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The Oxford English Dictionary defines life insurance simply as “Insurance that pays out a sum of money either on the death of an insured person or after a specific period of time.”
A primary reason to have life insurance is that it provides a death benefit – money that your family or other beneficiaries can use for whatever reasons they choose:
- Paying your final expenses, such as burial and estate taxes
- Family income to help maintain their standard of living
- Protect your family’s income by enabling them to pay off a mortgage, home equity loan and/or other debts
- Pay caregivers for aging or disabled relatives
- Child care
- Supplemental income for your husband, wife or partner
- Provide funds to settle your estate
- Pay expenses to keep a small business in the family
There are two types of life insurance:
- Full life insurance
- Term insurance
Your agent will work with you to determine the types of life insurance you need and to prioritize your objectives: help you focus on your current insurance needs, as well as your needs, should lifestyle changes occur.
The key to reaching your long-term insurance objectives is planning. Your policy’s goal may be to:
- Fund your children’s college education
- To protect your family during your working years
- To help fund your retirement
The amount of life insurance you need depends on:
- Your financial stability; job stability
- The size of your family
- Your family’s needs, should anything happen to you
- Your financial goals
- Your age
- Your state of health
All of these factors should be discussed with your agent so he can work with you to analyze your needs. |