Allen McGirl, Life Insurance Agent
Allen McGirl
McGirl Insurance Inc.
Life Insurance Agent Licensed in CO, AK, AL, AR, AZ, CT, FL, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, ND, NE, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, WA, WI and WY
Contact Details
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Location
Englewood, CO
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Website
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Facebook
About Me
Allen McGirl is a trusted independent insurance advisor helping individuals and families navigate life insurance, Medicare, retirement planning, and health coverage with confidence. Serving Colorado since 1995, Allen offers personalized, no-pressure guidance to help clients protect what matters most and make informed decisions for every stage of life.
My Google Reviews
Total Reviews (0.0)
April 27, 2026
Great performance and wonderful team effort to work with them.
April 18, 2026
Alan McGril’s office is awesome! Customer Service at its very best. When getting registering for Medicare Allan walked me through and answered my questions so l knew how to understand. Thank you, Alan McGril
April 17, 2026
Very knowledgeable, highly recommend.
April 1, 2026
Great job explaining medicare. Allen quickly got me through the entire process.
March 31, 2026
Allen McGirl is great. For many years he has helped my husband and I through the maze of Medicare options. He’s professional, knowledgeable and clearly explains every coverage option. He’s always friendly and ready to help. I highly recommend Allen McGirl Insurance.
Q&A with Allen McGirl
What is the most common mistake people make when buying life insurance?
Answer: One of the biggest mistakes people make with life insurance is waiting too long because they think they’ll ‘get to it later.’ Life has a funny way of getting busy, and unfortunately rates don’t get cheaper as we age. Most people are surprised to learn that getting coverage younger and healthier can make a huge difference in cost.
What questions should a first-time life insurance buyer ask their agent?
Answer: 1. How much coverage do I actually need?
Not what your neighbor has. Not some random number online. Ask what makes sense for your family, income, mortgage, kids, debt, and future plans.
2. What happens if my health changes later?
This is a big one people don’t think about. Ask if your policy can grow with you or if you can convert it later without jumping through medical hoops.
3. What’s the difference between term and permanent life insurance… in plain English?
A good agent should be able to explain it without making your eyes glaze over.
4. What will this actually cost me long term?
Not just the shiny monthly payment today. Ask if rates stay the same or if they change later.
5. What doesn’t this policy cover?
Nobody likes surprises. Better to ask upfront than assume everything is covered.
6. If something happened to me, how easy is the claims process for my family?
This one matters. The whole point is helping the people you love when life gets hard.
7. Would you recommend this if I were your family member?
You can tell a lot by how someone answers that question.
Can you get life insurance to cover your mortgage?
Answer: Yes, you can absolutely use life insurance to help cover your mortgage. In fact, a lot of people do that for peace of mind.
The idea is pretty simple. If something unexpected happened to you, the life insurance payout could help your spouse or family pay off the house so they’re not worrying about a mortgage payment on top of everything else.
One thing people don’t always realize is there’s a difference between mortgage protection insurance and a regular life insurance policy. Mortgage protection usually pays the lender directly, while a life insurance policy pays your family, so they have more flexibility in how they use it. Maybe they pay off the house. Maybe they use some of it for bills, kids, or to replace lost income.
Honestly, the biggest thing is making sure you have enough coverage to actually protect the people depending on you, not just the house itself. A good agent should walk you through what makes sense for your situation without making it feel complicated or salesy.
What is the difference between universal life insurance and whole life insurance?
Answer: The simplest way to think about it:
Whole life = predictable.
Universal life = more flexible.
Whole Life Insurance:
Think of this as the “set it and forget it” option. Your payment usually stays the same, your coverage stays the same, and it builds cash value over time. Some people like it because it feels steady and predictable. You know what you’re paying and what you’re getting.
Good fit for people who like consistency and want something long-term that won’t change much.
Universal Life Insurance:
This gives you more flexibility. Depending on the type of policy, you may be able to adjust your payments or death benefit over time. It also builds cash value, but performance can vary more depending on the policy and how it’s structured.
Good fit for people who want options or whose financial situation may change over time.
The biggest mistake people make is thinking one is automatically “better” than the other. Honestly, it depends on what you’re trying to accomplish.
If someone says:
“I just want something simple that I never have to think about.”
Whole life may make sense.
If someone says:
“I want flexibility as life changes.”
Universal life might be worth looking at.
The best question to ask an agent is: “Why are you recommending this policy for me specifically?” If they can’t explain it in plain English, keep asking questions. A good agent should make insurance feel understandable, not overwhelming.
How do you explain cash value life insurance to someone who has never heard of it?
Answer: Cash value life insurance is kind of like having life insurance with a savings component built into it.
Part of what you pay goes toward keeping your life insurance active, and part of it builds up value over time inside the policy. That money can grow and, in some cases, be borrowed against later if you ever need it.
I usually explain it like this: imagine paying into something that protects your family if something happens to you, but also slowly builds a bucket of money you may be able to access down the road.
Now, it’s important to know it’s not the same as a regular savings account, and it’s definitely not a “get rich quick” thing. It tends to be more of a long-term strategy. Some people use it for things like supplementing retirement income, emergencies, helping with big expenses, or leaving money behind for family.
That said, it’s not for everyone. Sometimes simple term life insurance makes more sense depending on someone’s goals and budget. A good agent should walk through both options and explain the pros and cons without making it feel confusing.
A lot of people hear “cash value” and think, “Wait… life insurance can do that?” And honestly, that’s a pretty normal reaction.
How does life insurance work if you have a dangerous job or risky hobbies?
Answer: Honestly, having a dangerous job or risky hobbies doesn’t automatically mean you can’t get life insurance. It just means the insurance company is probably going to ask a few more questions.
For example, if you’re a firefighter, pilot, roofer, work in construction, or even spend weekends skydiving, rock climbing, racing motorcycles, or backcountry skiing, they’ll usually want to know how often you do it and what the actual risk level looks like.
Sometimes nothing changes. Sometimes your rate is a little higher. And occasionally there may be exclusions depending on the situation. It really depends on the company and the risk.
The biggest thing? Be honest about it. People sometimes think, “I just won’t mention my hobby,” but if something happened and it came out later that important information was left off the application, it could create headaches for your family during a claim.
The good news is a good agent usually knows which carriers are more friendly toward certain professions or hobbies, so one company saying “that’s expensive” doesn’t always mean they all will.
I always tell people: don’t assume you won’t qualify just because your life is a little adventurous. It’s worth having the conversation first.
How often should someone review or update their life insurance policy?
Answer: A good rule of thumb is to review your life insurance every couple of years, but more importantly, anytime life changes.
Got married? Had a baby? Bought a house? Changed jobs? Started a business? Paid off debt? Those are all good reasons to take another look.
A lot of people set up a policy years ago and never think about it again, but life moves fast. The coverage that made sense when you were 30 and renting an apartment may not make sense when you have kids, a mortgage, or people depending on your income.
It doesn’t always mean you need to change anything. Sometimes it’s just confirming, “Yep, we’re still in good shape.” But it’s worth checking in so you’re not underinsured or paying for something that no longer fits your needs.
I usually tell people to think of it like a financial check-up. You don’t wait until there’s a problem to look at it.
How do life insurance companies decide your premium rate?
Answer: A lot of people think life insurance pricing is random, but it’s actually based on risk.
When an insurance company looks at your rate, they’re basically trying to answer one question: “How risky is it to insure this person right now?”
They’ll usually look at things like your age, overall health, medications, family history, height and weight, tobacco use, and sometimes your job or hobbies if they’re considered higher risk.
For example, a healthy 30-year-old who doesn’t smoke is probably going to pay a lot less than someone in their 50s with major health issues. That doesn’t mean you can’t get coverage if you have health concerns, it just may change the price or options available.
They may also ask about things people don’t always think about, like driving history, travel habits, or whether you participate in risky activities.
The biggest misconception is that if you’re not in “perfect health,” there’s no point in applying. That’s not true at all. Different insurance companies look at health conditions differently, which is why it helps to work with someone who can shop around and find the best fit.
At the end of the day, the younger and healthier you are when you lock something in, the more affordable it usually is. That’s why a lot of people wish they had done it sooner.