For Scott Rider, it wouldn’t be a stretch to say that running was his life. In college he was a three-time Big Ten Champion, two-time All American, and later competed in the Olympic trials. His running sustained him as he charted out his career in financial services. It was also a constant as he and his high-school sweetheart, Kelly, married and raised their three children.

Running is also how he found out his life was changed forever.

It began subtly, when Scott’s toes didn’t “work as they should.” It eventually interfered with his running, and after several years of being misdiagnosed, he learned he had Parkinson’s disease.

“I remember the day I found out. As I stood outside the doctor’s office, on the sidewalk on a warm fall day, I knew my life—and my family’s—was changed forever,” says Scott.

His day-to-day routines have changed drastically since being diagnosed at 47. Cognitive and physical limitations mean he had to give up the profession he loved. And he now relies on Kelly to help him with tasks most people take for granted, like tying his shoes.

One thing in his life has not changed, however. He and his family have been able to maintain their lifestyle, thanks to the disability insurance he purchased. He got it when he was just starting out in his career and added to it as his salary grew.

His disability insurance now replaces a significant portion of the income he once earned. It has allowed Kelly to remain a stay-at-home mom and now be a caregiver. Plus it helps them meet Scott’s growing medical needs.

In addition, the couple has been able to put their three children through college and give their daughter the wedding of her dreams. They’ve even reached a retirement goal of moving to a warmer climate. All of this was made possible by Scott’s disability insurance.

“Without it, I don’t know where we’d be,” says Scott. “I feel fortunate that I understood early on that my income was my most valuable asset, and that I needed to insure it.”

Keep your lifestyle as close to normal as possible with disability insurance. Get a quote today!

Disability Insurance: A Life Changed, a Lifestyle Remains – Video Transcription

Scott Rider: There was something inside me that always loved the feeling and the sensation of running. I’d be out on the road for a run and my toes would start restricting. It didn’t take the doctor very long at all to say, ‘Scott, you have Parkinson’s disease.’

And I remember I stepped outside on the sidewalk with Kelly and I cried. And I knew right then that my life was going to changed forever. What I loved so much was taken away from me.

One of the biggest ways was the loss of my career. Before Parkinson’s disease I worked for 30 years as a financial advisor to individuals and small business owners. Ultimately it became very clear that I couldn’t continue to work.

I understood early on that my income was my most valuable asset, and I wanted to protect it through disability insurance. It’s expensive to live and those bills just keep coming and without disability insurance I don’t think I could have afforded for my daughter’s wedding and I wouldn’t have money saved for retirement.

My disability insurance was a combination of insurance provided through my employer, but I realized that that alone wasn’t going to be enough so I acquired individual disability insurance.

Having Parkinson’s disease changes life enough, but disability insurance makes it as close to normal as possible. I’m so incredibly grateful that my income continues and makes life possible for my family. It would look so different without disability insurance.

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That’s likely because many people think a disabling illness or injury will never happen to them. But according to a Life Happens survey, a person has a three in 10 chance of suffering a disabling illness or injury that would keep them out of work for three months or more during their career. This is why Disability Insurance is more important than ever.

Your most important asset is not your home, your car, your jewelry or other possessions. It’s your ability to earn a living. Think about it: All of your plans for the future—from buying a home to putting your kids through college to building a retirement nest egg—are based on the assumption you will continue to earn a paycheck until you retire. But what would happen if those paychecks stopped? That’s where disability insurance comes in. It provides an income to you and your family if you are unable to work because of illness or injury.

Understanding the Risk of Disability

Who needs disability insurance? Just about anyone who has a job. The possibility of a disabling illness or injury may seem remote, but statistics paint a different picture.Of today’s 20 year-olds, one in four will become disabled at some point in their career, according to the Social Security Administration. While it’s true that people in professions like farming, law enforcement and construction face greater risks, the odds of suffering a long-term disability are high for all workers because illness—not accidents—account for 90 percent of disabilities that keep people out of work. (See chart on the next page.) Your paycheck could stop arriving just as an illness or injury brings significant expenses for medical bills, physical rehabilitation or the cost of modifying your home to accommodate medical equipment. Missed mortgage payments could put ownership of your home in jeopardy. Falling behind on credit card and other bills could mean burdensome late fees and escalating finance charges. In fact, disabilities have historically caused nearly half of all mortgage foreclosures and a significant number of personal bankruptcies.

If you have any questions regarding Disability Insurance and the value and piece of mind it provides, please contact our trusted agents at 844-879-7747 today.

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