Frequently Asked Questions

Absolutely nothing. My consultations are 100% free with no obligation. I get paid a commission by the insurance carrier when a policy is issued — so there's never a fee to you for my time, advice, or the quotes I run.

For simplified issue (no-exam) policies, many clients are approved and covered the same day we talk. For fully underwritten policies that require a medical exam, the process typically takes 2–4 weeks. I'll tell you upfront which path makes the most sense for your situation.

No. TrueForge is a 100% virtual agency. Everything happens over the phone or video call. Applications are signed electronically and submitted digitally. You never need to leave your home.

For our first call, you don't need to prepare much — just a general idea of your budget and what you're trying to protect. When we move to the application, you'll need your date of birth, Social Security number, and basic health history. I'll walk you through everything step by step.

A common rule of thumb is 10–12x your annual income, but the real answer depends on your specific situation: your mortgage balance, number of dependents, existing savings, and how many years your family would need income replacement. We'll calculate the right number together on our call — not just guess.

Term life covers you for a set period (10–30 years) at a lower monthly cost. It's ideal for income replacement and mortgage protection during your working years. Whole life is permanent — it never expires, builds cash value over time, and costs more monthly. Final expense policies are whole life. Which is right for you depends on your goals and budget — I help you figure that out.

Mortgage protection is a term life policy structured so that the death benefit covers your outstanding mortgage balance. If you pass away, the benefit goes to your family (not the lender) — so they can choose to pay off the mortgage or use the funds however they need. Some policies also include riders for disability or critical illness that make payments if you're alive but can't work.

Most likely yes. As a simplified issue specialist, I work with carriers who approve applicants with many common health conditions — diabetes, high blood pressure, past cancer, heart conditions, and more. Guaranteed issue final expense policies are available for anyone ages 50–85 with no health questions at all. If you've been declined elsewhere, call me — I know which carriers are most likely to say yes.

Simplified issue means the application only requires you to answer a short health questionnaire — no physical exam, no blood draw, no urine sample. The carrier makes an underwriting decision based on your answers and a database check. Approvals can come back in minutes to a few hours. It's available for term, whole life, and IUL products.

It varies widely based on your age, health, coverage amount, and product type. A healthy 35-year-old can get $500,000 of 20-year term coverage for as little as $25–$40/month. Final expense whole life for a 65-year-old typically runs $50–$150/month depending on the benefit amount. The best way to know your rate is to let me run the numbers — it takes minutes.

For term and whole life policies, your premium is locked in at the rate you're approved for — it cannot increase for the life of the policy. For IUL policies, premiums are flexible by design. I always explain exactly how a policy works before you sign anything.

Most policies have a grace period (typically 30 days) during which coverage remains active even if a payment is missed. If a policy lapses, there are often reinstatement options. I'll explain your specific policy's grace period and reinstatement rules when we review your coverage.

Yes. Most life insurance policies have a free-look period (usually 10–30 days from policy delivery) during which you can cancel for a full refund. After that, you can cancel at any time — whole life and IUL policies may have cash surrender value you can access. There is no penalty for canceling a term policy.

You can name anyone — a spouse, child, parent, sibling, domestic partner, friend, or even a charity or trust. You can also name multiple beneficiaries and specify what percentage each receives. You can update your beneficiaries at any time after the policy is issued.

When a policy is issued, I provide a welcome summary with your carrier's claims contact information. Your beneficiary contacts the carrier directly, submits a death certificate, and the claim is typically paid within 2–4 weeks. Life insurance death benefits are paid income-tax-free. I'm also available to help your family navigate the process.

Generally, no. Life insurance death benefits are paid income-tax-free to named beneficiaries in most cases. IUL cash value withdrawals and loans are also structured to be tax-free when handled correctly. For estate tax questions or complex situations, I recommend also consulting a tax advisor.