Martha’s decision to protect the people she loves

At 28, Martha G. is building a life she’s proud of. She recently moved into her own place. She works full-time in marketing. She’s in a loving relationship. She’s learning to crochet. She has goals, hobbies and a future she’s actively shaping.

She’s also the only daughter in a family of five—the child of parents who came to the United States as refugees from Ethiopia and Eritrea before becoming citizens. That part of her story is central to why, in 2024, she chose to purchase term life insurance.

“My why is, always is and always will be my family,” Martha says. “There’s literally no way in this lifetime or in the next that I could ever fathom my parents, my siblings, my partner paying for my funeral and taking that burden—if I can help it.”

Becoming Financially Independent—On Purpose

Like many Gen Z young adults, Martha graduated college in 2020, at the start of the pandemic. Adulthood came quickly—along with student loans, a car payment and the pressure to “do all the right things” financially.

“There’s just so much being thrown at you,” she says. “You have to open this account, invest here, save there, plan for retirement. It’s overwhelming. You don’t know what to listen to first.”

For a while, life insurance sat in the background as she focused on stabilizing her career and learning through trial and error. But over time, something shifted.

“I’ve always been a go-getter,” she says. “As a first-born daughter, I learned early on the weight of responsibility and cultural expectations placed on me to succeed. I didn’t always have someone there to guide me through those responsibilities, so I learned a lot of things the hard way—college, credit cards and managing money. But through that process, I got interested in becoming more financially knowledgeable and wanting to do better.”

She also gained knowledge through her marketing and communication specialist role for a financial services company. She began to put what she was learning into action, and saving led to investing, investing led to long-term planning, and long-term planning led her to life insurance.

“For me, it’s about protecting what I’ve built and protecting the people I love—emotionally and financially,” she says.

Why Now—in Her 20s?

Some might say 26 was young to purchase life insurance. Martha sees it differently.

“I wanted to get ahead of the game,” she says. “Once I was in a position to do so, I didn’t want to wait.”

She carries student loans and a car loan. She isn’t married yet. She doesn’t own a home. But she understood that financial obligations don’t disappear if something unexpected happens. More importantly, she thought about the sacrifices her parents made.

“My parents came here as refugees, they left their family behind, they lost their family—and they were able to give me a better life,” she says. “So for me, my duty is to protect them in the ways that they weren’t protected.”

The thought of them carrying emotional grief and financial responsibility was something she simply couldn’t accept.

“My parents have endured so much hardship. I wouldn’t want them to go through the burden of losing a child and then having to take on the financial responsibility too,” she says.

A World That Feels Uncertain

Martha admits that today’s world also played a role in her decision.

“The world isn’t fair,” she says. “I hear about more young people dying. I see the GoFundMe pages. Everything is expensive.”

She doesn’t live in fear—but she does believe in preparation.

“I don’t want to live scared,” she says. “If anything, I like to be prepared. Since life insurance was something I could plan for—knowing that if something happens to me, this part is taken care of—it was the clear choice for me.”

For her, buying life insurance wasn’t about expecting tragedy. It was about taking ownership of something she could control.

The Simplicity That Made It Possible

Once Martha decided to move forward, she chose a Trusted Fraternal Life product—Instant Decision Term Life Insurance—because it worked for her season of life.

“It felt like the right fit for where I was,” she says.

Martha chose a 20-year term policy with enough coverage to pay off her obligations and provide meaningful support to her loved ones if needed.

“I wanted something simple to hold me over until I’m ready to buy more,” she says. “When I get married, when I buy a house, when I have kids, then I’ll add on, but for now, this makes sense.”

The application process was exactly what the product promises.

“It took under 10 minutes,” she says. “As long as it took me to make the decision to do it, once I finally did it, it was that quick.”

The representative walked her through the options clearly and without pressure.

“The representative was phenomenal and explained everything,” she says.

The Emotional Impact: Peace and Security

Enrolling brought Martha a strong sense of preparedness and gratitude.

“I’m grateful for the opportunity, for the resource and to have this policy—because I know what it’s going to do,” she says.

For Martha, the biggest change she experienced after purchasing life insurance wasn’t logistical—it was emotional.

“It’s like a weight off my shoulders,” she says. “It took me a while to understand the importance of purchasing life insurance, but once I finally did it—especially with how quick it was—I felt peace. I feel confident. I feel secure. Because right now, if I go, everything is handled on my end, and there’s extra cushion for my family if they need time off or help.”

Inspired by Mission and Community

As a member, Martha’s involvement extends beyond her policy. She has volunteered with Habitat for Humanity, helped distribute clothing to families in need and supported fraternal events. Seeing the organization’s mission in action deepened her confidence in the brand.

“I see the impact,” she says. “I see how much the company really cares about their members and about giving back, and the members care so much about their communities. It’s inspiring to be around people like that.”

That inspiration made her decision even more meaningful.

A Message to Her Generation

If she could say one thing to other young adults, it would be this: Don’t assume it’s too early.

“Life insurance is part of getting ahead,” she says. “You don’t have to wait until you have a house or kids. If your absence would create stress for someone you love, that’s reason enough.”

For Martha, buying Instant Decision Term Life Insurance wasn’t about fear of death. It was about love, responsibility, gratitude and growth. It was about becoming the kind of financially independent woman she has worked hard to be—someone who plans ahead, protects her loved ones, and moves forward with confidence. Two years later, she continues to feel reaffirmed.

“I made the right decision,” she says. “I feel prepared, and that peace is everything.”