Few people like to think about death, but the truth is that we all have to face it at some point. While no one knows when their time will come, one thing is for sure: you don’t want your loved ones struggling financially after you’re gone. That’s where life insurance comes in.
Despite what you may have heard, life insurance is not just for old people—in fact, most people need it at some point in their lives. Here’s why:
A nonsmoker in their 20s or 30s should expect to spend between $10 and $50 per month for a term life policy, depending on the amount of coverage. That’s less than a gym subscription to ensure your family’s financial security while you’re away.
As you get older, your life insurance needs to change, and you’ll have to factor in things like children, marriage, divorce, retirement, and caring for aging parents.
You’re expecting a child or already have one
Life insurance is a necessity if you want to ensure the survival of your family after an unfortunate event. If there’s anything more important than our own well-being, it would be making sure that those we love have enough money and resources with which they can continue living comfortably in their post-traumatic trauma event.
You’ve decided to marry your partner
Before walking down the aisle, there are a few things to think about. Will you have separate or joint life insurance coverage, for example?
Certain life insurance policies, referred to as joint life insurance policies, are designed specifically for married couples. Joint life insurance plans can help high-net-worth spouses reduce the impact of inheritance and estate taxes on their beneficiaries.
If either partner had children from a prior relationship, there should be a conversation regarding how to safeguard the children’s assets and inheritance. Because a child will not be able to receive the proceeds if they are a juvenile, a trust should be established for life insurance policies that benefit the child.
You provide financial assistance to your elderly parents
As part of their retirement preparation, your parents should have obtained life insurance. However, around 6.2 million millennials (and counting) are caring for a parent, in-law, or grandmother.
If you’re looking after your aging parent at home, in assisted living, or in a nursing facility, life insurance with a long-term care rider can help.
You owe money on a private student loan
If your parents co-signed your private student loans, life insurance ensures that they will not be responsible for the debt if you pass away. Even if your parents weren’t co-signers, you don’t want the burden of debt to be passed on to your heirs, especially if you’re married.
You are self-employed or own a family business
If one of the family members is vital to the firm, their disability or death can result in cash streams drying up.
a business-owned life insurance policy and a business-owned disability insurance policy that identifies the company as the beneficiary so that it can continue to operate.
Most lenders will need life insurance, such as decreasing term life insurance, if you acquire a business loan, with the bank as the beneficiary to pay off the loan if the firm owner dies. Getting life insurance to cover private student loan debt is comparable.
It’s a high-risk job for you
At the end of the day, life insurance is risk management for “premature death, loss of income due to illness or incapacity, and other risks.
You have a higher likelihood of dying if you work in a dangerous or high-risk area than if you sit at a desk all day. A larger premium is virtually usually paid for jobs in aviation, construction, firefighting, mining, oil and natural gas, and a few other fields.
Even if your employer provides group life insurance, you will lose coverage if you leave your work (resign, retire, or get dismissed). Furthermore, group life insurance may not provide adequate protection. As a general rule, you should choose a death benefit equal to 10 times your annual income.
Working in a high-risk job raises your chances of becoming disabled. Disability insurance is similar to paycheck insurance in the event that you are unable to work. Although many people have short-term disability insurance through their work, most people do not have long-term disability insurance.
You have some peculiar interests
If you’re a thrill-seeker who enjoys extreme sports, a life insurance company will most likely consider you a higher-risk customer. However, it’s similar to having a high-risk job: you’ll pay more for insurance, but the expense is justified given the chance of dying from unnatural causes.
It’s recommended not to lie about having an extreme activity, such as rock climbing, scuba diving, or something else as adventurous, on your life insurance application.
If you die during the first two years of your policy’s existence and you didn’t reveal your habitual high-risk behavior, the insurance company has the ability to reduce or cancel your death benefit.
In terms of price, you’ll usually pay a larger base premium or an additional annual fee calculated as a percentage of your coverage amount. Every insurance company evaluates the risk of hobbies differently, so if this pertains to you, it’s a good idea to shop around.
To get the most out of life insurance, consult with a financial advisor, accountant, and estates attorney early on in the process to ensure you have adequate coverage that adapts to your changing circumstances.
If you’re like most people, you probably have friends and family members who are hesitant to get life insurance. They might think that they don’t need it or that they can’t afford it. But the fact is, everyone needs life insurance, and it’s more affordable than you might think.
So if you want to help your loved ones in case something happens to you, share this post with them. It could change their mind about getting life insurance and give them the peace of mind they need.