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Today’s Meet a Mom is a true Katyian! She grew up in Katy and has raised her 3 kids here. Stephanie is a local mom and a licensed life insurance agent who is passionate about helping families protect their loved ones. Life insurance can be one of those topics that people ignore and maybe don’t want to think about, but it is so important to have this protection for your spouse and for your kids. There are a lot of misconceptions with life insurance – that it’s expensive, difficult to obtain if you have any health issues, or that what you have through an employer is enough. So, we sat down with Stephanie to debunk those myths, and of course, talk mom life. Make sure to read to the end, where there is a link set up just for you to get a fast and easy quote!
Where are you from originally and how long have you lived in the Katy area?
I was born in London England to American parents living abroad for business and returned to the US when I was a year old. We moved to Katy when I was 2 and have lived in the area ever since.
How many kiddos do you have and how old are they?
I have 3 kids, Andrew 18, Christian 16 and Olivia 14
What’s your favorite thing about raising a family in Katy?
I loved growing up in Katy, where everyone knew you, schools were small, you could run around all over town as a kid and you knew you were safe. There was a huge sense of community and everyone looked out for everyone else. That is the kind of environment I wanted to raise my family in. Of course as a teenager I always dreamed of busting out of here, however, once I started a family I knew I wanted to raise them here.
What are your favorite local things to do in Katy? (with kiddos or just for mom!)
When my kids were little and I needed some other mom company to keep my sanity and remember that my first language was not baby talk, I joined a local MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) Group. It was so nice to visit with and meet other moms that were going through the same trials and joys that I was. My just mom time was and still is usually a girls night out every so often with my friends at a local restaurant to enjoy a glass of wine and unwind.
We’re big on self-care for moms, as hard as it is to find the time, what’s something you do just or yourself?
I am a firm believer on doing what helps you relax. We cannot be useful to our families if we are run down and exhausted. I like to do craft projects like using my Cricut machine or chalk painting furniture, cooking (when it’s not required) or just sitting outside when the weather is nice and enjoying the fresh air. Doing something that I like to do that is not something I have to do, gives me a sense of accomplishment that is something other than the accomplishment you feel when taking care of kids.
One thing people would be surprised to know about you…
I love to saltwater fish! It’s not glamorous, it can be messy, hot, cold, or rainy but there is something about being on the water when the sun comes up and I can turn off my phone and my brain and just be. I love the competition of trying to catch that fish and on the days the box comes home empty, I still had a great time. When the kids go, I love the memories we make on the boat when they are disconnected from their world and we are laughing, joking and loving each other’s company.
Tell us about your career with Dagley Insurance Company and when you began working for them.
I started working for Dagley in 2018. I wanted to work for a company that believed in family values, was close to home and could be flexible with me and being a mom. I came on board as an Administrative Assistant with Dagley and to Encompass Advisory Services, our sister company that specializes in financial planning. In my time, since joining the agency, I have become a licensed life insurance agent and am currently taking classes to become a financial adviser.
What do you think is the biggest misconception among the public when it comes to life insurance?
Let’s face it, thinking about your death is not the most enjoyable topic but it is a very important one. The first and biggest misconception I hear is that it is expensive and therefore not in most people’s budget at the time. In actuality, a $250,000 term life policy for a healthy 30 yr old is about $160 a year, that’s $13 a month!
The second is “I am good, I have Life Insurance through my employer”. More about that below.
If we get life insurance through our employer (or our spouse’s employer), do you still recommend get quotes through you or add additional life insurance with you?
Yes, and the reason is this. Group life insurance through you or your spouse’s employer is a great benefit but typically the payout is fairly low and usually based on a percentage of your salary. Also, if you leave your job your policy most often does not leave with you, your employer pays the premium and therefore owns the policy, not you. If you get an additional policy that you own, then you own it no matter where you end up.
How much would one look at paying for life insurance?
You can get a 30 year term life policy with a payout of $250,000-$500,000 for about $13-$35 a month depending on your age and health.
Why is life insurance so important to have?
Life insurance is important because the funds can pay for expenses that previously came from the policyholder’s income. It can be used to pay your mortgage, car notes, education, child care, medical care, funeral expenses, medical bills if the deceased was ill and to help you maintain your lifestyle…and it is tax free!
What if something happened to Mom? Is your spouses’ policy at work enough to pay someone to take over your roll in caring for your children until they are old enough to take care of themselves?
Is it difficult to qualify for life insurance?
Absolutely not! I can run a free quote by just asking you a few questions over the phone. Many people think if you have any health issues you will not qualify. Not true, for example, a 50 year old with high cholesterol and a family history of heart disease can buy a 20 year $250,000 policy for about $46 a month.
What is your favorite thing about selling life insurance and how has the Katy area impacted your career?
My favorite thing is knowing that I helped a family protect their loved ones if anything should ever happen to them. Whether you are a 1 or 2 income family, if something were to happen to mom or dad or both, you know that your children and/or surviving spouse will not have to struggle financially on top of the loss they have already suffered.
Katy is such a caring and family oriented community that is centered around those values. Educating people on the importance of life insurance has made me feel like I have impacted these families in a positive way and makes me want to make sure everyone is able to obtain the protection they need.
How do you balance work, being a mama and wife?
I am a planner, if I do not plan ahead I cannot function and second to that…wine!
Best advice for moms who experience the inevitable and dreaded MOM GUILT?
It’s so easy to think that everyone else is doing it better than you when you see all of the stuff on social media. Well, other moms are just bumbling along like the rest of us. Your kids don’t want you to be perfect, it stresses them into thinking they need to be perfect. They just need to know you love them!
Who has most influenced you to be the mom you are today?
My kids! When they were born they depended on me for everything…no stress right? I do what I do for them and while they had no choice in the mom they got, I have a choice in the kind of mom they get.
When parenting gets hard, what’s something you tell yourself that gets you through?
I tell myself to not make it harder than it needs to be and I thank God for reminding me that I need His help and guidance to get me through it.
Interested in a quote from Stephanie?
Click the link below, answer a few questions, and Stephanie will email you a quote!
https://forms.gle/6CG3Hrk3VzjuAM1D8
