Life Insurance Archives - Cigar Life Guy

Life Insurance for Cigar Smokers: Your Top 10 Questions

Posted on May 1, 2022 by Staff

Cigar Life Guy® is celebrating its third anniversary and over the last three years we’ve helped a ton of regular cigar smokers get life insurance at non-tobacco rates, often a 70% savings vs. smoker rates! Over the last few years, we’ve also gotten tons of questions. Here are some of the most frequent questions (and answers) about life insurance for cigar smokers.

Does it really work? Can I really get non-tobacco rates on life insurance even if I smoke cigars every day?

Yes! It really works. Our whole business is built upon getting regular cigar smokers the non-tobacco rates on life insurance. We know it can seem too good to be true. Many clients are skeptical until we come back with a final, formal offer from the insurance carrier. Usually, clients are so excited they sign the paperwork and accept the offer within hours of learning they were approved at non-tobacco rates! To get the non-tobacco rates, there are four essential things you must do.

Disclose your cigar use on the application
Not also smoke cigarettes or vape
Be otherwise healthy enough to qualify for life insurance
Apply with the right company (Cigar Life Guy helps you do this)

I applied with another company and ended up with smoker rates! Can I apply with you and get non-tobacco rates?

Yes! We fix “issues” with other application processes all the time. Even if another company gave you smoker or tobacco rates, as long as you follow our instructions and fully disclose your cigar use on the initial application, you can get non-tobacco rates with one of our companies.

Do I have to take a medical exam to get non-tobacco rates on life insurance?

We have life insurance options that most cigar smokers will qualify for that will not require a medical exam. Often this is a more expensive option but for some people the convenience of not having to take an exam is worth it.

It is possible the exam will be waived even with companies offering the best prices, but it depends on your answers to the application’s health questions. That said, we advise people who want the best possible price to prepare to take an exam if asked.

The good news is the life insurance exam is typically fairly simple: someone comes to your home or office, or you can visit a facility in your area. They take a blood sample, a urine sample, blood pressure reading, and record your height and weight.

Can I still get non-tobacco rates on life insurance even if I use marijuana and smoke cigars?

Absolutely! Underwriting for marijuana use is increasingly becoming less restrictive. If you use marijuana and smoke cigars, you can still get non-tobacco rates in most cases.

Like any other application, insurers look at your overall health and lifestyle. It’s very important that you disclose the marijuana use along with cigar use on the initial application. It’s equally important that you tell us about both during our initial consultation so we can place you with the company most favorable to you.

Can I have more than one life insurance policy?

Yes, you can have multiple life insurance policies. You qualify for life insurance as an individual based on your income or net worth, but typically your income. The amount you qualify for will vary with your age and the company that writes your policy.

Most people qualify for much more insurance than they are interested in purchasing. You will need to disclose the policies you already have at the time of your application. The life insurance company will consider how the policy you are applying for will affect the total amount of coverage you’ll have.

Why can’t I just lie and say I don’t smoke cigars on the application and stop smoking cigars for a few weeks so I can pass the life insurance exam and get non-tobacco rates?

Ignoring the moral and ethical issues associated with lying, it’s never a good idea to be anything but truthful on a life insurance application. It’s possible to potentially “game” the system and get your policy approved, but any less than truthful answers (nice way of saying “lies”) may cause problems if there is a claim (that is, you die).

Life insurance companies scrutinize claims more closely than initial applications. Is there an electronic paper trail (like social media) of your cigar use? Do you work in an occupation (like at a cigar store or for a cigar brand) where it is unlikely you don’t regularly smoke cigars? Does your doctor know you smoke cigars? These are a few things to consider before selecting the less than truthful approach.

The whole idea of life insurance is to give you peace of mind if something goes wrong. How much peace of mind will you have if you’re loved ones have a problem with a death claim because you played fast and loose with the truth? There is a legitimate way to get non-tobacco rates as regular cigar smoker where you fully disclose your cigar use on the application. Doing so gives you and your loved ones a peace of mind knowing you’ve eliminated claims issues associated with your cigar use.

I got a policy with non-tobacco rates before I started smoking cigars. Is that policy still valid?

Yes, it is! A life insurance application is evaluated based upon your point-in-time answers to health and lifestyle questions. It is very likely your health and lifestyle will change. For example, just as you may have started smoking cigars after you got the life insurance, you may also start flying a plane, commit a felony, or have a heart attack or other health ailment. As long as you were truthful about your health and lifestyle at the time of application, your policy will be fine.

My friend got some Cigar Life Guy stuff at an event. How do I get Cigar Life Guy stuff?

Cigar Life Guy apparel is available online. All proceeds go to Operation: Cigars for Warriors, Cigar Life Guy’s official cigar charity. Most of the swag at events is limited edition, event-only items, and are usually given away free at designated events. The best way to get Cigar Life Guy swag is to go to an event where Cigar Life Guy has a presence. We have a great time at events and smoke a lot of cigars. It’s also a great way to meet other cigar smokers from near and far.

How come every page of your website has a form for life insurance quotes? I’m tired of seeing all your ads for life insurance on your website!

Hey, everybody’s gotta eat! The life insurance brokerage is the only “advertiser” that Cigar Life Guy has. So, yes, when you’re reading a cigar lifestyle article on the website there will be a quote form for the life insurance. Compare us to your other favorite cigar lifestyle site. Frankly, we think we’re one of the lowest frequency ad sites of any cigar lifestyle website around. We don’t have affiliate programs or promote other people’s products for compensation, disclosed or undisclosed.

Do you really smoke cigars?

Yes. Lots of them. A big part of the brand’s success is its authenticity. Find us at an event or private message us on social media and discover which local lounge in Atlanta we’ll be smoking at today!

If you have other questions, call us, private message us on social media, or email dave@cigarlifeguy.com.

Photo credit: Cigar Life Guy

Cigar Life Guy™ Announces Second Anniversary Party

Posted on April 26, 2021 by Staff

“Cigar Mike” Bennett will host the free admission twelve-hour anniversary party. It will feature live entertainment. It will also include meet and greet opportunities with several leading cigar companies.

Announcing a customer appreciation opportunity for the cigar community to commemorate our second anniversary. Cigar Life Guy™ has partnered with legendary cigar lifestyle ambassador “Cigar Mike” Bennett and top cigar companies. The Cigar Life Guy second anniversary party will be held on June 12,2021, at Life N Times Cigars, located at 6947 Main Street, Lithonia, GA, a suburb of Atlanta.

Who Will Be There

“Cigar Mike” Bennett will host the event. Throughout the day and evening, cigar companies offering event-only deals and specials will make their appearances. Confirmed participating companies include ATL Cigar Co., Barbeque & Smoke, Besado Tequila, Cigar Pxrn, Deuces Cigars, Greenwood Whiskey, GTO Cigars, and Tarazona Cigars. We are also planning live entertainment including a band and a DJ. Food vendors will also be on-site for this indoor-outdoor event.

Dave Arlinghaus, the founding President of Cigar Life Guy™ expressed excitement for the upcoming event. “I’ve got a great deal of gratitude for the overwhelmingly positive way the cigar community has embraced and supported Cigar Life Guy since its inception in 2019,” said Arlinghaus. “I want to do something fun for the community. There’s nobody better at fun than Cigar Mike. The cigar and liquor companies that are participating in this free admission event all understand the importance of fun and gratitude and want to make this a day to remember for the cigar community,” Arlinghaus added.

Twenty-five-year cigar industry veteran “Cigar Mike” Bennett also commented on the upcoming event. “It has been great to watch Cigar Life Guy grow over the last two years. Its brand is fun and has resonated with people online and at events. Cigar Life Guy’s core mission of providing life insurance to the cigar community at non-tobacco rates has been received very positively and made a difference in many lives,” Bennett said. “We have an exciting entertainment lineup planned and the early interest I’ve seen from people wanting to be a part of it has been great,” said Bennett. “We are going to have an incredible day!”

When the Anniversary Party Begins

The event will begin at 2 pm and continue until closing at Life N Times Cigars. Admission will be free, but entry will be on a first-come-first-served basis. We anticipate we will reach capacity. So, we encourage participants to arrive early. Finally, we expect all participants to follow safety protocols in accordance with local guidelines in place at the time of the event.

About Cigar Life Guy™

Cigar Life Guy™ is a cigar lifestyle brand. We are owned and operated by cigar aficionado Dave Arlinghaus. Our media properties provide entertainment and education focused on the social cigar smoking experience and the great conversations that occur over a social cigar. Cigar Life Guy™ also builds awareness for the huge savings opportunity regular cigar smokers have when it comes to purchasing life insurance. Through its life insurance brokerage, we help cigar smokers realize those savings. Dave Arlinghaus has been an independent life insurance broker since 2010.

For more information, please visit www.cigarlifeguy.com

Follow Cigar Life Guy™ on Instagram @CigarLifeGuy

“Like” Cigar Life Guy™ on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/cigarlifeguy/

Follow Cigar Life Guy™ on Twitter @CigarLifeGuy

For media inquiries, or to request an interview, please contact:

Dave Arlinghaus

dave@cigarlifeguy.com

404.521.8134

Tobacco Business Interviews Dave Arlinghaus

Posted on May 20, 2020 by Staff

There are few things more thrilling than seeing your name in print. Well, except kicking back with your favorite smoke. Yet, here we are delivering some exciting news. Tobacco Business magazine featured a 4-page interview with Cigar Life Guy, Dave Arlinghaus. Actually, it’s a fantastic 4-page interview from the May/June issue that we highly recommend you check out. The interview is a tell-all of the Cigar Life Guy story and how the business works. It also highlights how we delight cigar smokers with huge savings on life insurance.

There’s no doubt in anyone’s mind that when it comes to smoking cigars and buying life insurance, your life insurance rates often cost more for smokers — even if it’s an occasional Montecristo. However, this feature in Tobacco Business magazine gives a shout-out to cigar smokers across the nation that there is a better way to buy life insurance, and Cigar Life Guy, Dave Arlinghaus can show you how, but the interview didn’t stop there. It covers some of the intricacies of the business of life insurance for cigar smokers and why we do what we do.

Life insurance is one of those things that’s important to have, but no one should be penalized for puffing on the occasional Gordo or wrapping your lips around a Macanudo or Arturo Fuente. So, today we celebrate Cigar Life Guy’s interview in Tobacco Business. We encourage you to check out the full interview linked below.

PDF version

Link to article (begins on page 28).

Tobacco Plus Expo 2020: Our Thoughts

Posted on February 2, 2020 by Staff

Had a chance to visit Tobacco Plus Expo 2020 in Las Vegas last week. It was a great time! I spent the better part of three days smoking cigars, sharing the Cigar Life Guy brand story, and learning about other businesses in the cigar space. I’ll keep this focused on some high-level thoughts and keep it from delving into a bunch of product reviews.

Thank You!

First, a big thank you to all the brands, reps, shop owners, and cigar smokers I spoke to or enjoyed a smoke with last week! The response to the core Cigar Life Guy concept has been incredibly positive and humbling. Cigar Life Guy is a media brand that engages cigar smokers. It’s also a life insurance brokerage that offers cigar smokers life insurance at non-smoker rates. I’m very grateful and appreciate the support.

Tobacco Plus Expo: Show Mix, Attendees, and Exhibitors

The cigar participation in Tobacco Plus Expo was way up this year. Spoke to many brands – big and small – where this was their first time at the expo. Perdomo was here for the first time. Many of the small folks I spoke to seemed pleased with their results. On Thursday morning, (the start of the second day), they said they were at a positive ROI based on day 1 alone. How, exactly, they measure ROI will vary, but that’s their phrase, not mine. I also heard manufacturers and reps talking about taking the focus beyond cigars. It was an idea to attract different buyers by exposing them to new opportunities.

For perspective, cigars or cigar-related items filled about 20-25% of the floor space in the exhibit hall. The balance was other tobacco, CBD, cannabis, vape, and alternatives. The big tent approach wasn’t a hit with everyone, though. One well-respected, long-time tobacconist said, “This just wasn’t my crowd.” Then, he mentioned that he wouldn’t be back.

Educational Workshops at the Tobacco Plus Expo

My schedule allowed me to catch two educational sessions. Both were very high quality.

Sisters of the Leaf: Selling, Marketing, and Promoting

There were a couple of key takeaways, here. Make women feel welcome. Don’t make assumptions about experiences or preferences based on gender. It’s worth noting that about two-thirds of the audience were men. It’s encouraging for a male-dominated industry to see the importance of female consumers. Special events and social media engagement are important. Again, make people feel welcome.

Fun fact: Women perform 60% of cigar production (e.g. rollers).

Here’s my take on the whole thing. It was great stuff and very well done. It was right to highlight female consumers, but most of the strategies presented were good marketing and retailing … period. These are tactics that can be more broadly applied. Cigar shops that have a woman problem likely also have a male problem or a new smoker problem. Make everyone feel welcome! Make everyone feel comfortable! I can’t tell you the number of shops in the Atlanta area I visited in the last year that didn’t make me feel welcome or valued. But, I left never to return. Good retailing is good retailing.

Jumpstart and Rejuvenate Your Retail Operation

There are a few key takeaways for this. You are only as good as your people. There was a huge emphasis on getting the right employees in the door and constant training. Engaging in events outside your retail space (e.g. golf outings, wine festivals, charity events) offers huge marketing opportunities to entice high-value customers. You need to view this as a marketing investment, not sales opportunities at the event. Focusing promotions on price (buy three get one free, etc.) lessens the value of your brand/experience. It’s also disrespectful to the brands you sell. Retire swag giveaways (buy this or that and get a lighter/cutter/shirt, etc. free). Focus on bigger, higher impact promotions. Manufacturers are open to partnering on larger promotions.

This is great stuff with a successful panel and great knowledge dropped. That said, it was almost too successful of a panel. Two were guys in the business for 30+ years. One was an employee of a billion+ dollar conglomerate. The other had the backing of a country music superstar. I would have liked to hear about how someone with a more limited marketing budget is winning in the marketplace. Most of the shops I visit don’t have their resources. It’s not that some of the stuff they shared doesn’t have applicability, though. But, I’ll suggest their reality is very different than the marketing reality of most in the room. I would have loved to hear from someone who’s been in the business as an owner for less than five years with severely limited resources but has won in the marketplace. Food for thought for next year.

Check out the complete list of the educational sessions and participants of Tobacco Plus Expo 2020.

The Final Thought

It was a great show for me. I am blessed to make some new friends and see some old ones….until next time!

Note: written by Dave Arlinghaus on 2/2/2020, the photo is with Karl Malone

photo credit: Cigar Life Guy

Cigar Journal Features Cigar Life Guy

Posted on December 29, 2019 by Staff

It’s great getting your name and your brand noticed, especially in print. But, what’s better is when that notoriety places your goals — helping fellow cigar smokers, in front of the very readers you aim to please.

That’s what happened when Cigar Journal contacted Dave Arlinghaus of Cigar Life Guy for the inside scoop.

Cigar Journal Contacts Cigar Life Guy

Cigar Journal is a leading international publication in its 20th year of publication. It focuses on all things cigars, including the cigar community. So, when the folks at the journal contacted us to find out more, how could we decline? Arlinghaus, a life insurance broker for cigar smokers and founder of Cigar Life Guy, was happy to oblige. After all, finding the best life insurance rates for cigar smokers is what he does and all things cigars are his pleasure.

The Inside Scoop on the Article

The article focuses on Cigar Life Guy’s innovative life insurance brokerage and how it’s helping many regular cigar smokers get non-tobacco rates on life insurance. The truth is, not every life insurance policy works best for cigar smokers. That’s because most count cigar smoking as equal to cigarette smoking. But that’s not true for your average cigar smoker and Cigar Life Guy knows this. So, he scours the policies out there with a fine-toothed comb to find ones that best align with your smoking habits.

This generally adds up to a ton of savings, which is good news for cigar smokers. The cost for participants in this program is usually about 70% less than the cost of life insurance at “smoker” rates! You can learn more about the program here.

The Final Word

If you want to know more, be sure to check out the current issue of Cigar Journal. The article appears in the print edition. A glimpse of the article and cover is pictured below (copyright Cigar Journal). You can also grab a copy at your local newsstand or cigar shop today!

Tough Conversations Over Holiday Cigars

Posted on November 25, 2019 by Staff

This holiday season will be full of lots of cigars and for most of us also a great deal of family time. Unless you’re related to cousin Eddie, family time is usually a positive thing. It means quality time with loved ones. It’s a great time to finally have those tough conversations you’ve been putting off for years and start implementing new plans. When people are around their loved ones, it also causes them to be reflective. So, there’s no better environment to start a difficult conversation than over a great stick!

Don’t miss my completely free holiday gift to you at the bottom of this article!

Tough Conversations and Holiday Cigars

Estate or end-of-life planning starts with internalizing that we all die. It’s unpleasant to think about and natural to put off. Some families are in great shape. They have had conversations about what happens if Mom, Dad, their spouse, or etc. were to pass unexpectedly. They’ve also implemented a plan to carry out final wishes. If that’s you, great! Cut another piece of pumpkin pie, pour a good beverage, and light an Opus X.

Have a Plan or Starting Thinking About One

If the unexpected happened to you, would your family be taken care of, financially and otherwise? If you have minor children, have you formalized how you’d like them cared for? Do your loved ones know what your final arrangement preferences are for burial, cremation, service or etc? They should include instructions beyond the vague, “something appropriate.”

On a basic level do you have a plan to pay for your funeral? Do your loved ones know about your financial affairs? Who should they talk to (lawyer, financial professional, insurance agent, accountant) to settle your affairs?

Each of these questions could be an article or two to address. Depending on their complexity, they might require professional advice. I’m not trying to solve all your issues here, just to encourage you to start the conversation.

Three Tough Conversations to Consider

So you’re all set. You’ve got a will and executor lined up. You clarified your wishes for final arrangements. You’ve had some tough conversations with your spouse or adult children. They have a decent idea of what to expect with your finances. And, you’ve given some thought to estate planning issues if your assets are enough to warrant it. That’s great! Now, here are three things that you might have overlooked.

Digital Footprint or Assets

Years ago you didn’t have to worry about digital assets. Now, we all have them, even if they aren’t valuable to anyone else. Have you written down all your major online accounts (email, social media, banking, or financial) and instructions on how to access them? Do you own websites or domain names? Someone should be able to access them.

Medical Power of Attorney or Living Will

Have you addressed how you’d like to have medical decisions for you if you are unable to do so for yourself? Have you codified this in writing? Would you like heroic measures taken to try to save you even if you’re facing no hope of recovery? If you haven’t codified your wishes, someone else might make a decision for you that is contrary to what you want.

Long-term Care

It isn’t just death that causes us problems. According to the 2019 Genworth Cost of Care Study, 70% of adults will need long-term care in their lifetime. I know! That is a frigging crazy stat…and also very sobering. The median cost for a semi-private room in a nursing home is over $90,000 per year.

Long-term care insurance is an option for addressing some of those costs. It’s important to consider how you’d like to deal with the possibility of being unable to care for yourself. Having a plan is important even if you decide not to use long-term care insurance to help offset these expenses.

My Holiday Gift to You (No, It’s Not a Box of Cigars)

My friends at Tarkenton Financial have put together a great 24-page “Family Guidebook.” It’s great for dealing with some of these estate issues and starting conversations.

Written by a respected estate planning attorney, it also includes a workbook you can use to organize your important information (names, contact info, accounts, logins, instructions, etc.). I’d be happy to email you a complimentary copy as my holiday gift to you. Send an email to dave@cigarlifeguy.com or message me on social media @cigarlifeguy with your email address and a note that says “send me the family guide.”

Of course, if life insurance or long-term care insurance would help with your plans, Cigar Life Guy gets you non-smoker rates regardless of how many cigars you smoke so #PSSITA!

Photo credit https://www.flickr.com/photos/gylo/5277766947