2011-Nov-01 - Christopher H. Hause

May You Live in Interesting Times
So goes the Chinese blessing/curse. Many of us have heard this quote and for those of us who are always up for a challenge, we are not (but maybe should be) afraid of these interesting times.

At this writing, the US House and Senate do not seem to be able to agree on the color of the sky, much less pass a continuing resolution to keep the country operating.

The stock market is behaving like a teenager with bipolar disorder, and treasury interest rates are approaching zero.

Insurance companies are playing the best role possible in times like these, and that is one of guarantees and stability. Cash values will continue to accumulate at guaranteed interest rates. Life and health benefits will continue to be paid to compensate for loss. Monthly annuities will be paid to retirees, as promised.

There is no better antidote to "interesting times" than consistency and reliability.

May You Come to the Attention of Powerful People
I was listening to a popular radio "financial expert" recently who was responding to the question, "When should I buy whole life insurance" and I was dismayed to hear that his answer was an emphatic "NEVER!" Apparently, this expert is echoing what we have heard from other self-styled financial "experts" who do not believe in the stability and reliability of permanent life insurance.

I cannot disagree more. In the last 10 years the stock market has gyrated violently and overall lost value. How many whole life policies lost value over these last ten years?

I hope that "financial experts" like this would just ignore our products rather than giving their biased "one size fits all" advice to their listeners.

May You Find What You are Looking For
This may be a variation of the "Monkey's Paw" curse as though the one seeking a goal or answer will be dismayed at the price one has to pay to achieve a singular goal.

Or, maybe the curse warns us against single-mindedness such as embodied in Javert, who loses his will to live after his raison d'etre (capturing Valjean) is removed from his life.

I think that this curse is warning us against the belief that "if I just had this, I would be happy" when we are likely to find that happiness is more elusive than we thought.

So here is my blessing for you, our clients and friends. And, it is one that does not involve an embedded curse. May you survive these interesting times in good health and happiness. And remember, this too shall pass.