About Author: Kim Wilhelm

Kim Wilhelm is the co-founder of Final Expense Direct, an insurance agency based in Houston, TX, dedicated to helping seniors cover all end-of-life expenses.

Licensed since 1996, Kim started his career as an agent, helping thousands of individuals to secure final expense life insurance.  

In 2007, he and his wife, Ellen Jo Wilhelm, founded Final Expense Direct and quickly grew it into one of the largest final expense agencies in the U.S.  

When he isn’t working, Kim enjoys reading, walking, golfing, and rooting for the Houston Astros.  He is married to his wife, Ellen Jo, and lives in Missouri City, TX, a nearby suburb of Houston.

It just ain't right!

KIM WILHELM – CEO

I started Final Expense Insurance to help protect seniors from a lot of the shady characters in the final expense space. Some of these companies advertise low rates like $9.99 per month of final expense insurance so they can get seniors to call in, only to find out it’s for a measly $1,000 of coverage. It just ain’t right!

Professional Accolades

  • Licensed insurance agent since 1996
  • Has grown Final Expense Direct to over 50 employees
  • Led Final Expense Direct to Inc 5000 list in 2016, 2017, and 2018
  • 94% CEO approval on Glassdoor

Media

Mr. Wilhelm is available for interviews in the areas of business growth & leadership and final expense life insurance.  Please contact us for more details.

Final Expense Direct answers questions about cremation

Frequently Asked Questions About Cremation

Final arrangements can be a difficult topic for families to approach. However, the more research you do now will benefit you and your loved ones when the time comes. Instead of a burial, you can opt for a more affordable arrangement — cremation. The cremation process often raises many questions. To make your decisions easier

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use the death benefit to pay off credit card debt

Four Things That Final Expense Insurance Can Cover

Final expense insurance normally offers a benefit between $5,000 and $25,000 to help your family cover your end-of-life costs. The neat aspect is they can use the payout for more than funeral and burial expenses.   For example, sometimes people die before paying off their credit cards, medical bills, student loans, and mortgage. While we all

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final expense insurance is not the same as pre-need insurance

Final Expense Insurance vs. Pre-Need Insurance

Final expense insurance and pre-need insurance are often discussed together because they focus on the same area: final expenses. They are the two main options available for planning your funeral ahead of time. However, they’re not the same plans.  What Is Pre-Need Insurance? People use pre-need insurance to cover the costs of funeral services, plus

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there are pros and cons of prepaying for a funeral

Should I Prepay My Funeral?

Written by Kim WilhelmCEO | Licensed Insurance AgentCEO | Licensed Agent Verified!  See guidelinesVerified!  See our editorial guidelines Last Updated 27 Apr 2024 When you plan your funeral ahead of time, you can save your family a lot of stress. But doing careful planning doesn’t mean you have to sign a prepaid plan.     Are prepaid plans safe? Final Expense Direct

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Smokers can still get a final expense insurance policy

Final Expense Insurance: Information for Smokers

Written by Kim WilhelmCEO | Licensed Insurance AgentCEO | Licensed Agent Verified!  See guidelinesVerified!  See our editorial guidelines Last Updated 27 Apr 2024 Many folks assume that they can’t get a final expense policy if they’re a smoker. But this assumption is wrong, you can still get insurance, just like many other final expense pre-existing conditions. As a smoker,

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final expense insurance is available if you have diabetes

Final Expense Insurance for People with Diabetes

Written by Kim WilhelmCEO | Licensed Insurance AgentCEO | Licensed Agent Verified!  See guidelinesVerified!  See our editorial guidelines Last Updated 27 Apr 2024 More than 30 million Americans have diabetes. If you have a pre existing health condition like diabetes, it can be more challenging to get life insurance coverage.What Is Diabetes?Diabetes is a condition where the body doesn’t

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cancer patients can buy guaranteed issue insurance policies

Final Expense Insurance for Cancer Patients & Survivors

Written by Kim WilhelmCEO | Licensed Insurance AgentCEO | Licensed Agent Verified!  See guidelinesVerified!  See our editorial guidelines Last Updated 27 Apr 2024 Did you know that nearly 50% of Americans will be diagnosed with cancer during their lifetimes? Cancer is a devastating disease. It can plague the lungs, breasts, bone, appendix, skin, colon, brain, prostate, and other body

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Green Burial Guide: Cost, Pros, & Cons to a Natural Burial

Written by Kim WilhelmCEO | Licensed Insurance AgentCEO | Licensed Agent Verified!  See guidelinesVerified!  See our editorial guidelines Last Updated 27 Apr 2024 While current generations are accustomed to a full funeral with burial and viewing, it can be a costly affair. The median cost for a basic funeral with burial and viewing is over $8,800, while a cremation

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25 Uplifting Prayers, Poems, and Bible Verses for Funerals & Memorial Services

Written by Kim WilhelmCEO | Licensed Insurance AgentCEO | Licensed Agent Verified!  See guidelinesVerified!  See our editorial guidelines Last Updated 27 Apr 2024 When the Good Lord calls home one of your cherished family members or friends, the grief can feel insurmountable. As a Godfearing American, you want to honor your loved one with a heartfelt and moving service,

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Burial at Sea: What it is and how you can turn ashes into coral reef (PLUS COST)

Written by Kim WilhelmCEO | Licensed Insurance AgentCEO | Licensed Agent Verified!  See guidelinesVerified!  See our editorial guidelines Last Updated 27 Apr 2024 For many years, the option after death was either burial or cremation of your remains. But now, you have another option that might be of interest.Coral reef cremation, or artificial reef memorials, are another option you

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