Life insurance

If someone will suffer financially when you die, chances are you need life insurance because it provides cash to your family after your death. This cash, known as the death benefit, replaces your income and can help your family meet many important financial needs like funeral costs, daily living expenses and college funding. What's more, there is no federal income tax on life insurance benefits.

There are many kinds of life insurance, but they generally fall into two categories: term insurance and permanent insurance.

Term insurance, the most affordable type of insurance when initially purchased, is designed to meet temporary needs. It provides protection for a specific period of time (the “term”) and generally pays a benefit only if you die during that term. This type of insurance often makes sense when you have a need for coverage that will disappear at a specific point in time. For instance, you may decide that you only need coverage until your children graduate from college or a particular debt is paid off, such as your mortgage.

Permanent insurance, by contrast, provides lifelong protection. As long as you pay the premiums and no loans, withdrawals, or surrenders are taken, the full amount will be paid. Because it is designed to last a lifetime, permanent life insurance accumulates cash value and is priced for you to keep it over a long period of time. It's impossible to say which type of life insurance is better because the kind of coverage that's right for you depends on your unique circumstances and financial goals. Often, a combination of term and permanent insurance is the right solution.

It's best to buy life insurance when you're young and healthy because the price increases as you get older. Even so, life insurance is probably cheaper than you think.

Use this calculator to figure out how much insurance you need. Then give us a call to discuss next steps.

No one really wants to think about life insurance. But if someone depends on you financially, it's a topic you can't avoid. In the event of a tragedy, life insurance proceeds can:

Getting life insurance doesn't have to be hard (or boring). We can help you find the right life coverage no matter what stage of life you're in. Contact one of our Insurance Advisors today at 1-800-443-6316.