Often when speaking to clients about the need for Long-term disability insurance their eyes glaze over when I tell them it provides protection by replacing a portion of your income if you are unable to work. That it helps you cover living expenses and maintain your lifestyle while you recover.
So I use real world examples everyone can relate to like having a stroke on the mound at the Astrodome or being shot by your wife’s sister (and former mistress).
Back in 1980 there were two Texans named JR
They both rose to prominence and both suffered serious medical crisis, one from serious medical emergency, the other from spiraling television ratings. this my friends, is the story of the two JR’s.
TWO JR’s on LTD!
“J.R.” Richard was a professional baseball pitcher who played for the Houston Astros known for his impressive strikeout ability, leading the National League twice in strikeouts and earning an All-Star selection before he suffered a stroke on July 30, 1980.
J.R. Ewing television character portrayed by Larry Hagman in the series Dallas was a ruthless and cunning oil tycoon was shot in a cliffhanger episode titled “A House Divided,” which aired on March 21, 1980.
The episode “Who Done It,” which revealed who shot J.R. Ewing, aired on November 21, 1980, and achieved a Nielsen rating of 53.3, making it one of the highest-rated television episodes in U.S. history. The episode became a significant cultural moment.
Pro athlete disability insurance didn’t exist in 1980.
The first major product was created in 1983, which was to late for Richard. He had suffered a massive stroke, caused by a blood clot in his right carotid artery. He attempted a comeback, but was never able to make it back to the majors.
He fell on hard times after his career ended and was briefly homeless in the mid-1990s. A man whose MLB annual salary was $1 million in 1980 was penniless.
Meanwhile, the question “Who Shot J.R.?” entered the national lexicon and resulted in Larry Hagman becoming one of the highest-paid stars in television