# Why Choose Cheri | Ascend Financial Wellness Group > Cheri Muniz works with business owners, families, and individuals on life insurance, retirement income, employee benefits, funding, and legal protection. Canonical page: https://cheri-muniz-ascendfinancialwellnessgroup.launchautomation.workers.dev/why-choose-cheri # Protect the people who depend on you Protection and planning for business owners, families, and individuals, from a California-licensed agent who explains every option in plain language before you sign anything. [Book a Free Consultation](/contact) [(916) 597-0314](tel:+19165970314) California licensedCA DOI #0K85961 BBB Accredited, A+A+ rating Founded 2025Woman-owned business Roseville, CAServing families statewide ## What does Ascend Financial Wellness Group do? We work with business owners, families, and individuals to protect what matters, strengthen their financial foundation, and plan for the future. Our solutions include employee wellness benefits (SIMERP), business funding, life insurance, retirement income strategies, debt reduction, and legal protection. Stronger businesses. Stronger teams. We connect business owners with funding opportunities and employee wellness benefits (SIMERP) designed to support retention, expand access to care, and identify potential savings, all while keeping existing medical plans in place. Protection for life. Strategies for your future. From term life, Indexed Universal Life (IUL), and Whole Life to living benefits and final expense coverage, we match protection options to your needs and budget. Annuities and debt reduction strategies round out the conversation, with a focus on retirement income, financial stability, and the legacy you want to leave. Experience that puts your priorities first. With more than 30 years of experience spanning mortgage lending, retail management, and federal service, Cheri understands the value of listening, building trust, and making informed decisions. She takes the time to understand your priorities, explain your options clearly, and connect you with solutions that fit your business, your life, and your future. Stability. Strategy. Legacy. [See how life insurance works here](/life-insurance) 30+ yearslending, retail management, and federal service ## Five ways to protect what you are building Life insurance is the foundation. The rest are there when a family or a business needs the next layer. [### Life Insurance Term, whole life, and indexed universal life from an independent agent. Coverage sized to replace your income, clear the mortgage, and keep your family's plans intact. Explore life insurance](/life-insurance) [### Business Owners: SIMERP Individual and family plans, supplemental coverage, and a zero-cost employer benefit program through EHP. Health options](/business-owners) [### Business Funding Startup capital, revenue-based financing, real estate, and SBA loans, arranged nationwide. Funding options](/business-funding) [### Financial Consulting 401k rollovers, IUL strategies, and fixed indexed annuities for people who want growth without gambling their principal. Consulting](/financial-consulting) [### LegalShield Plans A law firm on call for a flat monthly fee. Personal and small business plans through Cheri as an independent associate. Legal plans](/legalshield) ## Your coverage gap in 60 seconds Move the four sliders and watch the number most families never calculate. This is the same first pass Cheri does on a call, before any carrier or product is mentioned. $915,000estimated coverage gap Income to replace$750,000 Debts plus $15,000 final expenses$265,000 Total need$1,015,000 Coverage you have$100,000 The gap$915,000 An estimate, not a quote. It leaves out savings, Social Security survivor benefits, and future college costs, which is why the real conversation matters. Final expenses are assumed at $15,000. [Close the gap with Cheri](/contact) ## How working with Cheri actually goes Three steps, no homework you cannot finish in an evening, and nothing signed until you understand it. 1 ### A 20-minute conversation Phone or video. Who depends on you, what you owe, what you earn, and what is already in place. Cheri listens more than she talks. 2 ### Options side by side Two or three real quotes from carriers that fit your health and budget, with the trade-offs written out. Term, permanent, or a mix. 3 ### Application to approval Cheri handles the paperwork, schedules any exam, and follows underwriting until the policy is in your hands. ## Meet Cheri Muniz Founder and CEO of Ascend Financial Wellness Group, a California-licensed life insurance agent with more than 30 years across mortgage lending, retail management, and federal service. Licensed in life insurance since 2016, Cheri founded Ascend Financial Wellness Group in January 2025 with one idea: financial wellness should be reachable for business owners, families, and individuals, not just people who already have an advisor. As a prior federal employee she works often with federal families, baby boomers, and women over 50, and every strategy she recommends is meant to be intentional, structural, and built to last. 30+years of experience A+BBB rating, accredited 5service lines under one roof CADOI license #0K85961 [Read Cheri's story](/about) ## Building a team of trusted professionals Health Insurance Brokers • Executive Recruiters • Business Brokers • Life Insurance Agencies • Mortgage Loan Officers • C-Suite Advisors If you work with business owners and executive decision-makers, let's explore how we can create more value together. [Explore a partnership](/partnerships) ## Answers people ask Cheri every week [### How much life insurance do I need? The three-number method most agents use, worked through on a real California household.6 minute read](/insights/how-much-life-insurance-do-i-need) [### Term vs. permanent: which one is right for you? Where term wins, where IUL or whole life earns its higher premium, and the mix many families end up with.7 minute read](/insights/term-vs-permanent-life-insurance) [### Business funding options for California owners Startup, revenue-based, real estate, and SBA financing compared by speed, cost, and what you need to qualify.8 minute read](/insights/business-funding-options-for-california-owners) ## Questions before you call ### In which states is Ascend Financial Wellness Group licensed? Cheri Muniz is currently licensed to offer insurance solutions in California, Florida, Michigan, Ohio, Texas, and Washington. Her California Department of Insurance license number is 0K85961. If you live outside these states, let Cheri know. She can obtain the necessary state license to serve you, except in New York. Business Funding, LegalShield, and Wellness Plans are available nationwide, as these programs are not insurance products. ### How much life insurance do I actually need? Most families need enough to replace 7 to 10 years of income, plus the mortgage and other debts, plus final expenses. That usually lands between 10 and 15 times annual income. The coverage gap tool on this site walks through the math in under a minute. Cheri then checks it against your real budget and the health questions carriers will ask. ### How much does life insurance cost? A healthy person in their 30s can often get a $500,000, 20-year term policy for roughly $25 to $45 a month. Permanent policies such as IUL or whole life cost more because they build cash value and never expire. Your age, health, tobacco use, coverage amount, term length, and policy type drive the price. Nothing is quoted until an application is reviewed, so treat any number online as a starting point. ### What is the difference between term and permanent life insurance? Term insurance covers you for a set period, usually 10, 20, or 30 years, and pays only if you die during that term. Permanent insurance (whole life, universal life, IUL) lasts your whole life and builds cash value you can borrow against. Term is the cheapest way to cover a big need for a set time, like raising kids or paying off a mortgage. Permanent fits estate planning, business succession, and people who want a policy that is guaranteed to pay out someday. ### How long does it take to get a life insurance policy? Simplified issue policies can be approved in days. Fully underwritten policies with a medical exam usually take 3 to 6 weeks because the carrier orders records and lab results. Cheri sets expectations up front, handles the paperwork, and follows the application through underwriting so nothing stalls. ### Does Cheri work with more than one insurance company? Yes. Cheri is an independent agent, which means the recommendation is built around your health, budget, and goals rather than one carrier's product list. Every carrier is different about health conditions, occupations, and hobbies. Comparing several is how a client with a condition still gets a fair rate. ### What states is Ascend Financial Wellness Group licensed in? Cheri Muniz holds a California Department of Insurance license (#0K85961). Business funding and LegalShield clients are served nationwide because those programs are not insurance products. If you live outside California, ask. Cheri will tell you whether she can help or refer you to someone who can. ### What does a consultation with Cheri cost? The initial consultation is free. Insurance agents are paid by the carrier when a policy is issued, so you never write a check for the advice. Business funding and LegalShield reviews are also free to start. If a program carries a fee, it is explained in writing before anything is signed. ### How do I schedule a consultation? Call (916) 597-0314 or send the short form on the contact page. Cheri or her team will call or email you back to set a time. Come with a rough idea of your monthly budget, any existing policies, and the people you want protected. Everything else can be worked out on the call. ### What is a SIMERP? A SIMERP is a Self-Insured Medical Expense Reimbursement Plan. It is an employer-sponsored wellness and reimbursement structure that uses existing tax provisions so a business can add benefits for employees without a new line item on the budget. It is not health insurance and not a replacement for major medical coverage. It works alongside the medical plan you already offer, and your carrier and network do not change. Eligibility depends on payroll structure, so a short review is the first step. ### What kinds of business funding are available? Working capital, business expansion, equipment purchase, real estate, invoice factoring, SBA and long-term loans, startup funding, and credit improvement are the main categories. The right option depends on time in business, revenue, credit, and what the money is for. A quick intake shows which programs you could realistically qualify for before anyone pulls credit. ### What does a LegalShield plan cover? A LegalShield membership gives you a dedicated provider law firm for a flat monthly fee. Personal plans cover consultations, letters and calls on your behalf, document review, will preparation, and traffic matters. Small business plans add contract and document review, debt collection letters, and consultations on business questions. Cheri is an independent associate and can enroll you directly. ### Who is Cheri Muniz? Cheri Muniz is the founder and CEO of Ascend Financial Wellness Group, a California-licensed insurance agent, and a business consultant based in Roseville, California. She started the practice in 2016. The business is BBB Accredited with an A+ rating and is woman and veteran-owned. Her background in lending shapes how she looks at a family's or a company's whole picture.Show 5 more questions [Read every question on the FAQ page](/faq) ## Start with a conversation, not a quote form Twenty minutes with Cheri is enough to know what your family needs and roughly what it costs. No pressure, no obligation, and no jargon. [Book a Free Consultation](/contact) [(916) 597-0314](tel:+19165970314) --- Ascend Financial Wellness Group · (916) 597-0314 · cheri@ascendfinancialwellnessgroup.com · Roseville, CA Powered by [Launch Automation](https://www.launchautomation.ai)