The best stories leave us with lessons learned, and when the lessons are disguised in special effects, innovative plots, and wacky characters, even better! Star Wars is by far one of the best story series. Here are some life- and life insurance-worthy takeaways.

“The fear of loss is a path to the dark side. Death is a natural part of life.” – Yoda (Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith)

Death may be natural, but planning for it seems so unnatural. Read on for Empire-inspired tips to help your clients get over their fear.

“Never tell me the odds!” – Han Solo (Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back)

Your clients probably don’t like to talk about their demise. Who does? But the odds that they’ll die are 100% to none. Are they financially prepared? Helping them to have Han-ish courage will allow them to deal with the complexity of life and the repercussions of playing against the odds.

“For my ally is the Force, and a powerful ally it is.” – Yoda (The Empire Strikes Back)

Pretty much everything in Star Wars is about teamwork. And it all started (in real-world time at least) with Luke, Leia, Han, and Chewie. Partnerships forged as the series progressed also proved strong: FN-2187 and Rey against the Starkiller Base; Jyn Erso and Cassian Andor attempting to steal the plans for the Death Star; Obi-Wan and Luke versus the sand people. There are as many Star Wars teams as there are different types of insurance policies. And their message of cooperation is still applicable today. It’s all about assembling the right team. The client. The advisor. And the trusted insurance resource to provide advice about a complicated case, find a policy to match a tight budget, or help protect against volatility and uncertainty. LLIS is the team behind your team.

“I’m capable of running my own diagnostics, thank you very much.” – K-2SO (Rogue One)

Your clients may think they can find the best life insurance on their own, but they’re much better off with your help and ours. Online search engines often take them down the path toward one insurance company or one type of policy. As they get deeper into the process and go through underwriting, that one company or one policy may no longer be the best fit. And they can be left paying more for less. Through thorough preliminary underwriting, LLIS affirms its commitment to matching your clients with the best underwriting class they qualify for and the company that best fits their individual situation.

“Your path you must decide.” – Yoda (Star Wars Rebels, “Path of the Jedi”)

Who’s in charge of your clients’ futures? They are! (It’s like a high school football game repetitive cheer.) Will they leave a legacy to loved ones or favorite nonprofit organizations? Will they protect their financial interests? With your help (and LLIS’s) they will. And they’ll have peace of mind as they go down their life’s path.

"Now, young Skywalker, you will die" – Emperor Palpatine (Episode VI: Return of the Jedi)

Well, if you’ve seen the movie (or any after it), you know Luke Skywalker does not die. But wouldn't it be nice to know when we will die? To ensure we’re fully prepared. To be sure all our ducks are in a row. Well, we don’t. So when is the best time to plan? Now.

“These are your first steps …” – Obi-Wan Kenobi (The Force Awakens)

Determine life expectancy

Calculate how much insurance coverage your clients need

Request a quote

Learn some common (and not-so-common) insurance terms

"Patience you must have, my young padawan." – Yoda (Episode III: Revenge of the Sith)

The underwriting process can be lengthy, and depends largely on each client’s financial and medical documentation. But together we can set up clear expectations from the beginning. Here are several tools for your clients:

The application process

Why is so much personal information required

Paramedical exams

What determines underwriting class?

And we’ll keep them (and you) in the loop through the entire process with our automated Application Information Message (AIM) emails.

“I find that answer vague and unconvincing.” – K-2SO (Rogue One)

The underwriting process can be even lengthier if clients aren’t 100% forthcoming. Transparency is key. If an underwriter finds clients have flubbed on one underwriting question, it will put into question the rest of their application answers.

“I may not be as young as I once was, but I’m older.” – Hondo Ohnaka (Star Wars: The Clone Wars)

Age is a major factor when it comes to life insurance policy rates and approvals. Among the insurance companies we work with, 85 is the highest age a client can be considered for a life insurance policy. Plus, as a natural progression with age, our health declines, which can lead to higher rates or even declines for certain medical conditions.

“Look around. We’re one and the same. Same heart, same blood.” – CT-27-5555 (Fives), a clone (Star Wars: The Clone Wars)

This may have been true for the clones in the movie, but it’s certainly not true when it comes to individual life insurance underwriting. No two people are the same, and no two underwriting processes are the same. Insurance company underwriters will take into account individual weight, individual height, individual medical history, and individual family history. Even twins (like Luke and Leia) end up with different underwriting results. While family history is a key indicator in underwriting, behavioral factors are the driving force when it comes to individual risk. Duke University research reveals that more than half of all deaths between 15 and 64 are attributable to personal decisions; 1 million deaths each year could be prevented by different life decisions about smoking, diet, exercise, alcohol abuse, and other personal behaviors. (Think Han Solo and his flying style.)

“You can't stop the change any more than you can stop the suns from setting.” – Shmi Skywalker (Star Wars: The Phantom Menace)

This advice to her son Anakin has great significance. In this case, the forces of destiny referred to are already in motion. Similarly, us earthlings can't stop – and sometimes don’t want to stop – change. Marriage. Divorce. Childbirth. Smoking cessation. Retirement. Death. These are just some of the triggers for policy reviews. Learn more here. Once your clients’ policies are in place, don’t let them set it and forget it. LLIS will work with you to review their policies at no charge to determine if the coverage is still relevant, if they need additional or different coverage, and if their insurance still matches their planning needs.


“Anger, fear, aggression. The dark side are they. Once you start down the dark path forever will it dominate your destiny.” – Yoda (Return of the Jedi)

Yoda’s warning to Luke was against making rash decisions. Similarly, it’s important that your clients don’t make financial decisions immediately after losing a loved one. With your help (and ours if needed) to light their path, your clients will know how to best manage life insurance proceeds. And teamLLIS can connect them with insurance company claims people to help them through this difficult time.

"Do or do not. There is no try." – Yoda (Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back)

Failing to plan is planning to fail. Don’t let your clients fail to insure their lives and their loved ones’ futures. It’s like we say often at LLIS: some protection is better than none. If your clients can afford multiple policies, great (and term layering multiple policies may even save them money). If they can afford just one small policy, great. It’s just good personal business to have something in place to ensure those you care about are taken care of after you’re gone.

"Use the Force, Luke." – Obi-Wan Kenobi (Episode IV: A New Hope)

Obi-Wan is asking Luke to ignore his targeting computers and use his impulse to deliver. At LLIS, we are actually doing the opposite. George Lucas used cutting-edge technology; we’re doing the same. We’re putting the finishing touches on our robust advisor and client relationship management system that will make your job – and your clients’ insurance interactions – easier and more streamlined. In Star Wars, data security is a big deal: The Empire’s inability to protect its data and systems may have been its ultimate undoing. It’s a big deal to us too. So we’re continuing to ensure that your clients’ personal information is secure in our hands and at your fingertips. Stay tuned!

“Oh, the stories I could tell. So many of them true.” – Hondo Ohnaka (Star Wars Rebels: Season Two)

Spoken like an underwriter. Here is an interesting one we encountered with a client during his underwriting process (who had indicated he didn’t use nicotine):

• LLIS: “Hi [client]. You were approved at smoker rates. Do you ever use tobacco or nicotine products?”
• Client: “Nope. I sometimes go outside to talk to some people on their smoke breaks.”
• LLIS: “Unfortunately, the nicotine level from your labs is too high for a second-hand smoker. Maybe it’s an occasional cigar? Any type of tobacco or nicotine you can think of in the past?”
• Client: “Oh, well I do chew nicotine gum a few times a week. Do you think that matters?”
  

“Your work exceeds all expectations.” – Wilhuff Tarkin (Rogue One) 

Seeing this on our post-policy surveys is for me like … get ready for the ultimate geek-out … Luke Skywalker tossing away his lightsaber, showing Darth Vader compassion in Return of the Jedi! We send surveys to advisors and clients after policies are in place. The responses help us to know what we’re doing right … and guide our processes. We appreciate you helping us help you!

“We’re gonna do this …” – Poe Dameron (Star Wars: The Force Awakens) 

Together, we’re going to find the right policies for your clients.

“Always pass on what you have learned.” – Yoda (Episode VI: Return of the Jedi)     

And now the time has come. Time to pass along what you have learned to your clients.

Happy Life Insurance Month. And may the Force be with you.

Mark Maurer  and teamLLIS

Want to try something cool? Find out what your favorite Star Wars figure says about you.

My favorite is Obi-Wan Kenobi; but just think of me as an Obi-Wan/Yoda combo, passing along my wisdom, teachings, and understanding of the life insurance world. I’d like to think I resemble Obi more than Yoda, but I’ll let you be the judge.

And Mark’s wife’s favorite Star Wars quote?

"You have your moments. Not many of them, but you have them." – Princess Leia (Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back)