I come from a middle class, blue collar family of small business owners. My grandfather worked seven days a week, 12 hours a day and practically never took a vacation. My father followed suite and I was next in line.

I remember as a kid my dad would wake me up at 4 am before school to help him open his deli. I would prep the bacon and home fries for the morning rush. On Sunday morning at 2 am my grandfather would honk his horn in front of my house, so I could put the newspapers together before his morning rush.

I loved every second of it! I was spending time with my two favorite people, building the family business’ and making money! Yes, I got paid too! Soon enough, I was working before school, after school and twelve hours a day on the weekends. My family certainly taught me work ethic and how to earn.

One day I asked my grandfather when he was going to retire? He replied, “When they bury me.” I realized as I matured why he said that, he had no retirement. He knew how to earn and that was it. He worked until the day he went into the hospital and he passed shortly after that. When he passed my grandmother was 70 and she didn’t get a check from the insurance company, all she opened was the next months bills. She worked every day until she was 86.

My Dad, he still works every day, seven days a week. When he got sick and was in the hospital, we took turns watching his restaurant. When he came home from the hospital, my mother drove him to work because he had no choice. I guess I was next?

My Grandfather actually had a fairly large Term Insurance policy and it expired the year before he passed. He was never guided or reminded by his agent that it wasn’t going to last forever and to get into something permanent such as Whole Life.

My Grandmother is now bedridden from a fall she had 2 years ago. She makes $300 too much with social security and isn’t eligible for Medicaid. My family and I share the costs of Aides and split the time needed for care between the 7 of us. No one ever spoke to my Grandparents about Long Term Care Insurance.

When my father couldn’t work because of his illness, he didn’t have Permanent Disabilty Insurance and had to figure out how to get back to work quickly. We all know the disabilty Insurance we get from work is not enough to survive. He was never told about it…

MY WHY…. is to break the cycle. To help people and families that have worked their butts off learn how to protect themselves and their families. How to plan for retirement, estate planning, college funding, LIFE, FAMILY, and most important, TOMORROW… that’s my selfish gratification.