Brad Cunard learnt the value of life insurance the difficult way. While stuck in traffic with his wife Lisa and two boys, Max and Owen, they hit a violent thunderstorm. Nothing could have prepared Brad for what happened next. A tree fell on their car with horrible precision, instantly killing Lisa, 38, and their boys, who were three years and five months old. Brad had always believed he and Lisa would live to enjoy Little League games, proms and grandchildren. Now he found himself alone, not sure how he’d pick up the pieces.Luckily, Brad and his wife had purchased life insurance, which gave him the financial security to grieve. “The money won’t bring Lisa, Max or Owen back, but it makes the existence I find myself in easier. I don’t have to work while I’m not ready, or sell my house because I can’t afford the mortgage. I’ve bee employment law advice for employers n able to think slowly about my future,” Brad says. The insurance money also helped keep Brad’s business running while he was home. Brad says because of financial planning, “I know I’ll do better than survive. I’ll live and succeed in the second chapter of my life and make my family proud.” Insurance firms offer various insurance policies depending on the individual. For example, Term insurance is inexpensive, but is for a limited time and does not build cash values. Permanent life insurance, like a whole life policy, has a fixed premium at date of issue that never increases. If it’s a mutual company, they pay dividends that can be applied to reduce the premium. A valuable part of a whole life policy is the build up of guaranteed cash values that can serve as a reserve that can be used for educational, retirement or other needs.