About Life Insurance
Life insurance is future protection for your dependents incase of your premature death. You can insure that your dependents are not left with a huge burden to bear. Some purchase it to give them something they could have never given in life.
If you want to insure your family is well provided for, then you should purchase 5-7 times your annual income. You will want your family to be able to pay off the mortgage, loans and debts you leave behind. Also consider your remaining medical expenses and attorney fees they may encounter.
Do not forget how much it may be to raise the children you leave behind. Education, child care, health care all need to be factored in. When you figure how much you need it is time to start thinking about what kind you need.
Term Life insurance is the most affordable choice in life insurance. It will guarantee a death benefit for the life of the term. So if you purchase a 20 year term and you die in 21 years, your dependents will get nothing. These terms can run from 1-30 years.
Permanent Insurance comes in a few different ways. First there is Whole life or Ordinary life. The premiums usually remain constant through out the life of the policy. This type of policy never expires unless you do not pay the premium. It also has cash value, which we will cover later.
Universal life and Variable life are more complicated. With Universal life this type of policy your benefit is flexible and can be changed to suit your need and budget. It is adjustable through out the life of the policy. Variable life provides benefit and cash value based on investment performance.
When you are talking permanent life, it has a cash value. Meaning you can borrow and surrender the value. If you borrow, it must be paid back, otherwise your benefit is reduced. If you surrender (pocket) the value you also surrender that amount of death benefit.
So as you see there are many options once you start getting serious about finding life insurance. They are all good choices. But finding the one that suits your needs, purpose and expectations is key. You want to make sure you are making a good investment so take your time.