This story was originally published in the August 2025 issue of COMO Magazine.
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What steps do you take to protect the ones you love? If we stop to consider our everyday choices, we usually go to great lengths to keep each other safe. Wesecure our homesto prevent intruders. We buy the highest safety rated vehicles and car seats andbuckle up. We learn how toswim,wear a helmetandeat smart foods. We try to be responsible and teach our children about online and real-life predators.  

Protecting our loved ones is clearly important, so it just makes sense to add “buy life insurance” to the list. Life insurance helpsour loved onesfinancially after we’re gone, but it isn’t just about protection. Life insurance is also about leaving a legacy.  

We’ve seen people use life insurance to help the next generation hold on to a farm that’s been in the family for decades. It’s also a way to help with living expenses, homes and higher education for family members. Some people extend their legacy to a church or charity that touched their hearts through life insurance—or provide a lasting gift to the college or university that changed their lives. Whatever your goal—we can help.  

  • If you’re buying life insurance for the first time, then you probably have questions.  
  • Who (or what) are you trying to help financially?What’s your reason?  
  • How much life insurance do you need and how much can you afford?   
  • Who would your beneficiaries be?  
  • You know about current financial needs, but what about future needs?  
  • What’s the difference betweenTerm Life InsuranceandPermanent Life Insurance?  
  • Why do kids need life insurance?  

To get answers to these questions and talk about leaving a legacy, contact Shelter Insurance® agent Mike Messer. He can help answer your questions and help decide which plan may be right for you based on what kind of legacy you want to leave behind.

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Mike Messer

With over two decades in the insurance industry, Mike Messer has served as a claims adjuster, supervisor, and underwriter, giving him a well-rounded understanding of how policies work when it matters most — before and after a loss. He prioritizes building relationships based on trust and personalized service, recognizing that every client’s needs are unique. Through annual policy reviews, he helps ensure clients stay informed, confident, and properly covered, providing them with peace of mind and financial security.

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