Heidi Darst, Financial Services Professional with Nylife Securities LLC

In this essay, a widow shares how her late husband’s life insurance provided a safety net after his sudden death and how she used the money to begin to rebuild her life.

When my husband died tragically at 37, I was completely shattered. But there was a saving grace: life insurance. When Allison Nichol Longtin became a widow suddenly at age 31, her life insurance benefits kept her afloat while she coped with the tragedy.

As a parent, you spend years making sure theyʼre prepared for college. Weʼll help you prepare to afford it.

Life Insurance 101 - Everything You Need to Know | New York Life Unsure how life insurance works? Learn from New York Life about your options to ensure your loved ones have the financial security they need.

Small business owners can use these seven tax-saving strategies to lower their tax liabilities by the end of the year.

7 Smart Year-End Tax Planning Moves For Small Business Owners Now is the time business owners need to do their tax planning. The higher your income the more valuable tax planning can be. Why give the IRS a giant tip?

The average cost of disability insurance depends on several factors. We can help you get the coverage you need.

"Our chief want in life, is somebody who shall make us do what we can." —Ralph Waldo Emerson. Sometimes it’s hard to see your own potential without someone's support. Who has inspired you as a mentor, friend, or personal hero?

“Science provides an understanding of a universal experience. Arts provide a universal understanding of a personal experience." —Mae Jemison. Knowing yourself is critical in knowing what you want. How are you using your personal time for self-discovery?

No matter what changes you have in your career, your individual disability insurance policy is there to help ensure there are no gaps in coverage, and can supplement and support any coverage you have at work.

Starting a new career means setting new financial goals to put you and your family a little closer to achieving your dreams. I can help you find financial solutions for securing your goals.

"True education means fostering the ability to be interested in something." —Sumio Iijima. Can you shout out a special teacher who influenced you?

Getting married can be stressful, exciting, and overwhelming too. When should you buy insurance? What type should you get and when? I’m here to help answer any questions you may have. Read this article and let’s talk when you’re ready.

Life Insurance for Families | New York Life Find out how family life insurance can protect your loved ones, with help from New York Life.

This guide will help you understand the basic rules for the federal capital gains tax, such as when they’re taxed, how to calculate them, and what tax rates apply.

Capital Gains Tax 101: Basic Rules Investors and Others Need to Know | Kiplinger Learn the ins and outs of the capital gains tax, which you may owe if you sell stocks, your home, cryptocurrency, a stamp collection, and much more.

is the perfect time to prepare for the future. Learn the differences between a will, trust, and estate and take the steps now to make sure everything is set for your loved ones and your legacy.

Will, Trust, and Estate | New York Life Avoid complications by planning out your estate today. Learn more about the importance of planning ahead with a will, trust, or estate.

"Children have never been very good at listening to their elders, but they have never failed to imitate them." —James Baldwin. What are some of your habits that you would want others to adopt?

"The bond that links your true family is not one of blood, but of respect and joy in each other's life." —Richard Bach. How do your friendships and relationships positively affect you?

"Don’t ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and then go and do that, because what the world needs is people that have come alive." —Howard Thurman. Inspiration can fuel change. What inspires you?

"Trust yourself. Create the kind of self that you will be happy to live with all your life. Make the most of yourself by fanning the tiny, inner sparks of possibility into flames of achievement." —Attributed to Golda Meir. Confidence is built from achievement. What is a time you've achieved something that made you more confident?

"If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away." —Henry David Thoreau. When have you gone against the norm and did something uniquely you?

"And I am not afraid to make a mistake, even a great mistake, a lifelong mistake, and perhaps as long as eternity too." —James Joyce. Tell me about a time when a big risk turned into big success.

"Do the difficult things while they are easy and do the great things while they are small." —Lao Tzu. Tell me about a small goal you can tackle today.

From closing costs to utilities, there's a lot on your plate when you're buying a new home. But as we celebrate Life Insurance Awareness Month, here's a friendly reminder why life insurance should always be included.

Life insurance for homeowners: Protecting your mortgage | New York Life Learn the importance of assessing your life insurance value when buying a home. Discover how increasing your life insurance can help protect your family and home.

Family takes love, and love takes action. Whether you're caring for your children, your children's children, or an adult relative, learn how life insurance can ensure those you love are protected for a lifetime.

Life Insurance - Financial Protection For Your Family | New York Life Life Insurance from New York Life offers protection at its core, but it can do so much more! Learn from our financial professionals what it has to offer you.

Let's turn this day into a gift-giving opportunity. I'll start with the gift of helping you manage your retirement goals. Once you've had a chance to read these tips, give me a call, and we'll get to work.

Retirement budgeting—Manage retirement spending | New York Life Have you developed a retirement withdrawal strategy or spending plan? Learn about retirement budgeting from New York Life and ensure that your savings last.

Ready for hurricane season? Read these tips. For additional protections against what life throws your way, contact me. https://hurricanesafety.org/prepare/hurricane-safety-checklists/

The strategizing you do today will help make the future that much brighter for yourselves and the ones you love most. Learn the differences between a will, trust, and estate and let's get started today.

Will, Trust, and Estate | New York Life Avoid complications by planning out your estate today. Learn more about the importance of planning ahead with a will, trust, or estate.

is a good reminder that bad things can happen at any moment. Luckily, there is insurance to help protect you and the ones you love from the fallout. Here are 5 things you should consider when buying life insurance.

How Much Does Life Insurance Cost? | New York Life Multiple factors can influence the cost of life insurance. Learn more about what can influence a premium's cost and what to consider when buying life insurance.

In the spirit of back-to-school season, let's learn about some new strategies for helping to supplement your college savings.

How to Pay for College | New York Life If you’re thinking about how you’re going to pay for college, use our list of long- and short-term strategies to help you secure the funds for a college education.

Did you know that with the proper rider, you can use life insurance to help cover the cost of home repairs from damage caused by hurricanes? Reach out to me today, and I can help make sure all your bases are covered this hurricane season.

Remember that freshly sharpened pencil, learning something new feeling from your childhood? You can recapture that by using autumn as your get-back-to-saving moment. When you're ready for your first day, I'm here to help.

Supplementing your saving for college with a Whole Life Insurance policy | New York Life Did you know a whole life insurance policy can be used as a college savings fund? Learn from New York Life how you can start saving for college with whole life.

The U.S. Coastguard celebrates its 231st birthday! From myself and everyone at New York Life, we give thanks to their service.

They may be heading off to school, but you know how fast time flies. Now is a great time to add to their college fund. Worried how you can save for everything you'll need? I'm happy to help you get started.

Save for College or Retirement? Choose Both | New York Life Your children come first; that’s just the nature of being a parent. Learn from New York Life how to save for their education without sacrificing your retirement.