Wednesday, September 12, 2018

“Lone Survivor” Tells a Compelling Story of War in Afghanistan


From his office in the Philadelphia suburb of Collegeville, Lawrence (Larry) Koresko leads Insmax Insurance Brokerage as president. In his leisure time, Lawrence Koresko enjoys films such as Lone Survivor, a 2013 release starring Mark Wahlberg.

In a fact-based story, Wahlberg plays Navy SEAL Marcus Luttrell, part of Operation Red Wings, a 2005 engagement in the war in Afghanistan. The team’s mission was to kill or capture a well-known Taliban leader, Ahmad Shah.

When the team encounters three civilians who might alert others to the SEALs’ presence, they decide to leave the men unharmed. The civilians inform the Taliban, setting up the SEALs for an ambush, which only one soldier survives.

Variety praised the film for its harrowing portrayal of modern combat, particularly the 40-minute section depicting the ambush. Lone Survivor also won plaudits for its stunt work, make-up, and editing.

Directed and scripted by Peter Berg, Lone Survivor had a $40 million budget and took in almost $155 million in worldwide sales. It was nominated for two Academy Awards and won acting honors from the Screen Writers Guild.

Friday, August 10, 2018

Long-Term Care. Consider this...


Consider This 
I've heard this often including some "experts" in the LTC field - “No one needs more than 5 years of LTC coverage” 

I shake my head and wonder why they are in the insurance industry to begin with. If they do not understand risk and risk management, why would an absolute statement like that be made? Other times, I believe the messenger is preconditioned to believe that they are immune to that risk or that they have adequate resources to provide both the income that they need in retirement and a deep emergency fund in the event of an extended healthcare event.

Consider this...the typical auto insurance claim is for windshield damage; for homeowners policies, it is hail damage to the roof; and, health policies are for accidental injuries. We do not purchase insurance policies that address each of the "most common" , or "typical" or "average" perils. We purchase "complete" or "total" coverage to protect our car, home, and health.

Why? Because it is the catastrophic event that we can’t adequately address without insurance. So, why do we allow extended healthcare to not be addressed in the same light? Certainly, the cost associated with 3 years of a private room at a nursing home could purchase a $300,000 home or an Aston Martin sports car or provide several years of income. Then, why do we not consider the impact?

"But, I will not need care for 5 years," they say. How do you know? How can you know? Can you self-fund that risk? A mantra that I learned when I first entered the insurance industry was "you cannot predict, but you can prepare." This is one of those times where preparation might be a good idea.

According to Morningstar, the estimated end-of-life care costs in a patient's last five years for someone without dementia is $217,820; the cost rises to $341,651 if there is dementia present. 

So, what's the plan? Accept the risk and create a self-funded pool of $300,000? Ignore the potential issue and opt to the plan of hope? Or, address the risk head-on and implement a guaranteed, stable and predictable solution where the client benefits one way or another (a pool of money if they need it for an extended healthcare event or a pool of money that they can pass on to the next generation)?

If it's up to me, I'd consider the full risk and protect against that ... but it's just me.

For more information, please contact me at 610-382-5000.

Lawrence (Larry) Koresko is the president of Insmax Insurance Brokerage, Inc. Lawrence Koresko offers insurance solutions to small businesses and their financial advisors.

Tuesday, November 14, 2017

The 2018 AALU Annual Meeting


A resident of Philadelphia, Lawrence “Larry” Koresko is the president of Insmax Insurance Brokerage. Lawrence Koresko maintains membership in the National Association of Independent Life Brokerage Agencies and the Association for Advanced Life Underwriting.

Founded more than 60 years ago, the Association for Advanced Life Underwriting is a Washington, DC-based organization that advocates for the life insurance industry. Members have the opportunity to learn from industry experts at events such as the AALU Annual Meeting.

The AALU Annual Meeting serves as a leading forum for networking and professional development. In addition to workshops and presentations, the meeting includes activities such as a walk/run and a night out in DC. Attendees also have the opportunity to take part in visits to congressional representatives to make their voices heard. 

The 2018 event will be held April 29-May 1 at the Washington Marriott Marquis. For additional information, visit www.aalu.org/annualmeeting.

Tuesday, October 17, 2017

What is Bolognese Sauce?


In his role as the president of Insmax Insurance Brokerage, Philadelphia resident and business consultant Lawrence “Larry” Koresko works professionally with a wide range of insurance carriers and financial professionals. Outside of his professional work, Lawrence Koresko enjoys travel and his favorite food: spaghetti and meat sauce.

One of the more traditional meat sauces found today is Bolognese, an Italian sauce that originated in the Bologna region. A variety of recipes exist for the sauce that include ingredients such as celery, carrots, tomatoes, and onions. However, meat is the main ingredient in Bolognese. The sauce can be made with beef, pork, bacon, pancetta, or any combination of meats, and this causes it to differ in flavor that other tomato-based sauces. 

This difference is due in part to the presence of other simmering liquids such as milk or some form of dairy, cooking wine, and stock. However, Bolognese also incorporates fewer tomato products and features a larger proportion of meat compared to other sauces. Instead of a light, acidic flavor found in tomato-based sauces such as marinara, Bolognese has a very rich and complex flavor profile.

Thursday, July 20, 2017

The 36th Annual NAILBA Meeting


For more than three years, Lawrence “Larry” Koresko has served as the president of Insmax Insurance Brokerage, Inc., based near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In his role, he focuses his efforts on guiding the company’s overall growth strategy. Apart from his everyday professional duties, Lawrence Koresko maintains membership in the National Association of Independent Life Brokerage Agencies (NAILBA).

Registration is currently open for the 36th annual NAILBA conference, which will be held in Hollywood, Florida, at the Diplomat Beach Resort and Spa on November 16-18, 2017. NAILBA members should have already received an email containing discount information and registration instructions. As per usual, every agency that holds a membership gets one free registration per agency. 

To receive the discounted room rate, attendees should call the hotel directly at (954) 602-6000 and indicate they will be staying for the NAILBA conference. The hotel reservation deadline is October 19, 2017. For more information about the event or how to register, call the NAILBA office at (703) 383-3081.

Wednesday, July 12, 2017

Eligibility for the NAILBA Agency Successor Networking Group


A former partner with Koresko Financial, Lawrence “Larry” Koresko now serves as the president of INSMAX Insurance Brokerage, Inc., from his headquarters in Philadelphia. Beyond this, Lawrence Koresko retains membership to the National Association of Independent Life Brokerage Agencies (NAILBA), a leading insurance agency organization.

NAILBA created its Agency Successor Networking Group (ASNG) in 2011 to provide leadership and skills training to those transitioning into roles as the principals of their insurance agencies. To enroll in the ASNG, prospective participants must meet at least two of the following requirements:

1. Has served as an agency principal for less than three years.

2. Owns a 25 percent stake in an agency and has at least a verbal promise from the sitting principal that the participant will succeed said principal.

3. Has received written or verbal confirmation of succession to an NAILBA agency and will ascend to principal status within five years.

4. Received a recommendation and commitment from their agency’s current principal that he or she will succeed said principal within the next five years.

Wednesday, June 28, 2017

Three Tips for Choosing the Right Motorcycle Helmet


An insurance industry professional with over two decades of experience, Lawrence “Larry” Koresko operates as the president of Philadelphia-based INSMAX Insurance Brokerage, Inc. Away from his work, Lawrence Koresko is a keen motorcyclist. Here are three tips for selecting the right motorcycle helmet:

1. Weight: Helmets typically weigh between 1,400 and 1,800 grams. Though a lighter helmet may seem like the most attractive option, the fit is the key decider when choosing a helmet weight. You should look for a helmet that fits in such a way that the weight distributes evenly across your shoulders and head, as even lighter helmets cause strain when fitted poorly.

2. Avoid second hand: Though second-hand helmets come with lower price tags, they may also have been involved in previous crashes. Each crash damages the structural integrity of the helmet, meaning a second-hand helmet may offer less protection than needed.

3. Minimum standards: The United States Department of Transportation (DOT) has created a minimum safety standard for motorcycle helmets. Avoid any that don’t carry the DOT label.