All posts by Debbie Sears

Iowa Employers Brace for Obamacare

Health Care Reform, Health Insurance, Healthcare updates

Please let me look at your situation with your business now, well in advance, so that you will know where you stand and what you need to know. Time goes fast as we all work in our craft and the first thing you know we are not prepared to make some important decisions. This affects your business and your employees and their families. After our initial meeting, I compile a couple of options for your consideration. If you would like, I can also have a meeting that includes your employees. I think that good sound communication creates a team effort – we are all concerned. This gives your employees the feeling that you want the best for the business and them.

This article explains why the sense of urgency.

All of my consultations are free – just call and we can arrange a time best for you.

Centers of Excellence are LifeSavers!

Cancer, Centers of Excellence
My husband is cancer Free!!!  Yippee!!


This has been a five year battle. Some of you have heard my story and I do not want to be redundant, but there is a real treasure of information here for anyone. Please read my article explaining what a Center of Excellence is; how they came about and what purpose they serve. In our case, this saved Dan’s life. We chose to go to MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, TX. The surgeon is internationally recognized as being one (if not the) best in the world at his craft.


Dan was diagnosed in July 2008 by an oncologist/hematologist here in Des Moines with stage 4 bi-lateral lung cancer and was told that he had 3 to 6 moths to live. This conclusion was made WITHOUT a biopsy!!! That is a cardinal sin. Due to the fact that the diagnosis was inaccurate (a guess), the plan of care was also wrong. Chemotherapy kills cells – good and bad – if it is incorrect it also can end your life.
Please know what your insurance will and will not cover. Do not restrict yourself when it comes to access to the “A Team”.  It’s as much as your life’s worth!

Income Protection

Income Protection

Principal made this marketing tool available to me regarding your personal income protection. I would like you to just read this because it is illustrated in such a clean and simple fashion that it’s easy to understand how important it is to have your income protected. We go to the bother of protecting a “depreciating asset”, such as a used vehicle, but we have failed to insure our stream of income. I feel that I owe you the due diligence of making you understand how important this could be to you and your loved ones. Please take a look at this flier and if you have more questions, please call me. The quoting and consultations are free.

New Years Resolution Worn Off?

Blue Zones

Our New Years resolutions have surely worn off by now! Tell me you weren’t interested in Baconfest! Tell me you don’t enjoy cocktail hour. Tell me you’re not on the couch because it’s too cold outside. Have you ever considered learning more about the guide and practices of the Blue Zones Project, referred to as Power 9

These 9 healthy lifestyle habits really do work. And they’re free. You’ve just got to put them into practice…

P.S. Power 9 practice number 6 may be of interest. Check it out.

Do You Really LOVE Your Valentine?

Disability Income, extended illness or injury, life insurance, Long Term Care

Store bought Valentines are always a novelty but if you really love your “honey” you would take time to plan and structure your insurance and legal affairs to be able to keep hard earned assets in tact.  I am referring to income protection (in the event your income stops), your health and your life.

Life changes and so should your “plan”.  Start with telling me what you think you would like to see happen.  We will ask you to retain the professionals that you already have a trust with such as your attorney and CPA.  If you do not have any in place and want a referral, we have several to choose from, pending your situation.  Repositioning what you already have to find hidden benefits or dollars can lead to a very pleasant surprise.

With one, client we made very slight changes and “found”  over $7,000 a year in savings.  That in turn was used to fund a savings account for the unexpected and purchase some much needed insurance.  She became “whole” and spent less money.  The expression on her face and the smile that followed made the time quite rewarding.

Health Care Reform Is Here – Now is the Time to Position Yourself for 2014!

Compliance, Health Care Reform, Options

You must be wondering about how the new Health Care Reform will impact your  business. Now is the time to get an understanding of where you are with this subject.  It is new to all of us.  It may confuse you.  We are here to walk you through the process of determining what your options are. We keep all of our clients in compliance and while this is new, don’t be intimidated by it.  As always, some folks will feel that they win and others will feel that this will harm them.  It is a time for the employer and the insurance agent to thoroughly analyze the choices.  When a determination has been made, let’s have an employee meeting and all of us work together as a a team.  Let’s make our dollars work for us and know how to best use our resources.

Aviva USA Sale Announcement Triggers Rating Agency Updates

401 (k) Rollovers, Group Health Insurance, Health Insurance, Healthcare updates

In an effort to keep you as informed as possible, I would like you to click on this hyperlink concerning Aviva, their sale to Athene and how the rating companies view their financial strength. We have resources in Des Moines, Iowa, that carry the industry’s highest ratings.

Please note that Sears Insurance is not contracted with carriers, that don’t meet our standards and we are very selective as to who we affiliate our agency with. Solicitations come in many forms, on a daily basis, and we very respectfully hold the positions we have for many years and they have proven to be in our clients’ best interest for decades…

Take Your 401(k) With You!

401 (k) Rollovers, Estate planning

If your employment has changed, please don’t forget to take your 401(k) with you. Chances are, because you’re good at what you’re doing, you may not know all of the details and complexities associated with the investment that your hard-earned, and in some cases, employer-matched resources, are in. It could be that they are progressing fine in light of the market. It could be that they are not and of course, you are paying management fees out of your account, regardless.

A 401(k) account is an employer sponsored retirement plan that a person voluntarily participates in. If you are not with your employer and you bring these funds with you, it then becomes an IRA (Individual Retirement Account). Whether you are employed elsewhere and have the opportunity to participate in their plan or not, does not affect the choice you make with the last employer’s retirement funds account.

I encourage people to always participate in any employer’s 401(k), but each time your employment changes, start fresh with the new employer. Keeping your existing funds in your own ownership and control. This will provide you safety. In my industry, safety means guarantee of principle. Guaranteed minimum rates of return and tax deferral. P.S. No gamble, safe, solid and secure. Call me for more details.

Thanks…Giving, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Estate planning, Group Health Insurance, Health Care Reform, Home care, Increasing Whole Life Insurance

As we reflect on “where did 2012 go and so fast”…we also focus on what is coming to us for 2013 and beyond. This lends the opportunity for me to say Thanks to all of my clients, colleagues, office staff and support and the wonderful family and friends that I have. The true gift is the return smiles, the hugs, the kudos and the referrals. The gift that I provide is that of my time and my experience in my industry. I am always here for you to ask me questions. I will either provide the answer or search out the right one to fit your needs. I will refer you as necessary to trusted experts in my network of resources.

Giving…we have all been taught that to give is to receive. That is for sure. The more that I do for others, the more my phone rings, and the more smiles, and the more referrals Sears Insurance gets. To be a part of different groups, to participate in community events, to refer my friends to sources that have been proven trusted makes for a feeling of team effort. We adopted several families this year and have provided them with things that we take for granted. The extra special grocery items that are not on their list or budget, the warm clothing, new beds, furniture, a movie ticket, etc. that make another person feel like they are cared for is a wonderful feeling of joy. Throughout the year we always contribute to our favorite charities. We have so much to be thankful for as compared to the people of the world in general…count your blessings one by one each and every day.

As we approach the end of a calendar year we make plans for gift giving and the renewal of a new year. A great gift is to take the time and care for yourself. It would amaze you if you made a paper-and-pen list of the people in your life that depend on you in some way. If you were to leave us, if you were to become disabled and not be able to care for your children, or not to earn your accustomed pay check that your household depends on, if you had an illness that hampered your performance many people would be affected. I encourage you to know your health and wellness and preventive care benefits on your health coverage. Let me teach you how to maximize this benefit. Many times a wellness or “routine” exam will lead to a discovery that you would not have found on your own…or when it is more advanced. Keep yourself maintained! Then let’s look at the big picture on your insurances. I have actually seen families that were uninsured in one area and over insured in another area. This is not uncommon. I do not hold them accountable for knowing these differences, but do hold them accountable for making an appointment for a FREE review.

We, Sears Insurance, pride ourselves in the highest quality carriers and products. Our service is one of the highest in the industry. There are measurements from independent sources that determine placement based on many criteria and we are proud to say we repeatedly hit the highest marks. As I have mentioned before, we have been consistently recognized by our carriers for our production. Again we are a Top Producer for Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Iowa and meet qualifications for top recognition with EMC National Life Company to name a couple. You have all made that possible with the trust that you have placed in us. You have trusted us with your health and your finances…that makes us very proud to represent you!

We wish you all good health, happiness and good fortune going into 2013.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Thanks…Giving and Christmas

Uncategorized

Thanks…Giving and Christmas is not about us. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the individuals and businesses that have entrusted us with your insurance needs. We take this as the ultimate compliment as all of our business is referral-based.

As we give thanks for the business, I would be remiss in not thanking you for your friendship. I believe to place trust in somebody is an unspoken friendship. And this is the greatest compensation we could ever hope for.

And Giving. When it comes to giving, I think our greatest gift is our time and our talents. As we wrap our gifts and tie the bows, please do not forget to include those less fortunate. We have adopted several families, some we have worked with in the past, and several new ones. We provide the necessities to these families that we take for granted. Grocery items that may not be in their budget to make their holidays mores special. Clothing, furniture, beds, etc. And the greatest reward is the smile that you get back. That is Christmas…

As we wrap this up, be warm, be dry, be safe. Hope to visit with you next year!

Happy New Year!!!

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