Independent insurance planning · Gig Harbor, WA
Give your family the certainty they deserve.
Helping families prepare for final expenses and protect their financial future.
Planning for real life
Personal guidance for what’s ahead.
Based in Gig Harbor, Washington, I help individuals, couples, and families across 14 states make confident decisions about Medicare, retirement, and life insurance.
Learn More About MeWho we are
You've worked hard for this. Let's protect it.
Retirement isn't just a number in an account, it's the freedom to spend your time the way you want, without wondering if it will last. KM Insurance Planning exists to make sure it does.
We're independent, so we're not tied to any single carrier or product, every recommendation is shaped around what actually fits your life. That means real, concrete help with retirement income, life insurance, long-term care, and Medicare, brought together into one clear plan instead of a stack of separate policies.
Before we recommend anything, we take the time to earn your trust, understanding where you are today and where you want to go.
- BankingStarted in banking as a teller, later working in home-equity lending.
- HealthcareSpent nearly ten years in a healthcare clinic, gaining a clinical view of medical and insurance decisions.
- Insurance & FinanceMoved into insurance and financial services, eventually founding KM Insurance Planning in 2018.
- LeadershipServed as Broker Manager for both a carrier and a brokerage, overseeing 500+ brokers.
Our approach
You don't have to figure this out alone.
Retirement, insurance, and long-term care are reviewed together, not decided in isolation, so nothing important slips through the cracks.
Understand today
Where you are right now, financially and in life.
Clarify goals
What matters most to you and your family going forward.
Review coverage
What you already have, in plain terms.
Find the gaps
Where you're exposed, and where you're paying for overlap.
Explain options
Clear comparisons, no jargon, no pressure.
Build the strategy
A practical plan suited to your situation.
Adjust over time
Revisited as your life and needs change.
What we help you protect
9 ways we help you protect the people who matter most.
Every plan starts with a conversation, not a sales pitch, here's the full range of what we can help you put in place.
Retirement Income Planning
Personalized strategies for retirement income, Social Security timing, and long-term confidence.
Life Insurance & Final Expense
Coverage for final expenses and future income protection, after a full review of what you already have.
Mortgage Protection
Life insurance tailored to your mortgage balance, so your family can stay in the home.
Long-Term Care Planning
Traditional and hybrid life/LTC strategies designed to protect assets and independence.
Annuity Income
Convert savings into predictable, guaranteed income for a set period or for life.
Medicare Health Plans
Medicare Advantage, Supplements, and IRMAA planning, explained without the overwhelm.
Worksite Voluntary Benefits
Legal, dental, vision, accident, and critical-illness benefits for employers and HR teams, many portable if an employee leaves.
Final Expense Trusts
Pre-funded trusts that secure funds for specific funeral arrangements ahead of time.
Coverage Review
A no-pressure audit of your existing policies to find gaps and unnecessary overlap.
Planning for real life
Your plan should support the life you're actually trying to protect.
Whether you're protecting your family today or planning for the years ahead, the goal is the same: more clarity, fewer surprises, and a plan that makes sense for your situation.
Common questions
Straight answers, before you decide anything.
Does Medicare pay for long-term care?
Generally, no, Medicare does not cover ongoing custodial care such as help with bathing or dressing. Long-term care insurance and annuity riders are two ways to plan around this gap.
Do I need a medical exam for life insurance?
It depends on the policy. Some simplified-issue and guaranteed-issue policies skip the traditional exam, while larger traditional policies typically require health underwriting.
When's the best time to buy long-term care insurance?
Many experts suggest looking into it in your 40s or 50s, earlier purchase can mean lower premiums and easier qualification before health changes.
Can I have more than one life insurance policy?
Yes. This is often called "laddering", for example, term coverage for a mortgage or children, paired with permanent or final-expense coverage for lifelong needs.
Is my money safe in an annuity?
Fixed and indexed annuities are built around principal protection and are backed by the issuing insurance company's financial strength and claims-paying ability.
How soon can I receive annuity income?
Immediate annuities can begin paying out relatively quickly; deferred annuities let your money accumulate first before the income phase begins.
If I leave my job, do I lose my voluntary benefits?
Many voluntary benefit plans are portable, meaning you may keep coverage after changing jobs or retiring, subject to the plan's terms and continued premium payments.
Kristin Michelle Epperly
Founder, KM Insurance Planning
Your trusted retirement partner
A full-circle path through healthcare, banking, and insurance.
Kristin's career began in banking, including work as a teller and in home-equity lending. She then spent nearly a decade in a healthcare clinic, an experience that shaped how she thinks about the human side of insurance, not just the paperwork.
After moving into insurance and financial services, she founded KM Insurance Planning in 2018, and later served as a Broker Manager for both an insurance carrier and a brokerage, overseeing more than 500 brokers. That combination of healthcare and financial experience is what shapes her approach today: looking beyond the policy to the person it's protecting.
What it feels like to work with us
"Kristin was incredibly responsive and worked around my difficult schedule. She's professional, knowledgeable, and has a real gift for simplifying complicated choices."
"Trustworthy, knowledgeable, and genuinely committed to helping people. I never felt like just a policy number."
Get in touch
Let's make sure your family is taken care of.
Insurance can feel overwhelming, that's exactly why this business exists. Tell us a little about yourself below, and we'll reach out to schedule a no-pressure conversation. No question is too small.
- Phone
253-241-3603 - Email
Info@KMbenefits.com - Mailing Address
PO Box 147, Gig Harbor, WA 98335 - National Producer Number
18689134