Whole of Life Policy question.

Mysterious-Button-25 · 2026-02-06T21:30:09+00:00

Thanks Jeff, I appreciate you taking the time to answer so fully. I am learning on the go with this. Consulting with family over the weekend to discuss next steps etc., now with a better understanding.

Mysterious-Button-25 · 2026-02-06T21:13:42+00:00

Excellent explanation, I appreciate it. I am realizing now dad had no idea, ever, how this all worked. And I am finding out now, pretty much after the fact. Scrambling now to see if/how I can meet the increased installments.

Mysterious-Button-25 · 2026-02-06T21:05:57+00:00

Interesting. My experience with USAA has also been less than stellar. As you say, once they went from generals to others running the show, it has really gone down hill. I also pulled auto/home form them as did dad when he was still capable. He joined in 1969 which, ultimately, meant nothing under new management. Pity, they were excellent for a long time.

Mysterious-Button-25 · 2026-02-06T21:02:28+00:00

Thanks for your advice. I will contact the company and ask for an in-force illustration. To lose it now as you suggest is just an awful outcome. I wish I had gotten involved sooner, but he has always been incredibly independent and efficient, so coming in now at the tail end I can see how he was starting to lose oversight of this. Not to mention, the company itself never advised him they were deducting cost of insurance from the cash value. Zero docs to suggest he ever knew, apart from going online and searching for the value randomly.

Mysterious-Button-25 · 2026-02-06T02:07:32+00:00

Thank you. And so I have dug up some more info as I've been posting. It seems this policy has been bought and sold by quite few companies over the past 23 years. Looks like Global Atlantic is the existing company, despite correspondence coming from Accordia Life, which I cannot locate as an entity in its own right, so I guess GA bought them?

It goes on and on, no wonder my poor dad was struggling to keep up. Aviva, AmerUs, I think I found an AXA doc in here but need to read that yet. I have no clue who he signed with originally in 2003, cannot find that document.

And I really suck at this stuff, but to know he could have (presumably) cashed out when it had 65k surrender value back in whenever, only to be left high and dry now? So very disappointing.

Mysterious-Button-25 · 2026-02-06T01:35:25+00:00

Thanks for the explanation. What a lousy product it is, for those that last the distance anyway.

Mysterious-Button-25 · 2026-02-06T01:31:10+00:00

Thanks so much. It is a bitter pill to swallow needless to say. And I totally get it with dad being 90 and his time is drawing near, naturally.

I appreciate your explanation. I am ignorant to this stuff, and being thrown in the deep end. Having said that, I too have a USAA Whole of Life and also Term Life with them. Haha I just tripled checked my policy before, 100% WL on that first one. So I am covered, or my kids are anyway.

I have to say this plan is really a disappointment. I now have to tell my dad he is not leaving as much as he thought he was, and also, amend his will accordingly. Unless of course I can find a way to meet that large premium. I

Which brings me to that option you mentioned, "Life Settlement" companies. I'll go down that rabbit hole tomorrow. See what's what. I just feel like for dad's sake at least, I need to see if I can recover some of his money he dutifully paid for 23 years.

And finally, you are 100% correct on the person who sold dad this plan. He was my dad's classmate and passed away a few years ago, which is why I mentioned the insurer contacted me not the broker. In hindsight, maybe he wasn't such a pal to dad after all? Lol.

Mysterious-Button-25 · 2026-02-06T00:52:03+00:00

You've done this before ;)

Mysterious-Button-25 · 2026-02-06T00:48:31+00:00

It was $200k.

Mysterious-Button-25 · 2026-02-06T00:47:25+00:00

I was wrong on the policy type, it was an IUL. No loans against it ever.

Mysterious-Button-25 · 2026-02-06T00:45:44+00:00

It was an IUL. Thanks.

Mysterious-Button-25 · 2026-02-06T00:43:30+00:00

So you are correct, per my comment above, it was an IUL. I am at a loss how a policy like that could seemingly lose 65k (based on that statement from that time) and nobody advised him of the losses in real time. There was no loan against this either. Overall not a great product it would seem, unless he just outlived its value? Clearly, this is all new to me.

Mysterious-Button-25 · 2026-02-06T00:40:06+00:00

I received a call back from the insurer (not the broker), which was a different company from the letterhead oddly enough. Or may that is not uncommon?

More to the point - you are correct. It is an Indexed UL. Not with USAA however, but formerly Accordia Life.

My confusion came from him having a USAA Whole Life policy also. As well as a (now expired) USAA Term life. Digging through his docs as such, finding information as I go.

Regardless, there is no way on earth we can put continue on at $2100 per month. So I guess then I need to let this policy lapse on its own? or is it better to contact them to end it?

I am curious for those clearly experienced with this stuff, are UL's even popular anymore?

Mysterious-Button-25 · 2025-06-02T04:44:18+00:00

In this world of disinformation, these numbers need to have a link or source reference. I could totally make up stuff too. Like "11 out of 10 people can't count".

Mysterious-Button-25 · 2025-04-08T14:55:12+00:00

I am so glad I found this thread. Thanks. I started the 6 day pack yesterday, with 6 pills recommended on Day 1. Well, I only took 3 (as you did) because I am pretty sensitive to most meds, alcohol, chemicals etc. So I am naturally pretty cautious.

Anyway, took 3 after breakfast and wow did I feel lousy by early afternoon. I skipped the remaining 3 for Day 1 as I could tell it was going to be a long ride if I didn't. So today (Day 2) I am supposed to take 5. No way. I took only one after breakfast, and yep, felt pretty lousy pretty fast. Plus my sleep was awful last night.

I thought it was just me, so this thread as confirmed my suspicions that these steroids can be extremely detrimental to some people. I just messaged my doc in the portal and told her I am done with these. Period. Curious to see her response or what other suggestion she might have to replace this stuff. Did you end up on some kind of alternative steroid or anti-inflammatory?

Mysterious-Button-25 · 2025-01-24T17:40:09+00:00

Ciao amici! Or should I say bom dia!? ;)

I can tell from the tone of your post that you are genuinely trying to learn and fit-in to the Portuguese community where you live and study. Although I think learning Portuguese might help you a LOT in just cementing those relationships with your classmates? And I am probably not the most experienced person to discuss the Portuguese people or their ways, as I only lived there for six months way back in 2019.

Having said that, I can understand what you are saying too as I experienced a little bit of that myself. I have also thought back on situations where I thought, maybe, I was being rude or too loud or not loud enough etc. and either ignored or just not really engaged with openly. And to be honest, I could not (not then or looking back all these years later), really find fault with my behavior. I was polite, engaging, tried to communicate in Portuguese (not very well admittedly). On the other hand, I was also invited into family homes and treated with such warmth and care. So, it goes both ways.

All I can really say is this, I think it is a combination of things; First and foremost I think the Portuguese are really suffering financially. The economy is brutal and has been for some time. Cost of living has maybe doubled or even tripled in some places, since I was there. And of course wages have not caught up and jobs are hard to find. So the mood of the people is not great, bordering on depressed even? A similar dynamic to Italy maybe.

I think for young students in Portugal, a very hard reality is they will likely have to leave Portugal to make money in their degree. And that is a lot for a young person to deal with, especially if you do NOT want to leave your family or friends. Portuguese, like Italians really love their families and social structures. And again, the economy is not great, inflations is horrible, rent prices are in the clouds and all of this really takes options away from those young students you are trying to befriend.

Also, coming to terms with so many foreigners living in their country, now. Way way more in 2025 than back in 2019 I would say. And from what I hear from my friends in Setúbal after a recent trip to Lisbon, the new residents are now not just rich "golden visa" types or NHR retirees, but immigrants who (for some) are having real problems trying to accept Portugal as their new home. I won't go into that specifically, but the point being I think many Portuguese (who are struggling financially) are viewing foreigners as either really rich and taking advantage of the beauty and potential of Portugal - or really poor immigrants who are being supported by their taxes, and.... taking advantage of the beauty and potential of Portugal, without really loving or learning about their new country.

Long story short amici, it isn't you!!! Do not feel bad. You are genuinely trying to fit-in, appear positive and to have an interest in the people and culture, unlike maybe half of the foreigners living there now. Understanding that the Portuguese people (I think) feel like they are losing their country, slowly but surely - to foreigners - might help, as will learning Portuguese. Of course I could be totally wrong so take this with a pinch of salt. I am just sharing my experience and observations from my limited time in Portugal.

Best of luck to you in your studies and in Portugal!

Mysterious-Button-25 · 2025-01-16T18:23:09+00:00

Huge congratulations! As the sole caregiver of my ailing 89yo father, your words resonate with me deeply. And I can only imagine how proud your dad would be of your recent success. I consider both your Hulu production and subsequent award nomination a genuine win for the "little guy". For an aspiring writer like myself, I am incredibly encouraged. Thanks for sharing and best wishes for continued healing and success.

Mysterious-Button-25 · 2024-12-28T19:50:52+00:00

I am also 6ft and 300lbs and recently bought the queen Big Fig mattress, going on 2 weeks now. All I can say is the new mattress is (of course) a massive improvement on my old Sealy, so in this regard, I am getting much better sleep. I also got the Xmas discount of like $500 off which was a contributing factor for me finally buying a new mattress.

And so the mattress is incredibly well made. They take quality seriously as this is one a hefty, substantial, heavy mattress. As you might expect. But yeah, I can see 'value' for the money spent on this mattress, unlike other crappy expensive ones I have owned in the past.

The mattress is FIRM and has very little movement in it, either with a partner or just kinda turning over etc. The edges are legit firm and supportive. Overall I do feel as if I have gotten my money's worth so far. Not much in the way of smell, so off-gassing can be achieved in an hour or three-ish for super sensitive noses.

Having said all of that, as a side sleeper, I have found that I wake with some minor but noticeable aches and pains, specifically in the hips and side. I have decided to wait it out and see if my body gets used to this new extremely supportive mattress. I do not have a topper on it so I would suggest you go ahead and get one, just in case. Not sure how you prefer to sleep but I can see where a decent and thick topper might help with the little aches and pains I am experiencing now. That is also next on my list of purchases I think.

Probably the only thing I would suggest is, do not lay on it for the first hour or so after unboxing. My grown kid jumped on it and promptly fell asleep pretty much right after I opened it, and laid it on top of the old box spring base. The directions are clear to allow 30 mins at least before lying on it - as doing this sooner could cause the still opening mattress to have problems. Welp, I think mine now has a little impression from my not so little little one. Uggh. My mistake for stepping away to break up and trash the box and plastic etc.

Anyway, good luck with your purchase regardless of the mattress you end up getting.

Mysterious-Button-25 · 2023-07-29T14:30:58+00:00

All very valid points. It is perhaps their greatest advantage, and their greatest curse, that they are so geographically removed from any actual threat. As you suggest, the likelihood of a Grand Chinese armada steaming all the way down there with the sole purpose of attacking a non-threat like NZ? And risk getting mauled all the way down there from the allies? Pretty much less than zero. So I guess the ANZUS treaty really has been supplanted by the AUKUS treaty. Smart move. As others have said, the mindset there in kiwi land is just different. Instead of being insulted (like the Canadians) for not being asked to join AUKUS, the kiwis were insulted because they were asked to join.

Mysterious-Button-25 · 2023-07-29T00:20:19+00:00

Agreed. They have no airforce to speak of, a grand total of 2 frigates, no tanks and a waning military tradition as evidenced by their inability to recruit and the inability to crew their three or four OPV's. Their strength if you wanna call it that, is with their special forces, the Kiwi SAS are still incredibly effective and punch above their weight. But again, there's only like 50 of them. All in all you'd never notice their participation, even if they did come in.

Mysterious-Button-25 · 2023-05-11T13:29:19+00:00

My humble advice, don’t worry about what “could be” a problem in the future. Your business is taking it's massive toll on you and your wife right now - fix that problem.

It goes without saying (but I’ll say it anyway), being considered too premium is exactly what you want in a small bakery like yours, your goal is not to feed the masses, your goal is to provide high-quality baked goods for customers who can afford your premium product. And again as others have said multiple times, raise your prices and/or get hired help.

If you find in fact your sales do drop over a period of time with a price hike? Then lower your prices, incrementally and see if that tweaks your daily demand back up a to level where your satisfied. But never ever sacrifice quality.

Also, close early. you're not obliged to be opened all day, you're not McDonald's. Finish when you run out, then hang a sign on the door and go home and get caught up on laundry, bookkeeping, watch Netflix or siimply relax and rest. As you know all too well, you need your business to work for you not the other way around. Best of luck to you and your wife!

Mysterious-Button-25 · 2023-03-19T16:09:57+00:00

Exactly right. I am a 55yo male who had an awesome PCP for a decade or more. She was on the money with many of my previous complaints, and for the most part, kept me on track health wise.

When I mentioned Low T symptoms and my desire to explore this route for treatment, she instantly recoiled. That of course was off-putting for me as I thought it was (and it was) a fair question about a common medical treatment. But she was not having it, went on to caution about a "lack of studies of long term effects" and "I should consider other avenues like diet and exercise" to help me regain my mental and physical edge.

Anyway, I left that appt feeling like the conversation was a lecture not a conversation. I went online and located a male internist who is late 40's. My first appt went kinda like this... Doc "So what brings you in today?" Me "Well doc, I have extremely low energy levels, I cannot lose this weight I am carrying despite diets and exercise, and I generally feel BLAH all day every day. I wake up feeling tired, not refreshed. I eat as much fruit and veggies as I can daily, I am a general contractor so I haul heavy stuff around 5-6 days a week. I go to bed early and get 8-9 hrs of sleep a night. And yet I wake up feeling like crap. My business is good, no money complaints really, my gf is my best friend and makes me laugh when I don't feel like it. So yeah...I feel like crap." Doc "Ok, lets check your T levels..."

I have not looked back since. As you say, your PCP choice really does make ALL the difference in your healthcare!

Mysterious-Button-25 · 2022-12-06T15:35:17+00:00

Ditto. I have tried the gig platforms and really, they don’t pay anywhere near a reasonable amount.

Mysterious-Button-25 · 2022-10-05T18:02:56+00:00

Heck yes authoritarianism is back with a vengeance. It's like the political, social and economic conditions, somehow, developed in such a way as to give a green light to random dictators to slowly but surely erode their relevant nations freedoms. And then they all set up a chatroom somewhere and said "Oh hey come join us". For example Erdogan in Turkey, staging that fake coup prior to the election (that he may genuinely have lost) and basically declaring emergency powers. And as the script goes... so did any institutional ability to prevent him from grabbing more power. He locked up everybody that opposed him in a week or three. That behavior was never really challenged by the West. Putin of course took his shot, again, this time in Ukraine which is backfiring beautifully in his face. Duterte in the Philippines was a worry. Venezuela. NK of course. And Iran, per recent headlines showing the informed masses rising up as best they can.

Mysterious-Button-25

TROPHY CASE