We are Here for Good.

Those three words carry a big message.

They signal our longevity, our resiliency, our commitment to do good, and our deep belief in the strength of servant leadership.

At National Life we love the power of three. We love to keep things simple. Our three core values are Do Good, Be Good, Make Good. Those three values and six words pack a real punch and keep us focused on Due North. They’re so important to us that they’re inscribed in marble in our company’s lobby.

Planning for retirement is mostly focused on the need for consistent, lifelong income. But comprehensive planning should also include protecting financial assets. The loss of a spouse can significantly affect the surviving spouse’s ability to retire. In addition, a significant medical event can diminish unprotected assets and the cost of a chronic or critical illness can devastate any retirement plan.

Join us for a free learning series on what it means to be a school leader.

When you think of someone who’s a great leader, who comes to mind?

Probably someone with a strong vision and the confidence to make that vision come to life, right? There’s more to it than that.

This year is, without a doubt, a year of many firsts and a year of reflection. Everything I normally do as a teacher has had to be modified or deleted. But one thing for sure I have tried not to change is the impact I have on my students. Being an inspiring and impactful educator is why I chose the teaching profession.

The pandemic has been a wake-up call for many to reevaluate their finances, according to a recent Life Happens survey. And for women, especially working mothers—the pandemic has delivered an extra punch of career stress.

The average teacher spent $745 out of pocket last year to buy school supplies for their classroom.

And now that the definition of “school supplies” includes industrial-size hand sanitizer, personal chromebooks, and Internet hotspots…well, it adds up fast.

This holiday season, we want to make a difference where the need is greatest. That’s why we’re proud to support AdoptAClassroom.org’s COVID-19 Relief Fund for Teachers and Students, which goes directly to classrooms most vulnerable to budget shortfalls and lack of technology and PPE this year.

Times like these reinforce how much relationships matter.

The power of an understanding ear, reaching out to simply check-in on neighbors, friends and clients goes a long way. Turns out, that’s what many of we agents do on a daily basis.

This summer, I was tasked with overhauling Retirement Homeroom, a National Life website dedicated to helping Educators and School District Employees plan for retirement. Like any project, I started with an open mind, gathering as much knowledge as I could and putting myself in the shoes of those we seek to help: Teachers. I found myself back in the classrooms of my favorite teachers, reflecting on their contributions to who I am – and where I am – today. I thought about the relentless “one-paper-every-weekend” assignment in Mr. Hayes’ AP English Class: I mastered the art of the m-dash. I left more prepared for college than I ever imagined. I became a writer.

Teaching history during a pandemic is very difficult, especially in an elementary school where math and English language arts are the top priority.  But the fight over which subject should receive the most instructional time doesn’t need to take place any longer. 

LifeChanger of the Year finalist Keil Hileman has one piece of advice when it comes to Veterans Day (well, really any day of the year): If you see someone who has served our country, look them in the eye and say, “thank you for your service.”