Life Insurance for Business Growth and Family Security
Author: Northwestern Mutual
Published: 2011/05/24 - Updated: 2026/01/29
Publication Type: Informative
Category Topic: Life Insurance - Related Publications
Page Content: Synopsis - Introduction - Main - Insights, Updates
Synopsis: This report presents practical applications of permanent life insurance through real-world case studies from Iowa residents who have used their policies for multiple financial purposes beyond death benefits. The information proves authoritative because it draws from actual Northwestern Mutual client experiences spanning business financing, disability income protection, and estate planning. These documented cases demonstrate how people with disabilities, families, and small business owners can access the cash value of permanent policies for immediate needs - such as purchasing commercial property or covering medical expenses after a stroke - while maintaining long-term financial security. The article offers particular value to seniors and individuals with disabilities by illustrating concrete strategies for leveraging insurance as a living financial tool rather than solely as survivor protection - Disabled World (DW).
Introduction
It's always a good opportunity to step back and review your long-term financial plans, according to Northwestern Mutual, a leading financial security company. This includes assessing your life insurance needs.
To demonstrate how life insurance can help individuals, families and small business owners to achieve life goals and take care of loved ones, Northwestern Mutual's Facebook page has a series of Client Stories - narratives and videos - highlighting people and families for whom a Northwestern Mutual permanent life insurance policy has provided considerable opportunities through its consistency, flexibility and strong foundation.
"The economic downturn has impacted people's financial ability to chase their dreams and take care of their loved ones. Whether it be the lack of credit available to small business, or the decimation of retirement plans, many people have been forced to rethink their approach to financial security," said Shawn Mauser, Northwestern Mutual director, life products. "The Client Stories series is about sharing motivational, personal stories and hearing how people in your own community are finding a broader range of ways to make things happen in their lives."
Iowa residents are encouraged to visit and learn from their neighbors' personal stories via the Northwestern Mutual Client Stories Facebook page, which features several Iowa-based clients whose purchase of life insurance has given them access to funds and peace of mind.
Main Content
Finding the Right Financial Recipe
Jim and Beverly, a married couple, successfully run a catering business in Readlyn. Tapping into the cash value of their Northwestern Mutual permanent life insurance, they recount how they have been able to purchase an adjacent building to invest in and expand their business, while providing jobs and a vital service to their community.
A Final Lesson in Giving
Dale Johnson, a retired schoolteacher in Waverly, talks about his wife Sandy's wish to use the benefit from her Northwestern Mutual permanent life insurance policy to endow the school where she taught for many years.
Protecting The Bigger Picture
When Peter suffered a severe stroke at age 46, his wife Audrey faced taking care of her formerly active doctor husband and worried about their finances. Thanks to the disability insurance they had purchased, the couple had ready resources for the treatments and help they needed, protecting their quality of life and providing financial security that may not have been possible otherwise.
"Seeing how other people are addressing their financial goals and challenges in order to achieve what it really important to them gives color and context to the questions of how financial products like life insurance work in real life," said Mauser. "The Client Stories series shows people a more tangible way to see how these strategies might work in their own situations, and, when combined with advice from a financial professional, can allow individuals to take the steps to achieve their life goals."
Northwestern Mutual
The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company - Milwaukee, WI (Northwestern Mutual) has helped clients achieve financial security for more than 150 years. Northwestern Mutual and its subsidiaries offer a holistic approach to financial security solutions including: life insurance, long-term care insurance, disability insurance, annuities, investment products, and advisory products and services. Subsidiaries include Northwestern Mutual Investment Services, LLC, broker-dealer, registered investment adviser, member FINRA and SIPC; the Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company, limited purpose federal savings bank; and Northwestern Long Term Care Insurance Company; and Russell Investments.
Insights, Analysis, and Developments
Editorial Note: What sets this resource apart from typical insurance marketing is its focus on actual outcomes rather than hypothetical scenarios. The featured families faced real challenges - a debilitating stroke at 46, the need to expand a small catering business during an economic downturn, and planning for charitable legacy - and found workable solutions through permanent life insurance's flexibility. For readers evaluating their own financial security, especially those managing disabilities or planning for uncertain health futures, these stories suggest that the right insurance structure can function as accessible capital when traditional lending fails or when unexpected medical needs arise. The key takeaway isn't that life insurance solves every problem, but rather that it can serve multiple functions simultaneously when properly structured with professional guidance - Disabled World (DW).Attribution/Source(s): This quality-reviewed publication was selected for publishing by the editors of Disabled World (DW) due to its relevance to the disability community. Originally authored by Northwestern Mutual and published on 2011/05/24, this content may have been edited for style, clarity, or brevity.