For Women and Men of All Ages and Incomes Berlin Consulting Group www.InsuranceForEnhancedLiving.com
About the Author: I was born in 1953. Mom was a nurse. Dad, a Navy vet and civil engineer, worked for a concrete supply company. They went bankrupt 15 years later. That taught me a lesson-I had to plan my own financial security. Mom suffered in the Depression. She sold sandwiches by the roadside, near a relative's farm. The fear of not having food or money became ingrained into her subconscious. I grew up bringing a sack lunch to school, with 3 pennies to buy a half-pint of milk. The lesson I learned from vicariously living my Mom's youth was that if I did not provide for myself, I might, indeed, go hungry in the future. I began my working career in 3rd grade, publishing a short-lived, one page community newspaper, which I attempted to peddle door to door for 3 cents. It lasted six issues. Since then, I've been involved in over 30 businesses, with the success or failure of my efforts dependent mainly on my wits, determination, incredibly long work day, fear of failure, and luck. These forty-plus years have brought me a clear understanding of what it takes to succeed. It has also taught me how ill-prepared we all are for financial peace of mind. We wish to happen, at the expense of realistic planning. A number of years ago, I turned to the world of insurance and finance, in part because some unpleasant tragic events occurred: -My mother-in-law spent 27 years flat on her back in a nursing home, supported by Medicaid. -My sister-in-law, age 61, was hit by a car, thrown 25 feet, broke everything, was in a coma for 3 months. She had no disability or long-term care insurance. -My Dad passed away, woefully under-insured. -My Mom's long-term care insurance lapsed, leaving her with annual costs in excess of $100,000. -My stock market investments tanked. Reviewing insurance was never on my list of top 10 things to do. But after I reviewed my policies a while back, I realized that I was missing some opportunities. I went to school, and got a license to sell insurance. I have yet to find anyone who likes shopping for insurance, and I've collected a set of horror stories. You can save time and money and benefit from my learning, just by reading my book. I approach insurance by gaining knowledge and mentors with experience and the proper connections. I listen to people's needs. That's what I was taught at Princeton University, and at the Wharton School of Finance. This is the bedrock of my ability to help people achieve financial peace of mind.