed in a position of uncertainty as it relates to not only you, but your entire family’s future is definitely anxiety provoking.
As my business relates to the removal of fear and protecting one’s family, I could not help but see the similarities between being unemployed and becoming disabled. Both result in an unknown future and a loss of income. Yes, both result in fear.
Being unemployed might be resolved in several ways and these solutions are now being discovered by many American families. To put it simply, not having a job is not as bad as “not being able to work due to a sickness or accident”. Being disabled is totally out of one’s control. The duration or length of disability as well, is unpredictable.
What I find interesting nowadays, is how these two situations are actually linked. One carrier’s disability insurance policy actually has an unemployment waiver. Why? They realize that individuals do lose their jobs and premium payments during these periods become a burden to say the least. How many producers know about that? Some, I am sure. How many people? Not many.
With regard to being unemployed, many individuals are now being forced to reinvent themselves. They are entering into areas they never dreamed capable of pursuing. Many are now starting their own businesses and some are working from their homes taking advantage of the computer’s new found potential to earn a living.
Once again, there is a link here. Many disabled individuals, are unable to perform the duties of their regular occupations, yet that does not mean they are unable to work. Thus, the disability policies pay them total disability benefits even though they as well, have reinvented themselves.
Disability insurance is not only a product; it is the vehicle by which one can remove the element of fear. Imagine that! It is also a product which will protect your family and your greatest asset; “Your ability to earn an income”. The only link I see now between being unemployed and disability insurance is simply this;
You can prepare for one now….and remove the fear!