REAL STORIES

A Life Insurance Story That Changed Everything

Starting Early Can Make All the Difference

A Letter and a Legacy of Love

My Dad’s Legacy: A “Golden” Envelope

A life lost, a family changed

Securing a Future When Facing the Unexpected

Her Father’s Last Gift: A Financial Lifeline

A personal experience early in her life shaped Farmers Insurance agent Gabriela Castro’s understanding of loss and the gift of life insurance.

When the Unthinkable Happens

Farmers Insurance agent Corey Benson has helped countless families through the process of understanding and buying life insurance, but one young family stands out. Here, he looks back on a series of events that changed their future.

This Silicon Valley Executive Created a Work-at-Home Office on Wheels

When This Teacher’s School Shifted to Remote Learning, She Created a Tiny Classroom

This Couple Closed on Their First Home During the COVID-19 Pandemic

One Grandfather Drove a Hearse. The Other Never Talked About Dying. This is What They Taught Us About Death and Grief

Trapped by $87,000 in Student Debt and a Career He Didn't Love, This Gig Economy Entrepreneur Side Hustled His Way to Financial Independence

Their Home Sweet (First) Home Was Nothing Like They Imagined

These Startups Nailed Scaling Up, and the Owners Made It Look Easy. (It Wasn’t.)

These high-profile small-business owners started their businesses from scratch. Here, they talk about the art of starting scrappy (think: letting your mom run customer service from home) and look back at all of the wins and epic fails that helped them shape the company of their dreams.

Before COVID-19, We Made Wallets. Now, We’re Cranking Out 50,000 Life-Saving Face Shields a Week

Read the real story of a wallet manufacturer who switched from making wallets and backpacks to personal protective equipment (PPE) during the COVID crisis.

Our Home Was Ready When Covid-19 Hit Because We Designed It to Accommodate the Unexpected

They Love #RVLife. When COVID-19 Struck, This Couple Prepared for the Worst and Hit the Road for Three Months.

His Sparkling New Restaurant Was Only Six Days Old When COVID-19 Shut It Down

An Employee Stole $225,000. It Took 10 Years for This Small Business to Uncover the Truth

Adapt or Get Left in the Dust. How One Business Owner Keeps Pace With the Cars of the Future

She Started Selling Tamales Door to Door. Now She's Operating a 6,000-Square-Foot Factory to Keep up With Demand

Confessions of an Estate Planner: Why We Delayed Naming a Guardian and Making a Will

Kim Decker’s job is to help others make the tough decisions about what will happen to their children, their assets and their own care. She also knows firsthand how hard those conversations are.

For Historic Home Buffs, Restoring an Old House Is Like “Rescuing a Stray Dog”

Thinking about restoring an old house? An accomplished house renovator shares advice about tackling common restoration repairs on a budget.

What They Grabbed Before a Natural Disaster Hit

When the Small Business Is a Band, Musicians Turn Detective to Track Stolen Gear

Rethink Bacon, Laundry Baskets and Other Tips from a Couple Who Downsized to 536 Square Feet

A Hurricane Destroyed His Home. The Renovation Was a Bigger Disaster.

My Real-Life Highs and Lows of Buying, Fixing and Selling Classic Cars

This Long Island Pizza Joint Went from 0 to 45,000 Followers (and Counting), Practically Overnight

“A Smoke Alarm Saved My Life”

The piercing sound of a smoke alarm saved this homeowner's life.

A Crash. Flashing Emergency Lights. Then, the Accident That Changed His Life

Read about a life-changing distracted driving accident and how you can potentially avoid one with helpful tips from Farmers Insurance.

He Popped the Question, Then Dropped Her Engagement Ring in a River

With the Neighborhood in Ruins, He Doubled Down to Keep His Cafe Open

When the Roof Collapsed, I Knew Our Family Business Was Gone

40,000 Pets Die in Home Fires Every — Year But Two Pre-teen Girls Saved This One

Rescue Stories from the Houston Flooding: “We’d Bang on Roofs and Listen for People Inside”

This Cross-Country Ride Could Change Your Travel Bucket List

A Freak Snowstorm Helped This Family Business Grow

How one small business came back bigger and stronger less than seven months after a natural disaster.

The Chores Can Wait. Follow This Guy's Journey to Plan the Road Trip of a Lifetime

Read about how one man turned a recreational vehicle into a high-tech home on wheels.

A View of Life on the Road from a Guy Who Lives and Works in an RV

He Lost $400k and Wants Everyone to Know

“We Prepared for Two Inches of Water, Not Five Feet.”

They Wanted a Bigger Living Room. They Got an Indoor Waterpark

She Raced a Fire That Scorched 40,000 Acres in 12 Hours and Lost Almost Everything

I Can Still Hear the Sound of the Fire

"You Could Hear Crackling and Popping... Like Kindling in a Fireplace."

Read Gatlinburg resident Dakota Codgill's account of his family's narrow escape of The 2016 Great Smoky Mountain wildfires.

Seven Years, $40K in Debt, Three Trucks, a Few Flat Tires and One Huge Risk That Paid Off

A Portland food truck owner shares his success story and business rules that can apply to any entrepreneur.

Rickie Fowler Learns the Hard Way, and It's Paying Off

How I Started as a Rental Property Investor

When Your Teenager Tells You, “I've Got This”

This Mom’s Trouble Sounded like a Million Trains Coming

“We Came Back to a War Zone.”