Preparing for Your Free Annual Review: The "No Sweat" Guide.
You bring the puzzle pieces, we build the picture.
Finding old papers is easier than you think!
We know that setting up an appointment is the easy part—it's hunting down a three-year-old life insurance statement that feels like a chore. **Don't stress!** The purpose of this guide is to tell you exactly what matters for each part of your financial life and, more importantly, to assure you that **if you can't find it, we'll help you get it.**
Our job is to **save you money and secure your future**. A little preparation means we can get right to work spotting the gaps and solving the problems. You bring what you have, we fill in the blanks.
Your Review Checklist: What Documents Matter (And Why)
Retirement & Financial Review
Goal: Predictable income and lower taxes in your non-working years.
- **401(k), IRA, Annuity Statements (Recent):** *Why: We audit risk, fees, and check your guaranteed income figures.*
- **Social Security Statement:** *Why: The single biggest piece of your retirement puzzle. We find the optimal claim age.*
- **Last Two Years of Tax Returns:** *Why: To see if your assets are balanced for maximum tax efficiency.*
Life Insurance & Final Expense Review
Goal: Verify coverage, check performance, and confirm who gets the check.
- **Policy Summary Pages (All Policies):** *Why: We check the premium, coverage amount, and, most importantly, the beneficiaries.*
- **In-Force Illustration (Permanent Policies):** *Why: Essential. We need this to see if the policy is in danger of silently lapsing early.*
- **List of Past Major Health Changes:** *Why: To see if you can qualify for lower rates on a better plan now.*
Estate & Legacy Review
Goal: Ensure your wishes are followed privately and without costly court fees.
- **Will, Trust, and POA Documents:** *Why: To verify they are legally sound and that your fiduciaries are still the right people.*
- **Property Deeds and Vehicle Titles:** *Why: To check if major assets are titled properly to bypass probate.*
- **Business Agreements (If applicable):** *Why: To ensure proper succession planning and tax transfer.*
Medicare/Medigap Supplement Reviews
Goal: Find the lowest cost for your prescriptions and keep your favorite doctors.
- **Current List of Medications (Drug Name & Dosage):** *Why: THE most critical step for Part D. We can save you thousands here.*
- **Current Plan ID Card:** *Why: We need this to quickly pull up the coverage you have and compare it to every other plan.*
- **List of Primary Doctors/Specialists:** *Why: We check against the next year's network lists to prevent surprise bills.*
Supplemental Health & Home Care Reviews
Goal: Ensure you have cash on hand for care and aren't risking your savings.
- **Long-Term Care (LTC) Policy Details:** *Why: To audit benefit pool size and check how long it will last at current costs.*
- **Critical Illness or Home Health Rider Info:** *Why: To confirm benefits are current and find ways to integrate cash-flow protection.*
- **Medicare Advantage Enrollment Kit:** *Why: To check for embedded benefits like dental, vision, or transportation.*
The "Bring It All" Review (Our Favorite!)
Goal: Don't know where to start? Don't care to separate it? Bring the whole box.
- **The "Junk Drawer":** If it looks financial, throw it in a box. We'll sort through it and tell you what matters.
- **Your Questions:** A list of things that worry you (e.g., "Will I run out of money?" or "Is my ex-wife still on this thing?").
- **Just Show Up:** Honestly, we are happy to start with almost nothing. We’ll guide you and help retrieve documents as needed.
Bob's Rule: Don't Sweat the Small Stuff!
If you look at the checklist above and feel like hunting down all those old papers is a chore, **don't stress about it.** Our primary goal is to help you, not give you homework.
Why Bother? 10 Simple Reasons to Get Your Free Review Now
1. **Stop Paying Too Much:** Find hidden fees and unnecessary premium hikes.
2. **Fix The Ex-Spouse Problem:** Confirm beneficiaries on *all* assets are current.
3. **Avoid Policy Collapse:** Check if permanent life insurance is running out of steam.
4. **Secure Tax-Free Income:** Find opportunities to put money in tax-free accounts.
5. **Save on Medication:** Ensure your Medicare plan covers your specific prescriptions cheaply.
6. **Block Probate:** Confirm assets are titled correctly to avoid court delays for family.
7. **Catch Changing Networks:** Verify your doctors will still be in-network next year.
8. **Verify Guarantees:** Ensure your annuities or income riders are performing as promised.
9. **Prepare for Care Costs:** Audit your protection against the single biggest financial threat: long-term care.
10. **Gain Peace of Mind:** Know exactly where you stand, with zero guesswork.
Knowledge Zone: Intense Facts We Find in Reviews
The 401(k) Time Bomb
Most retirees have **80-90%** of their wealth in tax-deferred accounts. This means future income is almost entirely taxable, potentially pushing them into higher tax brackets and reducing Social Security benefits.
The Policy Lapse Notice
Over **90% of universal life policies** don't perform as originally illustrated and are at risk of lapsing by age 80 or 90, meaning clients paid for decades and lose all coverage—unless they check.
The Probate Cost Shock
Probate (the legal process of settling an estate) can cost a family **3% to 7%** of the estate's value and take up to **18 months**—all money and time that could be saved with a proper review.
Medicare Part D Savings
Many seniors overpay for Medicare Part D plans by **hundreds or even thousands** annually simply by staying in an outdated plan that no longer covers their current medications at the best price.
Long-Term Care Threat
The average annual cost of a semi-private nursing home room is over **$94,000**, and home health care costs average over **$5,000 per month**. Without a plan, this can rapidly deplete retirement savings.
Outdated Beneficiaries
A staggering number of life insurance policies, IRAs, and 401(k)s still list **ex-spouses or deceased relatives** as beneficiaries, leading to unintended and often costly transfers of wealth.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
We review policies from **any carrier, any agent.** The policy belongs to you, and we are happy to act as your unbiased second opinion to make sure it's performing as promised. This is a common and easy service for us to provide.
The actual review meeting takes about **45 to 60 minutes**. The longest part is usually getting you on the schedule! We keep it focused and respect your time—we get right to the issues we find.
We work however you prefer! If you have electronic statements saved on your computer or phone, that's perfect. If you have a stack of papers, that's fine too. We're here to make it easy, not digital-only.
If we find areas for improvement, we'll explain your options clearly. You're never obligated to make any changes or purchase anything from us. Our goal is to empower you with knowledge. If you choose to move forward with our solutions, great! If not, you still walk away with valuable insights—free of charge.
Absolutely. We adhere to the strictest privacy and confidentiality standards. Your financial information is handled with the utmost care and will never be shared with third parties without your explicit consent.
Ready for Peace of Mind?
You're prepared, you know why it matters. Let's get your check-up scheduled today.
Schedule My Free Review NowOr call us today to chat: (660) 351-3736