January 09, 2013

Does it Make Financial Sense to Buy Life Insurance for Children?

January 09, 2013/ Conejo Joe

Back in June 2008 I took a look at the Gerber Life Insurance Grow-Up Plan after seeing a TV commercial. I suppose with one kid jumping off the couch and the other one horsing around near the light socket that perhaps I could have been immediately drawn to the plan. But does the average kid really need a life insurance policy? Since 4 1/2 years have passed by, let's take another look.

The plan is summarized at www.gerberlife.com. It is a whole life policy with coverage ranging from $5K to $50K ($35K in 2008). You can purchase a policy for your kid or grandkid anytime between the age of 14 days to 14 years (the high end was 12 years in 2008). At age 18 (previously 21) the policy automatically doubles in value as long as you pay the premiums. Your child can subsequently increase coverage by a factor of 10 at the then applicable rate under the plan when they become an adult.

This time I looked at the $35K policy, which for a boy under the age of one has a monthly premium of $21.05. Hmm, sometimes it pays to be a girl...the cost of a girl's policy is $17.52, nearly 17% less than the boys' policy.

Let's stick with the boy's premium. They say that after 25 years (this was 20 years in 2008) the "cash value" of the policy equals or exceeds the premiums you paid. So for a 2 week old baby boy that would mean you'll have paid in $6,315 by the time junior is 25 years old in the year 2038.

There's a 1 in 5,555 chance that your child will die between the ages of 1 and 14 in the United States, based on recent statistics (1 in 6,666 chance in California). Inversely, there's a 5,554 in 5,555 chance your kid will NOT die by the age of 14. Those stats change to 1 in 1,900 for teen

January 07, 2013

Recent Progressive Insurance Commercial Appears to Feature Flo in Hidden Valley

January 07, 2013/ Conejo Joe

I could be wrong, but having driven through Hidden Valley hundreds of times over the years, I'm about 99% sure that this recent Progressive Insurance TV commercial entitled "Chick Flick" was filmed right here on Potrero Road in our very own Hidden Valley in Westlake Village.

January 06, 2013

Cloudy and Cool Conejo Valley This First Sunday of 2013

January 06, 2013/ Conejo Joe

Darts Promoter L. David Irete captured this neat photo of the Conejo Valley before sundown tonight on this cool, cloudy, slightly rainy first Sunday of 2013. Irete is the biggest darts enthusiast in town, so make sure to follow his Facebook page.

It is supposed to be sunny tomorrow, but the rain is expected back later in the week. No worries...check this list of things to do around Ventura County with the kids when it is WET outside (unless of course you enjoy jumping in puddles!).

Here's how it looked around 11 a.m. this morning while I was running (literally) around town.

January 02, 2013

Applying for a Job is a Lot Different Than Buying a Lottery Ticket

January 02, 2013/ Conejo Joe

Originally posted in February 2011

Recently I posted a job in craigslist for an Office Assistant position. The posting listed specific job duties and requirements, from administrative to accounting to human resources, as well as other desired qualities.

We were overwhelmed with the response. Over 120 applicants within the first 24 hours and 200 in less than a week. Nearly 300 in total. A very eye opening reminder that there are a lot of people in need of jobs out there.

Let me first say that there were numerous very capable, outstanding people that applied for the job. I was very impressed by quite a number of resumes and cover letters and we are still contemplating the best candidate for a job offer.

But at the same time I was SHOCKED at how many applicants didn't treat the process seriously. Many appeared to be applying for the job without reviewing the job qualifications and editing the resume.

APPLYING FOR A JOB IS DIFFERENT THAN BUYING A LOTTERY TICKET!! Purchasing a lottery ticket is easy. Buy a ticket and hope for the best. It sure felt like a lot of people treated the job-hunting process in an equally nonchalant way!

Getting your dream job is hard work. It takes more than just submitting your resume. You must review the job requirements and make sure your resume highlights your relevant work experience. Where your experience is lacking, you need to sell yourself in the cover letter and point out what you bring to the table.

Here are some observations and advice based on some of the resumes I received.

Typos: One important requirement noted in the job posting was solid writing skills. As kind of a test I indicated that candidates should pay close to attention to proofing their submissions for typos. I literally said “Please no typos or grammatical errors in your submission,” yet the majority of applicants had typos. Now I can understand one or two blatant typos as, heck, I’m often guilty of that myself. But when applying for a job, you’ve got to go the extra mile. Use a Word or even Gmail editor and correct any typos, but better yet, re-read the resume several times. Or have someone else check it.

Example: "I am certain that my senior level executive/administrative assistant skills and experience when linked with thee vision of your company will serve to crea

January 01, 2013

Cool, Blustery New Year's Day 2013 in the Conejo Valley

January 01, 2013/ Conejo Joe

HAPPY NEW YEAR!! Today was a beautiful, dry New Year's Day in the Conejo Valley, with cool temperatures, partly cloudy skies and plenty of wind. We were out and about around town and plenty of people were enjoying the outdoors, appropriately dressed!

If one of your new year's resolutions is to become more active, you are in the right place! Here are some great activities to look into in 2013: