How do you define “mom”? Her value is certainly more than any of the roles she might play: breadwinner, cook, server, dishwasher, psychologist, facilities manager, laundry operator, housekeeper, bookkeeper, daycare teacher, interior designer/decorator, nurse, chauffeur, janitor and computer operator.
Mothers are what made your life possible, yet in many cases their role is by far the most undervalued of all positions in which one could serve. We fail to consider what would happen if she weren’t there to handle things. How would the family continue with the plans for the future? College? Retirement? The value of a mom’s work has been estimated as high as $118,000 per year. The Mom Salary Wizard at salary.com can provide a customized value of the work of a mother.
Mike Tiernan, actuary and assistant vice president for The Cincinnati Life Insurance Company, knows all too well the value of a mother and the important role life insurance can play in securing the future.
“I wouldn’t be working for Cincinnati Life if it weren’t for life insurance,” says Mike. He and his wife, Diane, were working as underwriters for Cincinnati Insurance. When they purchased a home, they made the critical decision to also purchase life insurance to insure their mortgage. They never really thought they’d need it, but it would be plenty to cover the mortgage should one of them pass unexpectedly.
A couple of years later, Mike and Diane were finalizing the adoption of their son when she was diagnosed with a rare liver disease, making her uninsurable. The doctors felt that based on her young age and otherwise good health, Diane could live a normal life with a transplant, so she was placed on a transplant list. Life went on as normal as possible with her condition. When their son was about 2½, Diane received her transplant. Unfortunately, there were complications from the transplant, and she died at the early age of 30. Mike, by then an agent, was faced with raising their son alone.
Their earlier decision to purchase life insurance enabled Mike to leave his job and become a stay-at-home dad. He was able to be there for his son when he was needed the most. Once their son was ready for preschool, the insurance allowed Mike to go back to school and earn his degree. His degree made it possible to get his current position as an actuary.
Without their son, Mike’s not sure how, or if, he would have made it through after Diane’s passing. One critical decision – to purchase life insurance – made everything else possible. While you can never replace Mom, you can use life insurance to have a plan in place so that the dreams for the family’s financial future can still become reality.
Neither The Cincinnati Life Insurance Company nor its affiliates or representatives offer tax or legal advice. Consult with your tax adviser or attorney about your specific situation. For policy service and additional information, speak to an independent agent representing The Cincinnati Life Insurance Company. For a complete statement of the coverages and exclusions, please see the policy contract. All applicants are subject to underwriting approval. Products and riders available in most states.