When most people think about tax-free retirement income options they think of their traditional choices. The 401 (k) comes to mind as well as Roth IRAs and traditional savings accounts. As the cost of retirement goes up for many people, and life expectancy grows longer, you might be hoping to look into more tax-free options for retirement income. Life insurance policies are quickly becoming popular vehicles for tax-free retirement income. The Martin Insurance Team, serving Evergreen Park, IL, is here to teach you more about this option.

A New Option for Tax-Free Retirement Income

Although often thought of as a way of supporting your family after your passing, today’s permanent life insurance is being looked at in a whole new way. Whole and universal life insurance policies, which build cash value over time, can actually be treated as a form of tax-free retirement income. The insurance policy works like this: an individual invests in the policy through paying premiums. The insurer, which holds the policy, will deduct the expense of the policy. The remainder is considered the cash value of the policy. Depending on how long you have been paying in, the cash value can grow substantially. If an individual chooses to withdraw the cash value of the policy (for use during retirement) the money is tax-free.

What You Need To Know

If an individual chooses to access cash this way, it is considered a policy loan. The insurer will have certain rules and requirements on how this is done. You will need to review these rules and requirements to make sure you understand everything and are comfortable with this arrangement. Some of the most common rules include limitations on how many years the policy must be in place before a withdrawal is made and percentage caps on how much can be withdrawn.

Learn More

In order to learn more about this tax-free retirement income option, you should talk with an insurance representative. They will be able to answer your questions and help you decide if this is a good retirement option for you. If you would like to learn more, please contact our friendly staff at The Martin Insurance team, serving Evergreen Park, IL

Health insurance provides peace of mind. Coverage for your family lets you know that in uncertain times, they can receive the medical care they need. Evergreen Park, IL residents are used to looking out for their neighbors. After all, it’s what small-town communities do for one another. But there is one area where caring neighbors and kind friends can’t help, and that’s when it comes to healthcare costs.

Healthy individuals and those with a history of medical issues alike can benefit from thinking ahead. After all, none of us can see the future, but health insurance keeps the guesswork out of managing the risks that come with potential medical bills. No one wants to have to consider making compromises when it comes to the care of family members. That’s why Martin Insurance Team offers a variety of health insurance policies that meet your needs and fit within your budget.

Many of us did not expect to encounter health risks serious enough to shut down communities across the globe, but the current crisis has shown us that there’s no way to know what the future may bring. That’s why there is no time better than right now to speak with a Martin Insurance Team insurance agent about what insurance policy would look like for your family in terms of deductible, premiums, coverage, and more.

Evergreen Park, IL is your home, and you want to work with an insurance agent that you trust. Our local insurance agents can set you up with health insurance coverage that will put your mind at ease. We all hope that we won’t need to use our health insurance, but it’s nice to know you will be able to see a doctor or go to the emergency room without worry– just in case you or your children need to be seen.

Now is the time to connect with a Martin Insurance Team member. We are available by email and would be happy to set up a quote that meets your needs. Health insurance helps us prepare for the unexpected and allows us to stay healthy and well. Reach out today to get your quote.

For over 20 years, Martin Insurance Team has served the Evergreen Park, IL community. We have established relationships with over 15 national and regional insurance companies to help our clients find the policy that suits their needs. We are committed to providing our clients with excellent customer service.

Short Term Disability Insurance vs Long Term Disability Insurance

At Martin Insurance Team, we believe that disability insurance is an important asset that we recommend all of our clients in the Evergreen Park, IL community should consider purchasing. Having disability insurance coverage protects you in the event that you are unable to work. You may choose to purchase short term disability insurance or long term disability insurance. Before you purchase a policy, it’s important that you research the differences between short term and long term disability. To assist you through the process, here is a guide that compares short term and long term disability insurance.

Time Frame

Short term disability benefits often last for several weeks and may extend to a few months in serious cases. You may start receiving short term benefits within two weeks after you have purchased the coverage. You can receive long term disability benefits for a few years, or you can purchase a policy that stretches until you reach retirement age. You should start receiving long term disability benefits after a few months.

Common Reasons To Purchase Both Policies

Short term disability insurance often covers ailments such as muscle strains and sprains. Childbirth is often covered under short term disability insurance as well. Long term disability insurance covers long term issues such as being diagnosed with cancer or mental health trauma.

Let Martin Insurance Team Assist You!

The agents at Martin Insurance Team will work with you to find the right disability insurance policy for your situation. Visit our website to learn more information.

You enjoy taking your motorcycle out on the open road. The tires connect with the asphalt and the scenery flashes past as you cruise the highways and little-known roadways. Your bike brings you joy and you connect with others who share your passion for the open road. In a way, your vehicle says a lot about who you are and what you value. Put simply, it’s vital to protect your bike and the way of life it represents.

Martin Insurance Team knows how important your motorcycle is to you. That’s why they offer motorcycle insurance to protect you, your passengers, and others you may encounter in the event that the unexpected happens. Carrying insurance provides peace of mind for drivers, and Evergreen Park, IL residents must obtain a policy to be in compliance with state law. Keeping a current insurance policy with a trusted provider makes the biking experience worry-free.

But what about in the Illinois winter, when few bikers plan to test their machines on the icy, snow-covered roads? Many Evergreen Park, IL motorcyclists store their vehicles for the cold season, keeping their bikes in a garage, shed, or storage unit for the duration. 

If you’re not planning to operate your vehicle in the winter, shouldn’t you remove your insurance policy? Not necessarily! 

Just because a motorcycle won’t be driven doesn’t mean its coverage needs to disappear. After all, a bike can be stolen out of a garage during any season. Additionally, damage to the vehicle can occur if stacked boxes fall on the chassis or if a water leak rusts the frame.

Speak with your Martin Insurance Team agent to determine the best motorcycle insurance for your needs. Consider the importance of maintaining insurance during the offseason to protect your vehicle from the risks your prized possession may encounter in storage. Secure your bike for the long run– you’ll have confidence that your vehicle is protected in every season.

Transportation insurance, which covers property and goods being transported from point A to point B, across air, land, and sea, is a question of necessity, and that question is the same as just about any other form of insurance: Can you afford to cover the losses yourself should something go wrong?

If you regularly ship goods, then the chances of something happening, sooner or later, are basically guaranteed. You might get lucky and go for years without a single incident, but it’s probably going to happen eventually. Extreme weather, lost shipments, truck accidents. Eventually, some goods are going to be lost along the way. When that happens you can either eat the costs yourself or call your insurer.

Transportation insurance is such a basic precaution that even small-time sellers on sites like eBay and Etsy will generally purchase shipping insurance to make sure that what they’re mailing either gets there or gets replaced. So of course, it stands to reason that any business dealing in the shipping of large and bulk goods should practice the same precautions. In many cases, we’re shipping thousands or millions of dollars worth of cargo at a time. Leaving that product unprotected is asking for trouble.

If you run a shipping or transportation-based company in Evergreen Park, IL, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t do everything that you can do to make sure that your ends are covered in the event of a loss. That’s what Martin Insurance Team is here for. If you have people waiting to get their cargo in one piece, give Martin Insurance Team a call and see what they can do for your business in Evergreen Park, IL.

When you’re buying a home, or even if you already own one, your home insurance policy is very important. You’ll want to make sure it’s the right one for your needs and provides you with the proper level of coverage. You’ll also want to consider updating it periodically, as your needs and life situation change or you make improvements and additions to your Evergreen Park, IL area home. Here are five of the most important questions you should ask your insurance agent when you reach out to us at the Martin Insurance Team.

1. Why should I get insurance if I don’t have a mortgage?

2. How do I know what policy limits I should get?

3. When should I updated or change my policy?

4. What kinds of events are excluded from my policy?

5. Is my home in an area that needs policy riders or additional coverage types?

Don’t be afraid to ask a lot of questions, and keep asking until you get answers you understand. Insurance agents are dedicated to helping their clients find the right coverage that will meet their needs. To protect your interest in your home, it’s vital to get a good policy. You don’t have to settle for less.

By asking your insurance agent plenty of questions, you can find out more about your options and the type of policy you should be getting. Having a little too much coverage is better than not having enough, but you also don’t want to overdo it. That’s where we come in. By reaching out to us today at Martin Insurance Team, we can help you and all our Evergreen Park, IL area clients get the home insurance policy that’s right for them. That means good protection, along with the peace of mind for the present and the future, as well.

Are you a property owner that is currently renting and wants to know about the advantages of different types of landlord liability insurance in Evergreen Park, IL? Martin Insurance Team offers a variety of different property insurance including landlord liability in the Evergreen Park, IL area. Landlord insurance usually includes two types of protection: property and liability. Either type of insurance is intended to protect, you, the property owner and manager from any type of financial loss.

Landlord Property Protection

Property protection is related to things that are related to the dwelling being damaged by natural disasters or weather and other types of losses which can include detached structures like your fences, garage, sheds, and carport. If your tenant maintains the lawn and the lawnmower is damaged, some insurance may cover this but not things like a personal bike or a DVD player that was out in the garage. 

Many times these types of losses will have a deductible. Due to this, some landlords also consider an umbrella policy to cover any additional financial loss not covered. 

Landlord Liability

This is more about an accident happening that may be due to your negligence such as not maintaining stairs or concrete and the tenant slips. You may have medical, legal and other costs to cover. 

Additional Landlord Property Considerations

Additional things that landlords may want to consider in landlord property insurance is vandalism protection, burglary protection, and optional coverage of appliances that you may include in the rental. 

If your property goes under construction due to damage to your property, additional coverage for updating building codes or insurance while it’s under construction is something to consider. 

If you have any more questions about landlord property insurance in Evergreen Park, IL, give our staff at Martin Insurance Team a call today.