The Danny Riley Story
Principal Life Threw Me a Lifeline
If you're like most people, you probably don't think that a disability will ever happen to you. But it can, and it strikes real people. In fact, it struck Danny Riley when he was at the height of his career as a corporate executive. Suddenly he lost everything due to an unexpected disability and his Individual Disability Income (DI) insurance policy from Principal Life Insurance Company helped cover necessary expenses and helped him rebuild his life. Here's his story...
A bump in the road
After earning a PhD, Danny accepted a position at a large commercial real estate firm as a corporate executive. A couple of years went by before Danny's world started to come apart. "I lost my ability to function cognitively and concentrate at work. This affected my ability to bring home an income and sustain my lifestyle. My house, my car, my land, etc., all seemed to dwindle away overnight," Danny said. "I was diagnosed with an organic brain disease. Life as I knew it had come unraveled."
After a grieving process, many hassles with his employer, a divorce, and a lot of out-of-pocket expenses, things unraveled even more for Danny. It was at this point he decided to call the toll-free Principal Life disability claims number. "I remember calling the first time and talking to a very nice woman. She encouraged me to apply for disability benefits and walked me through the whole process. She was the one person who threw me a lifeline and my introduction to Principal Life. When I called, I didn't go through a voice prompt system - I got a real person and real answers."
A door opens
Not long after Danny went on claim, he was helping a friend clean up land near a scrap yard of recycled steel and copper. It was like a door opened for him. He bought some scrap metal and a used welder. "That was the beginning of my metal sculpting," he said. He purchased a tutorial on metal work and metal science, and from all that emerged his first piece of art - a rose. "When I showed it to a few people, and got a 'wow' response, I knew I had to go on creating things and bringing them to life," Danny said. "The Principal Life claims staff not only encouraged me in this direction, they nudged me when I thought I couldn't do it. They realized my sculpting was a legitimate endeavor that could be a profitable, viable entity. It not only allowed me to become who I was created to be, but also and most importantly, helped me go off of claim - not for a short period, but for the rest of my life."
Support when needed
"Principal Life has been there for me, and without them and the support from claims personnel, I would not be where I am today," Danny said. Principal Life left no stone unturned, including researching cognitive therapies. "Throughout my disability, Principal Life and its claims staff constantly asked how they could help and what they could do next."
"With a disability, there will always be struggles. But Individual DI insurance can help remove your financial problems and burdens. For me, Principal Life cared and was there for me," he adds.
A new career
Danny displays his work at several public and private museums and galleries in South Carolina and sells his creations at various galleries. For more information about the artwork produced by Danny, visit his web site, www.magnoliagallery.org.
For more information about Individual Disability Income insurance, contact your Principal Life financial representative. Don't have one? Locate one through our Office Locations section.
Disability insurance has certain limitations and exclusions. For costs and complete details of coverage, contact your Principal Life financial representative.
Policy Form #s HH 700/HH 750
Approval #256012009
