Friday 6 January 2012

Things To Consider Regarding Life Insurance

By Martin Johnson


Life insurance isn't something people generally like to think about. Unfortunately, some people avoid it out of not fully understanding it. Even though thinking of needing life insurance is scary, it doesn't have to be. It is very important to think of it and educate yourself on what it actually is and what life insurance actually does.

You may be able to save a significant amount of money on your life insurance by paying your premiums annually instead of monthly. Insurance companies often have extra fees for customers who pay every month instead of just once a year. Ask your insurer if you can switch to an annual payment.

Remember that insurance companies round up when determining a person's age, so in their eyes your actual age isn't really your actual age. That means if you are 31 1/2 years old, they really view you as being 32 years old. That's just another reason why you shouldn't waste any time in purchasing a life insurance policy.

Remember that endowment life insurance policies are the policy option you should go with if you want an investment option. These policies will charge you a higher premium and put some of that money into an investment fund. You can select of period 10, 20 or 30 years and then have that investment paid out to your beneficiaries.

Take advantage of the accelerated death benefit option if it's offered by your insurance company. This life insurance benefit allows the policyholder to receive a substantial amount of the death benefit of the policy, in the case of a terminal illness. This can allow the insured to use this benefit to cover things such as medical costs, experimental treatments, a trip, home improvements or nursing staff.

Lifetime policies versus term life policies - lifetime policies are generally more expensive but work similar to an annuity, meaning you can take out a portion of the amount you have paid in when you retire or when you need the money. Term life does not work this way, you receive a "locked in" rate for a set amount of time, if you do not pass away in that time frame, then you can re-up to the next age tier, which will likely be more expensive. However, the gain in term life is the price, which can be cents on the dollar, but much more expensive when you get older.

Annuities

When thinking about life insurance consider whether or not you would like your policy to earn you money, or just be there in the event of your death. There are now life insurance policies that also double as annuities. This makes it possible to have a great deal of insurance when your kids are minors and a great deal of retirement savings for you, as you age.

Whole Life

If you have a whole-life insurance policy and have had it for a long while, whatever you do, don't get rid of it or replace it with another one. Hold on to the old policy because you don't want to lose the investment that you have already made into past premiums. The better option is to keep the old policy without making any changes and purchase a new whole-life policy instead.

For the most life insurance coverage at the lowest price, choose a term policy instead of whole life insurance. The high costs of whole life are due to the investment aspect and the fact that these polices result in a cash value, but it really is better to keep your investments separate from your insurance.

Being prepared and knowing that your family is protected should something happen to you is both responsible and loving. Take the time to look over all the information and choices that you have and decide the best policy for your family. Purchasing a life insurance policy is the greatest gift one can give to their family.




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