Do I Really Need Life Insurance?
I recently watched the fabulous movie It’s a Wonderful Life for the umpteenth time. I must admit it gets me every time I watch it. With my apologies to Frank Capra, here’s another version of the movie: George Bailey has spent his entire life helping the folks of Bedford Falls. His dream of traveling the world has been postponed because he has to take over the family’s building and loan company to save the town from being taken over by the evil Mr. Potter.
On Christmas Eve, George’s Uncle Billy loses $8,000 of the building and loan company’s funds which he was supposed to deposit in the bank. Mr. Potter finds the money and doesn’t tell George about it. The bank examiner discovers the shortfall and, because of that, George fears he will be disgraced and go to jail and, worse, Mr. Potter will take over the building and loan company.
George, knowing how this will ruin him, the town and the family, decides to end his life by jumping off a bridge. However, Clarence, an Angel in training, is sent to try to save George from committing this terrible act.
Clarence reminds George of the cash value accumulation in his life insurance whole life insurance policy. George calls the insurance company and speaks to a dedicated employee working on Christmas eve, who arranges for George to take a policy loan of $8,000 and wires the money to him immediately (I know, but it’s a movie). George brings the money to the bank examiner and gets the account back in order.
Mr. Potter is arrested for stealing the $8,000 from George and he goes to prison to serve a 20 year sentence. During the next 20 years, Bedford Falls flourishes with the help of George Bailey’s building and loan company, which has acquired most of Mr. Potter’s holdings at bargain-basement prices. And, for reminding George of the life insurance policy, which benefited the whole town, Clarence gets his wings.