Seniors, Can We Talk?

Caroline Beauchamp is a local insurance agent for M & P Insurance & Investment Services. She offers personalized life and health insurance solutions and is known for her widelypublished informational column, ‘Caroline, Can We Talk?’.

Dottie called and said she’d read my column and wanted to share her story. I told Ruth about the call when we had lunch. I’m always happy when I get calls from someone who wants to share their real-life story.

My customer, Dottie, retired a couple of years ago when she turned 65. Since she worked her whole life, all her insurance was through her employer as an employee benefit. Every year during their open enrollment, Dottie would review the insurance offered and sign up for what she felt she and her family needed. She never “shopped” or looked for other insurance on her own. This was easy and she felt it was good insurance because her employer offered it.

Then she retired. The insurance offered through her employer had been good and affordable. When she retired things changed. Rates increased - some even doubled. Some plans she could not keep after she retired.

Dottie was particularly interested in keeping her life insurance. She wanted to make certain her family had the money to bury her. Even though the rates had been increasing every 5 years, the increases were small and affordable – almost unnoticeable. Then she hit a magic age and the rates increased a lot – about 5 times more than what she’d been paying – ouch!

Life insurance is so important to Dottie that she continued paying those higher rates. When Dottie checked into her policy a little more, she found out that in 5 years the rates will increase again. That rate will be more than double (2 times) what she’s paying now! Those rates will not be affordable and will not fit in her budget.

Unfortunately, Dottie had never taken out a life insurance policy that was unrelated to her working and her employer. If she drops her life insurance policy with her employer, she will have nothing.

Even though she’s older and has some medical issues (like many), there are still options for her to consider at her age and that are within her budget. Her goal is to have a policy that will stay in effect until she dies, the amount of the policy will not reduce, the premium will never change and it’s with a highly rated company.

Dottie found a policy she really liked. The policy does exactly what she wants it to – the amount of insurance will stay in effect until she dies, the amount of the insurance will not change or reduce, and the premium will never change.

We completed an application and sent it to the insurance company. The insurance company reviewed her application and her medical history. Dottie was accepted - she is thrilled. And the premium is in her budget!

Your takeaway from Dottie’s story– even though employer benefits may be easy and low cost, consider adding a life insurance policy that is not related to your working; a policy that is guaranteed to be there when your family needs it.

Do you have a story to share? Call 501-868-6650 and say “Caroline, can we talk?” N

Summer Meals

Rachel Harville

With summer right around the corner, it’s time to think about keeping children healthy while school is out. Southside School District provides free meals to children during the summer.

This summer, meals will be served Monday-Friday at Southside Elementary School located at 2460 Batesville Blvd. Southside, AR 72501 and Southside High School located at 70 Scott Dr. Southside, AR 72501 beginning on May 19, 2023 and ending on August 4, 2023. We will be closed May 29 th for Memorial Day, and July 3-4th for the 4th of July holiday. Breakfast times are 8am-9am and lunch times are 11:30am-12:30pm. There are no income requirements or registration. Anyone age 18 or younger may come to eat.

For more information, contact Carrie Douglas at 870251-2341 or email at carrie.douglas@southsideschools. org. Each year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture partners with local organizations like Southside School District, to provide free meals to children when school is out for the summer.

For more Summer Meals Sites go to: https://www. fns.usda.gov/meals4kids This institution is an equal opportunity provider. N

Novella Humphrey Named 2023 Arkansas Association of Federal Coordinators Howard Wallace Federal Coordinator of the Year

Rachel Harville

Novella Humphrey, Director of Federal Programs/ Curriculum of Southside School District, was recently named the 2023 Arkansas Association of Federal Coordinators (AAFC) Howard Wallace Federal Coordinator of the Year, at the 2023 AAFC Spring Conference on May 4, 2023.

This award is given each year in honor of Mr. Howard Wallace, long time school educator, Arkansas Department of Education staff member, and mentor to many. This award recognizes an Arkansas educator for outstanding service to public schools and for “making a difference.”

Ms. Humphrey obtained a Masters of Educational Leadership in 2005 from William Wood University. She began her education career as an elementary teacher in the Alton School District in 1995 and has held a teaching position in Mammoth Spring School District as well. She went on to be Principal at Cord Charlotte Elementary School before becoming a curriculum specialist for the Northcentral Arkansas Educational Service Cooperative. Ms. Humphrey has been with the Southside School District since 2011.

Ms. Humphrey states “I love working directly with students. Some of my favorite activities are being a guest reader in classrooms, watching student presentations of their learning, and organizing mock interviews for seniors.”

Southside Superintendent Dion Stevens writes “Novella has been instrumental in our growth over the past several years by being a positive force for what is right, revered by our teachers, administrators, and school board as a key piece of the district.”

Peyton Worthington writes of her colleague “Novella exemplifies the definition of an educational professional. She demonstrates dedication and a superior work ethic to the profession.”

Congratulations Novella Humphrey, 2023 Arkansas Association of Federal Coordinators Howard Wallace Federal Coordinator of the Year. N