Life Insurance and Retirement: Family Focuses on Being Prepared

You can never truly be prepared for a sudden loss, but WoodmenLife member¹ Megan Leffew knows firsthand the difference life insurance can make.

“My dad unexpectedly passed away at the age of 42. He left my mom to care for three children and our family ranch, while working more than full-time managing a restaurant,” she said. “It was a very difficult time for our family trying to grieve the loss of my dad, pick up more ranching duties and decisions, and adjust to a new way of life. Because of that experience, I know that we need to prepare for the unexpected.”

Leffew said she’s glad her husband, John, feels the same way. “Life insurance, along with wills, medical powers of attorney, living wills, and savings, brings us some peace of mind,” he said. “If one or both of us were to pass away, we don’t want the other, or the people caring for our children, to have to worry about finances, difficult decisions or legal red tape that we could have avoided by having these things in place².”

The Leffews, who live in Columbia, TN, own WoodmenLife life insurance and retirement products. As a not-for-profit life insurance company, WoodmenLife has been helping to protect the financial future of families like yours, making a difference in hometowns across America since 1890.

The couple met on a Christian dating site. After seven years of marriage, they have two children: Clara, 4, and Kyle, 2. As an extension specialist for the University of Tennessee Extension, Megan works with farmers to support their operations and teaches educational workshops. John is a geologist and environmental scientist for the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation. He issues permits and is the lead industrial storm water inspector for the Nashville field office.

Working Toward Financial Goals

In addition to being prepared with life insurance, the Leffews understand the importance of planning for retirement. This is ultimately what brought them to WoodmenLife about a decade ago.

Megan met WoodmenLife Financial Representative Neal Pulley and his wife, Belinda, when they all began working out at the same gym each morning.

WoodmenLife Financial Representative Neal Pulley

“We got to know each other while trekking along on the treadmill or elliptical. Neal and Belinda are some of the kindest people I have ever met,” she said.

When Pulley mentioned his career, Megan was excited to learn more. “At that time, I was interested in some guidance with retirement options, and Neal was very helpful in evaluating options through WoodmenLife and my employer,” she said.

After Megan met John, and they later got married, they both turned to Pulley for their financial needs.

He helped them roll over funds from 401(k)s they had from past jobs and also helped them open a new retirement account. “They added a variable annuity³ so they could protect their funds with a death benefit,” Pulley said.

Taking Another Look at Life Insurance

When the Leffews learned their family would soon be growing, they knew it was important to reevaluate their life insurance.

“We put a lot of trust in Neal. We knew he cared for our family and our future,” John said. “Our experience in working with him made it a natural progression.”

Pulley was able to walk the Leffews through selecting a combination of life insurance products to match their goals and needs. “He provided information and recommendations about a variety of products and explained the differences, advantages and disadvantages,” Megan said. “He helped us think about how much coverage we may need, what we currently had, what was available through our employers, and what coverage was available from WoodmenLife.”

“It just depends on the family’s goals,” Pulley said. “We added permanent coverage when they got married. When Kyle was born, the Leffews wanted to make sure they had enough life insurance. They added a 20-year term certificate for John. It was more affordable, and Kyle will be 20 by the time it comes up for renewal.”

The Leffews also added whole life certificates for Clara and Kyle when they were born.

Giving Back and Connecting as a Family

Megan currently serves as Vice President of Chapter 18 in Columbia, TN, and is active in efforts like the National Community Focus of fighting hunger. “Neal and Belinda are such caring people.

It is always a pleasure to work with them and the WoodmenLife chapter to serve those who are hungry in our community,” she said.

They have also enjoyed WoodmenLife family activities before the pandemic, like the Boo at the Zoo family event in Nashville in 2019. “It was such a fun way to connect with the organization and enjoy some special time together making memories,” Megan said.

“They’re wonderful, giving people,” Pulley said. “John and Megan love their kids, are great community citizens, love America, and love life.”

Checking In Regularly

As their family has grown, the Leffews have recognized the need to revisit their life insurance, just as they do their financial and retirement goals.

“We meet with Neal at least annually to discuss our [retirement products] and life insurance coverage,” Megan said. “It is important for us to make sure our current coverage meets our current needs. … As our life and financial situation evolve, our needs for the types of products and amount of coverage also evolve.”

Beyond that, the Pulleys have become good friends of the Leffews, and though Megan no longer sees them at the gym, they’ve built a lifelong connection. By being well prepared both for retirement and with life insurance, the Leffews have paved the way for a great financial future for their family. On top of that, by reevaluating their financial products and goals each year, they are ensuring they’ll be financially prepared for whatever may come their way.

Connect With WoodmenLife

To find a WoodmenLife Sales Representative near you and learn about our products and extras, please visit WoodmenLife.org/contact/find-rep.

1. An individual becomes a member by joining our shared commitment to family, community and country, and by purchasing a WoodmenLife product.

2. WoodmenLife Representatives are not authorized to offer tax advice. For tax advice, consult your professional tax advisor.

3. Securities are offered through Woodmen Financial Services, Inc. (WFS), 1700 Farnam Street, Omaha, NE 68102, 877-664-3332, member FINRA/SIPC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Woodmen of the World Life Insurance Society (collectively “WoodmenLife”). Securities other than the WoodmenLife Variable Annuity are issued by companies that are not affiliated with WoodmenLife. This material is intended for general use with the public. WFS will not provide investment advice for any individual or any individual situation, and you should not look to this material for any investment advice. WFS has financial interests that are served by the sale of these products or services. Products are not available in New York and all products may not be available in all states.

Term Life Form ICC16 8648 1-16 & Form 8648 1-16 (XX); Whole Life Insurance Form ICC17 8678 1-17 & Form 8678 1-17 (XX). Variable Annuity Form 456-XX-0208, 456-44-0301. WoodmenLife Variable Annuity product is not available in all states.

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