If you haven’t yet purchased a life insurance policy and are currently considering the benefits of one, now could be the best time to start shopping. Planning for your future and that of your family depends on wise decisions, especially in life insurance policies, and these tips could help you along the process.
When you are planning on purchasing a life insurance policy, select an independent broker. Independent brokers can generally offer more selection in terms of policy and cost than a broker who works exclusively for a specific insurance company. Company brokers are limited to the products their company sells, and may also be pushed by the company to recommend a particular product.
When buying life insurance, consider your health and if there’s anything you can do to improve it. People with better health get better life insurance rates. If you can lose a little extra weight, reduce your cholesterol, or quit smoking, you will find that quotes for life insurance may drop significantly.
You can improve your risk class by taking steps to better your health. This includes doing things like losing weight, quitting smoking, reducing your bad cholesterol, reducing your high blood pressure, and much more. You may also get exams prior to applying for insurance to avoid surprises. Some of these healthy changes can save you bundles of money over the life of a policy.
Advice from financial advisers and brokers should be taken with a grain of salt, especially if the individual stands to benefit from your willingness to sign up. Agents who complain about other companies or rating services should be not be considered, and should be totally avoided.
Obtain a term insurance plan instead of a whole life permanent plan. The latter will last until the holder of the policy dies. The other is obtained for a certain period of time or until you reach a certain age. It is the least expensive policy that you can get because the premiums remain the same while its held.
It is to your advantage to make annual premium payments instead of monthly ones if possible. When you decide to go with annual premiums, you can save some cash.
Buy your life insurance policy from a reliable company that is still likely to be around to pay your death benefit should you pass away 10, 20 or 50 years from the time you purchase it. Avoid unfamiliar insurance companies that don’t have a proven track record. You’re much safer going with one of the well-known companies that have been in business for decades.
You should avoid adding on riders to your life insurance policy unless you absolutely need them. One reason is you need to fully understand what they are before you even consider it, which most people do not. A second reason is this can be very expensive and is not guaranteed to add much value to your end policy.
To save money on a life insurance policy you should stay away from “guaranteed issue” policies. The reason is because these policies are given to most people who apply, and a medical exam is not needed. Therefore, companies that issue these types of policies have no way of knowing whether you are in good or bad health. Because of these high risks, the premiums you will have to pay will be high.
A great method to keep your life insurance premiums as cheap as possible is to shop for all policies available to you before committing. You should get quotes from many different companies, compare these quotes, and discuss your options with an adviser. You may immediately run across a good deal, but there may be a deal that is even better if you keep searching.
Determine the amount of life insurance coverage your own people will need in the unlikely event of your death. Use one of the many available online life insurance calculators, or multiply your yearly wage by a factor of eight. This is the average debt left when someone passes away. The better your coverage, the better off your estate.
Renew your whole life insurance policy every year. Many companies automatically renew policies yearly, but you need to verify the specifics with your own insurance company. A lapse in policy coverage will drive up your insurance rates, and will not pay in the unlikely event that something should happen to you.
Ask the hard questions when purchasing life insurance and don’t be afraid to get specific with questions. Will the premiums increase with age? Do these policies include an accidental death rider? Can I renew my policy or cancel it without penalty? Are there comparable products with similar coverage that is less expensive? What is your commission if I purchase this product?
There is a lot to consider as you are preparing to buy life insurance, and understanding your needs and the policies that are offered to meet these needs is important for life planning. You want to make the best decision, so start with the advice in this article and move forward much wiser.
