Introduction
Life insurance is a contract between an insurer and a policy owner. In exchange for premiums, the insurer provides a lump-sum payment, known as a death benefit, to beneficiaries upon the insured’s death. Typically, life insurance is chosen based on the needs and goals of the owner. Term life insurance generally provides protection for a set period of time, while permanent insurance, such as whole and universal life, provides lifetime coverage.
Life insurance is a contract between an insurer and a policy owner.
Life insurance is a contract between an insurer and a policy owner. The policy owner is the person who pays the premiums, and the insurer is the company that pays out on death benefit claims to beneficiaries of deceased policy owners.
In exchange for premiums, the insurer provides a lump-sum payment, known as a death benefit, to beneficiaries upon the insured’s death.
In exchange for premiums, the insurer provides a lump-sum payment, known as a death benefit, to beneficiaries upon the insured’s death. The amount of this benefit is generally fixed at the time you purchase life insurance and cannot be changed unless you change insurers or your health status changes (for example, if you become less healthy). This means that if an insured dies before he or she reaches retirement age or any other term set in the policy, their beneficiary receives whatever amount was specified in the policy contract at that time—regardless of whether it would have been enough to cover funeral expenses or mortgage payments through retirement.
The death benefit can be paid either in one lump sum immediately upon death (a “single-payment” option) or over several years (a “progressive” option). Single-payment policies are simpler and more straightforward than progressive policies; however, progressive policies may offer higher benefits overall since they’re designed to keep pace with inflation over time. For example:
- A $250,000 single-payment policy will provide exactly $250,000 upon death no matter when it occurs after purchasing coverage; whereas
- In contrast a 20 year level premium $1 million dollar universal life policy ($25 monthly premium) will pay out less than its face value because it compounds interest throughout one’s lifetime thus increasing its value over time
Typically, life insurance is chosen based on the needs and goals of the owner.
Typically, life insurance is chosen based on the needs and goals of the owner. For example, a person who has children may choose to get an accidental death policy in case they’re killed while traveling for work. On the other hand, if you’re single and don’t have any dependents to care for if something happens to you, then getting a term life policy might be more suitable for your situation.
However, some people choose whole life policies because they believe it will save them money over time due to its cash value component (which is similar to investing).
Term life insurance generally provides protection for a set period of time, while permanent insurance, such as whole and universal life, provides lifetime coverage.
Term life insurance is cheaper than permanent insurance. It’s also useful for people who are young and healthy. If you don’t expect to live a long time, or if your goals are expensive but not permanent (like buying a house), term life might make sense right now.
Permanent insurance policies are more expensive than term policies, but they provide lifetime coverage in return for higher premiums. You’ll have to decide whether getting lifelong protection is worth paying more upfront and continuing to pay higher premiums each year along the way—or whether you’d rather save money now by taking out a shorter-term policy instead.
Life insurance can help provide for your loved ones’ financial needs in your absence
Life insurance can help provide for your loved ones’ financial needs in your absence.
- Provide financial security: Life insurance can help protect against the financial hardship of losing a loved one. You should think about how you would pay off expenses like debt and college tuition if you were no longer around to contribute to the family income.
- Protect against future hardships: As life expectancies increase, many people are concerned with the ability of their families to survive without them. Even if you don’t have any concerns about dying early, life insurance can ensure that those close to you will continue living comfortably if something does happen unexpectedly.
- Pay for funeral expenses: Going over budget for a funeral is one more stressor on top of dealing with grief during an already difficult time; having some extra money set aside ahead of time means that there won’t be anything else stressing out your loved ones at this vulnerable time in their lives.
Conclusion
Life insurance is a useful way to provide financial stability for those you leave behind. It can be especially helpful for people who have children or other dependents, as well as for retirees who want additional income to help fund their retirements. If you’re considering buying life insurance, talk with an expert at your local bank or credit union about what options might be best for your situation.