By Thomas P. Smith, Jr.
Executive Vice President Agencies and Marketing

Those of us in the marketing and agency area of the Supreme Council office wish you and yours a happy, healthy Christmas season and all the best in 2010. Here's hoping that your membership in the Knights continues to bring you countless blessings. Speaking of the new year, will you take part in the ritual of preparing a set of resolutions for yourself? It's traditional that many people spend this time of year looking at themselves, identifying their flaws and resolving to improve these troublesome areas. It may be that you consider yourself overweight; or that you don't spend enough time in the gym; or that you haven't read as many books as you would like. January is usually the time when you endeavor to change all of things that you may not like about yourself.

Allow me to recommend one more area that would benefit from such a review: your financial future. Are you ready for retirement? Will you have enough money to live on? Are you protected from the financial disaster that a long-term illness can bring? If you were suddenly or unexpectedly out of the picture, could your family survive? Have you adequately prepared for your wife's future? Your children's? The one thing we can never change is the relentless march of time. Consider that this season - addition to a time of celebration and reflection on 2009 - marks another year gone . . . and you're another year older. If you have been putting off discussion with a qualified adviser about your finances, I recommend you add that to the top of your list resolutions. Your professional Knights of Columbus agent can help and an appointment with him will be time well-spent. We know you're busy and we won't waste your time. Accomplish your first resolution of 2010. Contact your agent today. To identify your professional Knights of Columbus agent, visit "Find an Agent" at www.kofc.org. And have a Happy New Year!

Knights of Columbus insurance has been "Making a Difference for Life" for more than 125 years. Since our founding in 1882, our primary mission has been to protect families against the financial ruin caused by the death of the breadwinner. Today we do this, and help families secure their financial futures, through our top-rated portfolio of life insurance, long term care insurance, and retirement saving annuity products, including IRA's, Roth IRA's and potential rollover of 401(k) plans.

For the 16th consecutive year, the Knights of Columbus insurance program has earned Standard & Poor's highest rating: AAA (Extremely Strong)  (more)

Your local field agent will first sit down with you to determine a Financial Roadmap for your Families Future, which helps both plan for retirement and make sure your loved ones are provided for in the event of death. This is based on your family's goals, assets, liabilities, and current insurance. After this completed analysis, along with reviewing your family's additional free fraternal benefits, the agent will be able to best advise how your family can be helped through these top-rated products in the industry.

We offer a wide variety of products to suit virtually everyone's needs.

• Permanent Plans - Policy lasts as long as you live, premium stays the same.

• Term Plans - Policy ends at end of specified term: renewable or convertible.

• Annuities - Provides an income that is guaranteed for life.

• Long Term Care - Provides funds for long-term, out-of-hospital care.

For further information, please visit the main insurance website at:
http://www.kofc.org/un/insurance/index.cfm

Learn about and contact the professional Knights of Columbus agent in your area:

KY General Agent & Northern KY

Dan Turnwald (Kathy), 824 Boulder Ct., Villa Hills, KY 41017

Home  849-331-5944     Cell  859-630-6942                              daniel.turnwald@kofc.org

Field Agent, Far Western Kentucky

Pete Sturm
332 Fairview Dr Paducah, KY  42001 Office  270-554-6764, Cell: 270-210-0151  pete.sturm@kofc.org	more info . . .

Field Agent, mid-Western Kentucky

Bart Hulsmeyer (Connie), 1200 Shallow Lake Cir, Hopkinsville, KY 42240
Home  270-890-0358, Cell: 270-498-3202                                   bart.hulsmeyer@kofc.org	more info . . .

Field Agent, Lexington

Edward Norton, 328 McDowell Rd.,  Lexington, KY 40402

Home  859-335-8989                                                                     edward.norton@kofc.org

Field Agent, Central Kentucky

Tom Johnson,  706 Burton Pike, Georgetown, KY 40324

Home: 502 863-5047   Cell: 502 370-7281  FAX: 502 868-7533      thomas.johnson@kofc.org