# FAQ | Life Insurance, Funding, and Benefits Questions > Straight answers on life insurance cost, term vs. permanent, IUL, 401k rollovers, business funding, health benefits, and LegalShield from Cheri Muniz. Canonical page: https://ascendfinancialwellnessgroup.com/faq # The questions people are afraid to ask Cost, health conditions, what happens if you stop paying, and whether you need any of this at all. Answered plainly, the way Cheri answers them on a call. ## In which states is Ascend Financial Wellness Group licensed? Cheri Muniz is currently licensed to offer insurance solutions in California, Florida, Michigan, Ohio, Texas, and Washington. Her California Department of Insurance license number is 0K85961. If you live outside these states, let Cheri know. She can obtain the necessary state license to serve you, except in New York. Business Funding, LegalShield, and Wellness Plans are available nationwide, as these programs are not insurance products. ## How much life insurance do I actually need? Most families need enough to replace 7 to 10 years of income, plus the mortgage and other debts, plus final expenses. That usually lands between 10 and 15 times annual income. The coverage gap tool on this site walks through the math in under a minute. Cheri then checks it against your real budget and the health questions carriers will ask. ## How much does life insurance cost? A healthy person in their 30s can often get a $500,000, 20-year term policy for roughly $25 to $45 a month. Permanent policies such as IUL or whole life cost more because they build cash value and never expire. Your age, health, tobacco use, coverage amount, term length, and policy type drive the price. Nothing is quoted until an application is reviewed, so treat any number online as a starting point. ## What is the difference between term and permanent life insurance? Term insurance covers you for a set period, usually 10, 20, or 30 years, and pays only if you die during that term. Permanent insurance (whole life, universal life, IUL) lasts your whole life and builds cash value you can borrow against. Term is the cheapest way to cover a big need for a set time, like raising kids or paying off a mortgage. Permanent fits estate planning, business succession, and people who want a policy that is guaranteed to pay out someday. ## What is an IUL and who is it for? An indexed universal life (IUL) policy is permanent life insurance whose cash value grows based on a stock market index. A floor protects you from losses in a down year, and a cap limits gains in a strong year. It fits people who already have a solid emergency fund and retirement contributions, want a death benefit for life, and want tax-advantaged cash value they can access later. It is not the right first purchase for a family on a tight budget. ## Do I need life insurance if I am single with no kids? Sometimes. If someone would be stuck with your debts, your funeral costs, or a shared mortgage, a small policy protects them. Buying young also locks in a low rate while you are healthy. If nobody depends on your income and you have savings for final expenses, you may be able to wait. Cheri will tell you that plainly rather than sell you a policy you do not need. ## Can I get life insurance with a health condition? Usually, yes. Controlled conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, or past cancer often qualify at a higher rate class. Some carriers specialize in specific conditions, which is why working with an independent agent matters. For serious conditions there are guaranteed issue and simplified issue policies with no medical exam, smaller face amounts, and a waiting period before the full benefit pays. ## How long does it take to get a life insurance policy? Simplified issue policies can be approved in days. Fully underwritten policies with a medical exam usually take 3 to 6 weeks because the carrier orders records and lab results. Cheri sets expectations up front, handles the paperwork, and follows the application through underwriting so nothing stalls. ## What happens if I stop paying my life insurance premium? Term policies typically have a 30 or 31 day grace period, then the policy lapses and coverage ends. Permanent policies with cash value can use that value to cover premiums for a while. If money gets tight, call before a payment is missed. Reducing the face amount or switching policy types is usually cheaper than reapplying later at an older age. ## Is the life insurance payout taxable? Generally no. A death benefit paid to a named beneficiary is received income tax free under current federal law. Interest earned if the payout is left with the carrier can be taxable. Large estates may face estate tax, which is one reason permanent policies are sometimes held inside a trust. That is a conversation for a tax or estate attorney. ## Does Cheri work with more than one insurance company? Yes. Cheri is an independent agent, which means the recommendation is built around your health, budget, and goals rather than one carrier's product list. Every carrier is different about health conditions, occupations, and hobbies. Comparing several is how a client with a condition still gets a fair rate. ## What states is Ascend Financial Wellness Group licensed in? Cheri Muniz holds a California Department of Insurance license (#0K85961). Business funding and LegalShield clients are served nationwide because those programs are not insurance products. If you live outside California, ask. Cheri will tell you whether she can help or refer you to someone who can. ## What does a consultation with Cheri cost? The initial consultation is free. Insurance agents are paid by the carrier when a policy is issued, so you never write a check for the advice. Business funding and LegalShield reviews are also free to start. If a program carries a fee, it is explained in writing before anything is signed. ## Where is Ascend Financial Wellness Group located? The practice is based in Roseville, California, in the Sacramento region, and works with clients across the state by phone and video. Meetings are by appointment. Most consultations happen over the phone or on a video call so you can review documents from home. ## How do I schedule a consultation? Call (916) 597-0314 or send the short form on the contact page. Cheri or her team will call or email you back to set a time. Come with a rough idea of your monthly budget, any existing policies, and the people you want protected. Everything else can be worked out on the call. ## What is a SIMERP? A SIMERP is a Self-Insured Medical Expense Reimbursement Plan. It is an employer-sponsored wellness and reimbursement structure that uses existing tax provisions so a business can add benefits for employees without a new line item on the budget. It is not health insurance and not a replacement for major medical coverage. It works alongside the medical plan you already offer, and your carrier and network do not change. Eligibility depends on payroll structure, so a short review is the first step. ## Does Cheri sell health insurance? No. Cheri is licensed for life insurance only, and does not sell or advise on individual or family health insurance. For business owners she offers a SIMERP, a Self-Insured Medical Expense Reimbursement Plan, which is an employee wellness and reimbursement benefit rather than health insurance. It sits alongside your existing medical plan and does not replace it. ## What kinds of business funding are available? Working capital, business expansion, equipment purchase, real estate, invoice factoring, SBA and long-term loans, startup funding, and credit improvement are the main categories. The right option depends on time in business, revenue, credit, and what the money is for. A quick intake shows which programs you could realistically qualify for before anyone pulls credit. ## Does applying for business funding hurt my credit? The initial review does not. Prequalification uses a soft pull or none at all. A hard inquiry only happens when you choose a specific lender and submit a full application. Cheri will tell you which stage you are at so there are no surprise inquiries on your report. ## How fast can a business get funded? Revenue-based and working capital programs can fund in a few business days. SBA and real estate loans take weeks because of documentation and appraisals. Having tax returns, bank statements, and a clear use of funds ready shortens every timeline. ## What is a 401k rollover and should I do one? A rollover moves money from an old employer's 401k into an IRA or an annuity without paying taxes on it, as long as it is done as a direct transfer. It can make sense if you want more control, lower fees, or guaranteed income options. It can be a mistake if your old plan has features you would lose. Cheri reviews the plan first, then recommends. ## What is a fixed indexed annuity? A fixed indexed annuity (FIA) is an insurance contract that credits interest based on a market index while guaranteeing you will not lose principal to market drops. Many offer an optional lifetime income rider. It fits people near or in retirement who want growth potential without downside risk on money they cannot afford to lose. It is not a substitute for an emergency fund because withdrawals in early years carry surrender charges. ## What does a LegalShield plan cover? A LegalShield membership gives you a dedicated provider law firm for a flat monthly fee. Personal plans cover consultations, letters and calls on your behalf, document review, will preparation, and traffic matters. Small business plans add contract and document review, debt collection letters, and consultations on business questions. Cheri is an independent associate and can enroll you directly. ## Is LegalShield worth it for a small business? If you sign contracts, hire people, or send invoices, one hour of attorney time usually costs more than a year of membership. That is the math most owners use. It is not the right fit if you already keep an attorney on retainer or expect to need litigation, which memberships cover only partially. ## Does LegalShield cover commercial drivers and owner-operators? Yes. Commercial driver plans are built for owner-operators and commercial drivers, covering contract disputes, DOT and compliance questions, and roadside legal issues that come with life on the road. Consultations, document review, and traffic-related legal help are included, the same way they are on personal and small business plans, just tailored to driving for a living. ## Is Cheri a fiduciary or a financial advisor? Cheri is a licensed insurance agent, not a registered investment advisor. She can recommend and place insurance-based products such as life insurance, IUL, and fixed indexed annuities, and connect you with funding and legal partners. For securities, tax filing, or legal advice she will point you to the right licensed professional rather than stretch beyond her license. ## Who is Cheri Muniz? Cheri Muniz is the founder and CEO of Ascend Financial Wellness Group, a California-licensed insurance agent, and a business consultant based in Roseville, California. She started the practice in 2016. The business is BBB Accredited with an A+ rating and is woman and veteran-owned. Her background in lending shapes how she looks at a family's or a company's whole picture. ## Can I meet in person or is everything virtual? Both. Most clients prefer phone or video because it is faster and documents can be signed electronically. In-person meetings in the Roseville and Sacramento area can be arranged by appointment. Applications, policy delivery, and service requests can all be handled without a visit. ## What should I bring to a life insurance consultation? Bring any current policies, a rough monthly budget, your mortgage balance and other debts, and the names and birthdates of the people you want as beneficiaries. For the application itself you will need a driver's license, your doctor's contact information, and a list of medications. Business owners should bring last year's tax return if the policy is for the business. ## Can life insurance protect my business? Yes. Key person insurance pays the company if an owner or essential employee dies. Buy-sell agreements funded with life insurance let surviving partners buy out the deceased partner's share without draining the business. Lenders also often require life insurance on the owner as a condition of an SBA loan, which is one reason funding and life insurance sit side by side in this practice. ## Can I change my beneficiary later? Yes, at any time, with a simple form to the carrier, unless the beneficiary was named irrevocable. Review beneficiaries after every marriage, divorce, birth, or death in the family. Naming a minor child directly can tie the money up in court. A trust or a custodian designation avoids that. ## Is the information I share kept private? Yes. Health and financial details are used only to prepare quotes and applications and are shared only with the carriers or partners you choose to apply with. See the privacy page for the full policy on what is collected and how it is handled.Show 5 more questions ## Did not find your question? Ask it directly. There is no question too small when it involves your business, your family, or your financial future. [Ask Cheri](/contact)[(916) 597-0314](tel:+19165970314) --- Ascend Financial Wellness Group · (916) 597-0314 · cheri@ascendfinancialwellnessgroup.com · Roseville, CA Powered by [Launch Automation](https://launchautomation.ai/websites)