When choosing life insurance you want to make sure you make the right choices on your purchase. A lot of people find it difficult to make these type of decisions, and most of the time it’s because they don’t have enough knowledge about life insurance. This article is here to help assist you with some life insurance tips.
Many people buy term life insurance when they’re younger because it’s cheap. Others are persuaded to buy whole life insurance, which, unlike term, has a cash value and can presumably be viewed as an investment. If you’re in good health, term is generally the best value. Try to lock in term insurance for the longest possible timespan you can find. When it runs out, if you’re still in good health, keep looking for term. Most of the time, whole life will be more expensive, but as you age, term life will also get quite expensive to cover the inevitable health issues that will crop up. Remember: term life as long as it makes sense ratewise, then switch to whole life.
Be careful to not buy too much or too little insurance coverage. The general rule of thumb is to have at least 5 to 7 times your current salary as your benefit amount. Keep in mind what will have to be covered based on your families needs. Many people also make the mistake of buying too much and end up with inflated insurance premiums for coverage they don’t really need.
Read all of the fine print of the policy before you sign on the line. Know what discounts, exclusions, inclusions, and any other fine print is included on the agreement. You may find that there is a no payment clause for pre-existing diseases. Careful reading will help you be sure that your spouse will get the money they will need.
Term life insurance is the type of policy that most experts recommend that people purchase. This provides insurance on the life of the policy holder for a predetermined time, such as 10 or 20 years. Premiums are normally paid annually, and once the term expires, the policy expires as well. By then, the insured’s needs may have changed and he or she may not need a life insurance policy anymore.
Choose permanent life insurance if you want to build cash value. Building cash value in a life insurance policy helps you have additional cash for the future. The insured can borrow the cash value at a low interest rate. They can also use it to pay the premiums. The cash grows tax-free, and some financial planners recommend it as a way to cover estate taxes as part of a comprehensive financial plan.
Life insurance companies often charge cigarette smokers double the usual premium. A way to reduce the monthly cost of your insurance, is to quit smoking if you are a smoker. Another way to bring your premium down is to stay in shape. Physically fit, non-smokers are at far less risk for developing illness and diseases.
Have your medical history ready when applying for a life insurance policy, because waiting around can be a hassle for everyone. You know that they’re going to request your medical history, and unless you’ve kept track of it yourself, the hospital’s records system might take weeks or months to get it to you.
If you’re naming someone close to you as a beneficiary of your policy, make sure you inform them of it so that they’re ready to act when you pass. This kind of news thrust on people after you’re gone is not good for anyone. Make sure you bring it to their attention while you still can.
If you’re a smoker who was addicted and smoking cigarettes at the time of your life insurance policy, you can actually quit smoking and save money. Most companies will let you reapply for a policy as a non-smoker after a certain amount of time has passed. So there’s some incentive in it if you can quit.
You have a lot of options when it comes to the type of life insurance you will purchase. Depending on your age, your level of coverage needed and your budget, you will need to have your insurance agent or representative explain these to you in detail. Make sure to ask lots of questions, don’t just take their word for it.
Make sure you get enough coverage. $500,000 can seem like a windfall of cash for your family in the event of your passing. But when you take into consideration a $300,000 mortgage, car loans, student loans, burial and funeral expenses, credit card debt and the like, all those can add up fast.
With all of the tips you have just learned you should feel more confident with your life insurance decision making. Make sure you retain all of the information you learned about in this article, if you use the knowledge you just learned you should be making the best decision available to you.
