What You Need to Know Right Now, Don't Wait to Get This Right

Let’s skip the sugar coating.

If you think you’ve got all the time in the world to figure out your financial future, you’re already behind. This section isn’t about selling you anything. It’s about giving you the real, sometimes uncomfortable truth that could save you or your family from financial fallout down the line. This one’s personal because I lived it, and I’ve watched others live the consequences too.

Here are two things you need to take seriously right now:
1. 🔐 Getting life insurance outside of SGLI
2. 💼 Building a diversified foundation before life decides for you

🔐 SGLI Won’t Follow You Forever

When I was in the military, I thought SGLI had me covered. In fact, I was so naïve I thought it would just continue with me into retirement. Turns out, that’s not how it works. SGLI stops the day you separate. It becomes VGLI and VGLI comes with a catch: the older you get, the more it costs.

During my retirement prep, I looked at the VGLI cost table and realized something terrifying. While anyone can enroll in VGLI without a health review within the first 240 days after separation known as the no-health-review period applying after that window means your health status comes into play. ³ Because of my health, I knew I would likely face challenges if I tried to increase coverage later or applied after that no-review period. Premiums keep rising, and if your health isn’t perfect, it can be difficult or even impossible to affordably maintain the level of protection you need.

VGLI Premium Cost Snapshot:

• Age 40: $88/month per $100,000

• Age 50: $144/month per $100,000

• Age 60: $300+/month per $100,000¹

It adds up fast. And if your health declines? Good luck finding affordable private coverage later. Here’s the smarter move: Get private life insurance now. More specifically, look into an 🛡️ Indexed Universal Life (IUL) policy. This isn’t just death coverage it’s a wealth-building tool that grows with you.

With an IUL:
✅ You lock in coverage while you’re young and healthy
📈 Your cash value grows tax-free over time
💸 You can borrow against it for major life expenses
⚕️ It includes living benefits like critical illness protection

It’s not just a safety net. It’s a strategy.

💼 Diversify or Get Left Behind

Here’s the second part most people miss. Even if you do have life insurance or a pension, that’s not enough. I used to say, "I’ll be fine. I’ll have a pension." And yeah, I wanted to diversify, but let’s be real toys were important too. I was focused on the now, not the next phase. If I had just maxed out my TSP and layered in a private life policy tied to my home purchase, I’d be sitting on an entirely different legacy strategy.

Here’s what I wish I had built out early:

📊 Index Funds
- Track the market (like the S&P 500)
- Low-cost, long-term, reliable
- Set it, forget it, watch it grow

📉 ETFs
- Flexible like stocks, diversified like funds
- Easy to manage and trade
- Great for long-term passive growth

🏡 Real Estate
- Appreciation + equity + rental income
- Just one property can be a wealth lever

🛡️ Indexed Strategies (IULs + Annuities)
- Market-linked growth without risk of loss
- Tax advantages and protected income
- Great for legacy planning and retirement stacking

One of the biggest things I see is people assuming their pension or TSP is enough. Spoiler: it’s not. Cost of living climbs. Healthcare costs explode. "Your pension might keep the lights on, but it won’t grow generational wealth."²

📈 Real-Life Proof: When It’s Too Late

Let me tell you about the call I’ll never forget, the one that made everything I do feel heartbreakingly real. It came from the very first person I ever talked to when I started in life and health insurance. We talked about coverage, but like many, he wanted to wait. Fast forward three years. He called me again, but this time, the conversation was very different.

His wife, the primary earner in their household had been killed by a drunk driver on her way home from work. He was devastated, grieving, and scrambling to pick up the financial pieces. And he said the words I hear all too often: “Man… you were right. We should’ve done it.”

Because they hadn’t followed through on the mortgage protection policy we discussed, he was forced to sell the house. His income alone couldn’t cover the mortgage and bills. The kids had to leave their school because tuition was no longer affordable.

It was a brutal, gut-wrenching reality and one that could’ve been avoided with a simple decision. That call validated why I do what I do, it didn’t change my belief, it confirmed what I’ve always known. This work is not about selling policies, it’s about showing up when it matters most. It’s about making sure families don’t have to face financial ruin on top of heartbreak. This isn’t just a job. It’s a responsibility. And if you’ve built something worth protecting, don’t wait until life gives you a reason to regret it.

📌 401(k) vs. IUL: Know the Difference

Use both. Max your match on the 401(k). But use an IUL to fill in the gaps and protect what you’re building.

🛑 Stop Thinking of Life Insurance as “Just Another Bill”

One of the most heartbreaking things I hear is this: "Life insurance is just another bill." That tells me you haven’t seen the full picture. Life insurance is a foundation, not a burden. When done right, it outlives you. It protects your family. It gives you control.

The truth is, most people think pensions will cover everything. They won’t. You need flexibility, protection, and growth. You need multiple buckets that work together and if the tools I have aren’t the right fit for your current stage of life? That’s okay. I’ll connect you with someone who has what you need. This isn’t about pushing product, it’s about guiding you toward the strategy that serves your goals.

⚡ Your Next Step

It’s time to stop winging it. Evaluate your current financial plan. Not next month. Not next year. Now and if you don’t know where to start, I do. Let’s have a real conversation. No pressure. No pitch. Just clarity. Book a call with me. I’ll help you figure out the smartest next steps, whether it’s building your TSP, funding a Roth IRA, or setting up a protected-growth strategy like an IUL.

You don’t have to figure it out alone.

📚 Footnotes

¹ U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. “VGLI Premium Rates.” VA Life Insurance. Accessed May 12, 2025. https://www.benefits.va.gov/INSURANCE/vgli_rates_new.asp
² U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. “Consumer Price Index Summary.” CPI News Release. Accessed May 12, 2025. https://www.bls.gov/news.release/cpi.nr0.htm
³ U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. “Veterans’ Group Life Insurance (VGLI).” VA Life Insurance. Accessed May 12, 2025. https://www.va.gov/life-insurance/options-eligibility/vgli/