Ron Wake - Country Financial

03/25/2025

We see the impact and power of life insurance every day. When tragedy struck Mary's family, she was able to lean on life insurance to help navigate her grief.

"(Life insurance) helped me start piecing my life back together again,” Mary said.

Watch her story and reach out if you’d like to discuss options to keep your family secure today.

03/12/2025

Life insurance should be customized for your needs, whether that’s a term policy with an affordable monthly premium or a permanent policy that can help you pay for future expenses. Contact me today to discuss which option is right for you.

03/04/2025

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

02/04/2025

Your dream of retirement doesn’t have to feel so far off. Whether you pine
for cross-country travel or a beachside view, you deserve confidence in the
plan to get you there. Schedule an appointment with me today to learn
more.

01/21/2025

Get more support for your financial goals. As a Financial Advisor of
COUNTRY Trust Bank®️, I can help you reach your goals so you can experience more in life. Contact me today to learn more!

01/17/2025

If you received an expensive gift this holiday season, you need to make sure it’s properly insured in the event something happens to it. Here’s why:

• Typical homeowners insurance policies cover furniture, clothing and other personal possessions, but only up to a certain dollar amount.

• High-value items like jewelry, artwork, smart phones and computers may need additional coverage.

• Do you have any fi****ms or recreational vehicles (like ATVs, jet-skis, etc.)? Those would need to be listed on your policy as well.

The answer is easy: Talk to your insurance agent and make sure everything is covered properly.

While you think about having the right insurance protection, can you spare 10 minutes? That’s all the time you need to do a video inventory of the items in your home. Learn how: cfin.us/How-To-Add-New-Items-To-Your-Policy

01/16/2025

In this new year, we are celebrating a huge milestone: COUNTRY is 100 years old!

From our humble beginning as a group of Illinois farmers providing fire and lightning insurance in 1925 to an award-winning insurance and financial services company that serves nearly one million clients in 19 states, we are COUNTRY Financial.

Thank you to all my clients who trust us to be there when you need us most. Without you, we wouldn’t be here today.

I am so proud to represent a company that stands strong today after 100 years, and I look forward to doing my part to ensure COUNTRY Financial continues serving clients for the next 100 years.

12/30/2024

Home insurance is a must to protect you if you experience damage to your home. But you may be looking for ways to save. Here are four ways you can cut costs to your home insurance without skimping on coverage:

1. Look for home insurance discounts.
You may be eligible for money-saving discounts if you make improvements to your home, pay on time or avoid claims for a certain amount of time. We offer these home insurance discounts:
• New Roof discount
• Claim Free discount
• Good Payer discount
• Protective Devices discount
• Smart Home discount
• Welcome discount

2. Bundle your policies.
Many home insurers offer discounts if you bundle your home and auto insurance, along with other insurance products. We offer a Multi-Policy discount for clients who have both home and auto policies with us.

3. Change your home insurance deductible.
I can help you choose a deductible that works for your budget. If you want to lower monthly premium costs, you can choose to increase your deductible. Or you can choose a set dollar amount deductible instead of a percentage.

4. Ask me for a home valuation.
Make sure you review your home valuation with a representative. A verified valuation may help you save money on premiums or at the time of a claim.
These are some ways to lower your home insurance rates. Contact me to find out more.

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has been protecting homeowners since 1925. Follow for more on how you can protect the things that matter most.

12/29/2024

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

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

3. 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.

4. 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!

Source: https://ilfbpartners.com/resources/learn-why-you-should-meet-annually-with-your-insurance-agent/

12/26/2024

Our Market & Economic Outlook helps COUNTRY clients navigate financial markets, so they make informed decisions about their money. See for yourself at https://cfin.us/MEO-09-4

12/24/2024

‘Tis the season for wishing all my friends, family, clients and everyone in Pooler, Effingham County and surrounding areas a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

12/19/2024

I'm proud to be part of a Fortune 1000 company! COUNTRY Financial was ranked 701. Why does that matter? Fortune Magazine recognizes the 1,000 largest American companies according to revenue. That level of financial strength and stability means we’ll be here for you when you need us. Contact me to learn more about why you should choose COUNTRY and, in the meantime, check out the list.

The Fortune 500, in its 70th year in 2024, ranks the biggest U.S. companies by revenue.

12/18/2024

You’ve heard that life insurance is good to have, but maybe you don’t know much more than that. You’re not alone! Read on to get answers to life insurance questions.

What is life insurance?
Life insurance provides your family with money to pay debt, funeral expenses and more if you die. You pay your insurance company a premium. In return, your beneficiaries (the people you select) will get the death benefit when you pass away.

Types of life insurance
• Term life insurance – is coverage for a specific amount of time (10-30 years). If you die during that time, your beneficiaries get the death benefit.
• Permanent life insurance – provides lifetime coverage that builds cash value, like how you build equity in your home.

How does life insurance work?
• For a term policy, select a policy term (10-30 years) and the amount of money you’d like your beneficiaries to get if you die during that time.

• For a permanent policy, if you make the required payments and don’t allow the policy to lapse, you’ll get lifetime coverage. Plus, you can access the policy’s cash value while you’re alive.

Do I need life insurance?
People need life insurance for lots of reasons. Here are the top five:
• Funeral expenses
• Wealth transfer
• Income replacement
• Mortgage pay off
• Retirement income supplement

To find out what type and how much life insurance you need, give me a call today and let’s talk!

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

12/17/2024

Does your holiday budget make you want to cancel Xmas? Don’t let it. We have tips to keep your holiday budget in line.

1️⃣ Tweak your holiday to-do list. That means:
• Make a list of all holiday activities & their estimated costs. This includes gifts, events & traveling
• Are you budgeted for everything? If not, find something to cut.
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2️⃣ Reduce your costs by:
• Suggesting a gift exchange where you buy for one person instead of everyone
• Host a holiday potluck instead of a cocktail party
• Look for fun, but free holiday family activities
• Is Grandma’s house drivable? Make it a road trip and save on airfare
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3️⃣ Avoid credit cards and buy now/pay later apps
• Use credit cards for convenience, not for credit
• If you know you over swipe, withdraw your holiday budget in cash
• Control your impulses
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4️⃣ Learn the 50 | 30 | 20 budget rule
Here’s how it works:
• 50% of your income is for fixed expenses (mortgage/rent, food)
• 30% of your income is for you. Use it for the things you want, including vacations and entertainment
• 20% of your income is for saving, including retirement and an emergency fund
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Our holiday budgeting article includes helpful tools like budget worksheets and calculators to help you figure it all out. Check it out here: cfin.us/HolidaySpendingTips

11/27/2024

Adam knows the value of having a plan and peace of mind if the worst happens. That’s what life insurance can do — help you prepare for the unknown, so you can live the life you love. Here’s more about life insurance.
What is life insurance?
Life insurance provides your family with money to pay debt, funeral expenses, etc. if you die. You pay your insurance company a premium. In return, your beneficiaries (the people you select) get the death benefit.
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Types of life insurance
Term life insurance: Coverage for a specific amount of time. If you die during that time, your beneficiaries get the death benefit.
Permanent life insurance: Lifetime coverage that builds cash value.
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How does life insurance work?
For a term policy, select a policy term and the amount of money you’d like your beneficiaries to get if you die during that time.
For a permanent policy, if you make the required payments and don’t let the policy lapse, you get lifetime coverage. Plus, you can access the policy’s cash value while you’re alive.
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Why do I need life insurance?
Here are the top five reasons people get life insurance*:
• Funeral expenses
• Wealth transfer
• Income replacement
• Mortgage pay off
• Retirement income supplement
*Source: 2023 Insurance Barometer Study, Life Happens and LIMRA
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To find out what type and how much life insurance you need, give me a call today and let’s talk.
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we’ve been helping families plan for the future and protect the life they love since 1925. Follow us for ways you can protect what matters most.

11/26/2024

Life insurance is a vital part of protecting your financial future and it will never be more affordable than it is today.

So, how affordable is life insurance, really?
The truth is, it depends on many factors, like age, health, lifestyle, coverage amount, etc. The good news is that even though the factors influencing your rate may feel extensive, getting life insurance is easier than ever. Life insurance companies use advanced underwriting methods to make the process easy for you.
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How can I lower my life insurance cost?
There are a variety of life insurance options that can fit your needs and budget. But if you want to try to lower your rate, these steps may help:
✅ Purchase a policy at the youngest age possible. Parents may consider purchasing a policy for children as their premiums are typically much lower than an adult’s.
✅ Live a healthy lifestyle. Individuals who live healthy lifestyles generally have lower premiums than those who don’t, as they tend to live longer and have a better quality of life.
✅ Review your insurance options. Term life insurance is typically less expensive than whole life insurance, since you are only paying for it for a certain amount of time.
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If you don’t have life insurance or haven’t reviewed your policy in a while, meet with me to discuss what life insurance is best for you right now and how much you can expect to pay for it. You might be surprised to learn that it’s more affordable than you first thought.

09/27/2024

Life insurance provides more protection than you might think. If something happened and you were no longer here to help pay for the mortgage, life insurance is a great way to help your family stay in your home. Plus, enhancing your coverage might be more affordable than you expect. Contact me today to discuss your options and feel confident your loved ones have the financial security they need.

08/27/2024

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.