Each week on “Around Town,” our host talks to members of the First Coast community who are making an impact in their part of town. Today our host, Tom Reber, spoke with Wendy Epstein.
Wendy Epstein
Agent at Senior Life Service
Website Address: http://theslsway.com/wepstein
Short company description:
I am a phone agent helping people with their life insurance needs.
What’s the biggest challenge people in your side of town face?
Traffic.
What makes your business the go-to choice for side of town residents?
Online and phone.
What’s one piece of advice you’d give someone new to side of town?
It’s a great place to live.
What’s one thing people should know about why side of town is a great place to live or invest?
A lot to do in the area.
Transcript:
Tom:
Hi, everyone. I’m your host, Tom Reber, on Around Town with Tom. We have a fantastic guest today. Her name is Wendy Epstein with Senior Life Services, and she’s going to tell us all about what she does regarding whole life insurance and much more. Wendy, welcome to the show.
Wendy:
Hello, Tom. So nice to meet you.
Tom:
Nice to meet you as well.
Wendy:
So the story is, I’ve been with Senior Life Services since April of 2025. However, I’ve been in the insurance industry since 2017.
Tom:
Okay.
Wendy:
And I’ve been in sales since 1981.
Tom:
So you’re definitely off probation when it comes to sales and insurance and everything in between. That’s awesome.
Wendy:
Yes.
Tom:
Wendy, Senior Life Services brings solutions. Tell us about the solutions you’re working on.
Wendy:
Thank you for asking. The majority of our clients come in through Facebook ads and other forms of advertising, and we help them find the best options for their needs. A lot of our clientele is 50 and above, 60 and above. We do go up to age 85, and we can insure from one week old up to 85.
The most exciting part for me personally is that my dad dropped dead of a heart attack at 44. Thank goodness my parents had life insurance, because my mom, my brother, and I were able to keep our house, and she was able to pay for the funeral.
Unfortunately, many people reach their 50s, 60s, 70s, and even 80s without life insurance. I even had a woman call me about coverage for her 92-year-old father.
Wendy:
One of the first things we ask is whether they’re looking for final expense coverage, such as funeral, burial, or cremation, or if they want to leave a love gift to their family. Sometimes they want both.
Sometimes they’re concerned about a special needs child or grandchild and want to leave a monthly amount. For that, we offer income replacement options.
Another thing our company does, which I don’t know if many others do, is a policy review. If someone calls in with an existing policy, we help them contact their insurance company and review it. Sometimes it was a term policy that expired. Sometimes it was a universal life policy that lost cash value and lapsed. Sometimes it was a whole life policy with a loan taken out, and the family doesn’t realize the payout will be reduced.
We go above and beyond to help our clients understand what they really have.
Tom:
Wendy, you unpacked a lot there. It’s so refreshing to hear the logic behind having these conversations with parents and children. These discussions about whole life policies, wealth protection, and wealth transfer aren’t in baby books, but they’re essential.
You provide those solutions, and that’s incredible. Most people don’t have these conversations, and you inspire them while also helping them understand what their policies actually mean.
Wendy:
Exactly. You would be surprised how shocked some people are. I had an older woman who thought she had a $100,000 whole life policy. During the policy review, we found out it was a universal life policy that had been underfunded and was only worth $588.
If we hadn’t done that review, her family would have expected $100,000 and received less than $600. Since 2017, I’ve been offering policy reviews to give people peace of mind, whether they’re properly covered or not.
A lot of people assume that because they paid into a policy for years, it will pay out. Sometimes it doesn’t, and families are left scrambling.
Tom:
What’s so powerful is that people on fixed incomes really need your services. Many assume insurance is only for people with a lot of money, but that’s not true. You can start at almost any age, and with your guidance, people can find something that truly fits their situation.
Wendy:
Exactly. It’s not easy for people on fixed incomes, especially those on Social Security or disability. That’s why we approach this as consultants. We have solutions for almost everyone, and we customize them carefully.
Tom:
You truly become the insurance Sherpa. Most people don’t read or understand the fine print, and you help them understand what they have, what they need, and how to protect their family and legacy. You also help them create a clear succession plan, which is huge.
Any parting thoughts, Wendy? Something that really warmed your heart this past year?
Wendy:
Definitely the woman whose policy turned out to be worth far less than she thought. They sent her a check to buy out the policy.
Another case was someone who didn’t understand that a term policy means it expires. Ninety-seven percent of people outlive their term policy, and only three percent ever see a payout.
It truly warms my heart to help people get something in place, even if it’s small, so their family doesn’t have to scramble to pay for a funeral. Too often, families end up choosing options they didn’t want simply because they couldn’t afford what was planned. Preparing ahead matters.
Tom:
Wendy, thank you so much for being on Around Town with Tom. You shared incredible information, thoughtful insights, and most importantly, a clear pathway for succession planning.
Thank you to everyone for tuning in. If you’d like to learn more about Wendy Epstein with Senior Life Services, visit DailyNewsNetwork.com. Cheers.
Wendy:
Thank you.
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