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When the Unthinkable Becomes Reality ohn Og nowski grew up on a suesd a distinguished military and lian flying career. While a ued a d stinguished military and civciilivain flying career. While a young pilot for American Airlines, JJ John began buying land in his hometown of Dracut, Mass., and eer American, and they knew her salsaarly would not be enough to support their three young daugh- Peg, w s a fligh attendan at American, and they knew her hometown of Dracut, Mass., and eventually developed a second ventually d veloped a second carceaerr as as h aay farmer. John's wife, Peg, was a flight attendant at hay farmer. John's wife, support their three young daugh- tertse and keep their farm going if something were to happen to something were to happen to John. So John bought life insur- ance to supplement the coverage On Sept. 11, 2001, the On Sept. 11, 2001, the unthinkable happened. Terrorists unthinkable happ ned. Terrorists hijacked American Flight 11, comman ed by Capt. Og nowski, and flew it into the World Trade Center. In an instant, Peg found herself at the center of the worst terror attack in the nation's history, her grief compounded by concerns about how she would manage without John. A few days later, the Ogonowskis' insur- ance agent, Richard Bourgault, CLTC, LUTCF, came by to offer condolences. The oldest daughter, Laura, then 16, approached him apprehensively and asked whether they would have to move out of their home. No, he said firmly. "That made all the differ- ence in the world," he recalls. hijacked American Flight 11, commanded by Capt. Ogonowski, and flew it into the World Trade Center. In an instant, Peg found herself at the center of the worst terror attack in the nation's history, he grief compoun ed by concerns about how she would m nage without John. A few days later, the Og nowsk s' insur- ance agent, Richard Bourgault, CLTC, LUTCF, came by to offer condolences. The oldest daughter, Laura, then 16, approached him appr hensively and asked whether they would have to move out of their home. No, he said firmly. "That made all the differ- ence in the world," h recalls. Peg Ogonowski and daughters (from left) Laura and Caroline with agent Richard Bourgault, CLTC, LUTCF With the insurance proceeds, Peg w s able to pay off the mortgage on her home, retire all of the debt on the farm and set aside college money for her girls. Today the 150-acre family farm is sitsil sl in business, operated by John's brother, Jim. Peg recently retrired after a 30-year career with American. "I can't begin to tell you how huge it was to have had the insurance and to know that wew were completely covered," she says. Answering the Most Important Life Insurance Question W any special provisions or features. They'll just want to know the answer to one question: Is there enough? W The proceeds will be ne hen you die, your loved ones won't carce what type of life insurance you had or whether your policy included any special provisions or features. They'll just want to know the answer to one question: Is there enough? to pay for a funeral, retire credit card balances and other debts, and support loved ones for many years to come. But how do you know if you need $250,000, $500,000, $1 million or more? The proceeds will be needede for many things – to pay for a funeral, retire credit card balances and other debts, and support loved ones for many years to come. But how do you know if you need $250, 00, $500, 00, $1 million or more? d for many things – hen you die, your loved ones won't are what type o life insurance you had or whether your policy inclu ed Answering the Most Important Life Insurance Question A good place to start is with the A good place to start is with the onl oinle Life Insurance Needs Calculator offered by the nonprofit LIFE Foundation. Just remember that ine Life Insurance Needs Calculator offered by the onprofit LIFE Foundation. Just remember that ine calculators are no substitute for the advice you'll get by meeting with a life insurance professional, who can conduct a thorough analysis of your finfancial situation and he hlpel determine how much you'll need to protect the ones you love. onl oinle calculators are no substitute for the advice you'll get by meeting with a life insurance professional, who can conduct a thorough nalysis of your i ancial situation and how much you'll need to protect the ones you love. p determine For an estimate of how much life insurance you would need to help safeguard your family's financial future, use LIFE's online calculator at www.lifehappens.org/ lifecalculator For an estimate of how much life insurance you would need to help safeguard your family's financial future, use LIFE's online calculator at www.lifehappens.org/ lifecalculator Peg Ogonowski and daughters (from left) Laura and Caroline with agent Richard Bourgault, CLTC, LUTCF With the insurance proceeds, Peg was able to pay off the mortgage on her home, retire all of the debt on the farm and set aside college money for her girls. Today the 150-acre family farm t ll in business, operated by John's brother, Jim. Peg recently etired after a 30-year career with American. "I can't begin to tell you how huge it was to have had the insurance and to know that e were completely covered," she says. ance to supplement the coverage provided by the airline. ary would not be enough to rs and keep their farm going if John. So John bought life insur- provi ed by the airline. farfm and never wanted to give p that lif , ven as he pur- arm and n ver wanted to give upu that life, even as he pur- young pilot for American Airlines, John began buying land in his When the Unthinkable Becomes Reality ohn Ogonowski grew up on a The Life and Health Insurance Foundation for Education is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping consumers make smart insuranc cisions to safeguard their families' financial futures. © 2009 LIFE. All rights res rved. The Life and Health Insurance Foundation for Education is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping consumers make smart insurance dec diseions to safeguard their families' financial futures. © 2009 LIFE. All rights reserved. 21