What would you do if you were not able to provide for your loved ones anymore? Having life insurance gives you piece of mind that if the worst happens, your loved ones will not be burdened by expenses. Life insurance is relatively inexpensive and there are many different options to choose from.
When considering life insurance, it is best to buy it as soon as possible in your career. Rates will only go up as you get older, and with the addition of other ailments that you might be diagnosed with you may not even qualify for coverage. Start as early as you can and try to lock in a low rate.
It is important to purchase life insurance when you are young and healthy. This is because many insurance companies do not want to provide the elderly, disabled and sick. And companies who do provider older or sick people with life insurance often raise the premium rate due to their condition.
Take measures to avoid paying commissions or extra fees for your life insurance. The commission is what the insurance broker/agent gets paid. This cost is usually included in the premium price and can drive your price up significantly. Policies such as “no load” policies might save you money, because they are bought directly from the insurance company, so the commission to an agent is eliminated.
Even if your employer offers life insurance, you shouldn’t depend on this policy to meet all your needs. These policies are often fairly limited, and have the disadvantage of not being portable. If you leave your job, you will also leave your life insurance behind, which means you will have to find a new policy to replace it.
Lower the cost of life insurance by quitting smoking. Smoking is one of the biggest health risk factors from an insurance standpoint, but some life insurers will reduce your rates with just one year of being smoke-free. After two to three years of non-smoking status, some insurance companies will put individuals into the standard rate class, reducing premiums substantially.
When buying term life insurance, make sure the duration of your policy matches the amount of time you need it. For example, buy term insurance that stays in force long enough until the kids become independent and also, that the remaining spouse has coverage until he or she, becomes eligible for retirement income.
One of the most important factors when deciding on a life insurance policy is choosing which company to get it from. There are various companies that offer life insurance and some offer policies at significant discounts compared to others. However, not all companies are financially stable enough to reliably pay off future claims on your insurance. These companies generally have lower credit ratings. Although getting a good deal for your money is important, it is far more important to choose a company with a high credit rating as they are more likely to be around to fulfill their responsibilities.
You want to avoid “guaranteed issue” insurance policies at all costs. Life insurance that are classified under this category are mostly geared towards individuals who have pre-existing conditions when it comes to their health. Such policies do not have compulsory health exams, though they are always far costlier then other policies, and provide only for restrictive face value coverage limits.
When you are choosing life insurance, make sure you are only paying for what you need. Think about what your life insurance will need to cover. It may need to pay for the funeral, a mortgage, or college for kids. Or if you have a separate account for your children’s college, you would not want to pay for that.
If you want to have some control and decision-making power over the money you invest in your life insurance, consider a variable, universal life insurance policy. With these policies, you have the ability to invest part of your premium in the stock market. Depending on how wisely you invest this portion of your money, your death benefit can increase over time. You should have some knowledge of the stock market if purchasing this type of policy or enlist the aid of a financial professional.
When purchasing a life insurance policy, a great tip is to not make your insurance planning a complicated matter. You should aim to keep it as simple as possible. Since life insurance is meant to protect you, the policy you select should be the one that best fits your needs.
Thinking about your own passing is never easy, but in the event that it does happen, knowing that your loved ones will be taken care of, is reassuring. There are many different options available and hopefully, this article helped you to find an option that is right for you and your family.
