Most people like to sidestep the task of shopping for life insurance. The reasons include death being to scary to think about, difficulty understanding it, not feeling a need for it, not qualifying or not being able to work it into a budget.
While the industry will disagree, the truth is that there are times in your life when you probably do not need life insurance, but these are few, relative to the times when it is important for the financial well being of your family.
The many available choices be confusing. Not all choices are easily understandable by the average person. Don't worry: The secrets of life insurance can be unraveled. Your life insurance agency can be a great resource. Following is basic information you need to know:
Straight life insurance is also known as whole life or permanent insurance. Your premiums are set for life when you purchase the policy just like the death benefit. In general, the younger and healthier you are when you purchase the policy, the lower your premiums for the rest of your life.
As long as you pay the premium, your beneficiary will receive the proceeds when you die. Straight life policies build up cash values that you can borrow or withdraw if needed, but this will reduce the amount that will be paid to your heirs, if it is not paid back.
Annuities are a form of life insurance that not only has a death benefit, but can also create a stream of income for you while you are still living. There are several types of annuities, but there are two basic types; fixed and variable.
A fixed annuity pays a fixed yield and has pre-determined payout to you while still alive depending on the date that you annuitize the policy and how many years the insurance company estimates you will live to collect those payments. You also can elect to pay a fixed payment monthly in exchange for a fixed monthly benefit for a specified period of time.
A variable annuity operates in a similar manner, but can potentially pay much better benefits to you because your premiums are invested in the stock market, and have the potential to earn or lose money. Your actual monthly payout, should you decide to annuitize is dependent on your success with your investments. There are also other options available with annuities, but you should talk with an agent for more explanation and discussion about whether or not this is a good option for you.
Perhaps the most popular is term life which is the easiest to understand and is the most economical. Term life is for a specific term (example 10 years), and will pay to your heirs only if you die during the term of the coverage.
Young families can purchase a high amount of coverage relatively inexpensively to ensure that young children will be cared for in the case of the death of one of the partners. Term life insurance does not build cash value.
Burial insurance is self explanatory. It is meant to pay funeral expenses.
Mortgage life is like term life but usually more expensive. The purpose is to pay off the mortgage in case of the death of one of the borrowers on the mortgage. The value declines at about the same rate as the mortgage balance declines. Inexpensive term coverage, which retains a consistent life amount through the term of the policy, is a better value.
For more specific information about what type of protection would be best for your situation, it is always recommended that you do your own research, and of course, check with an agent who can answer your questions. - 31884
While the industry will disagree, the truth is that there are times in your life when you probably do not need life insurance, but these are few, relative to the times when it is important for the financial well being of your family.
The many available choices be confusing. Not all choices are easily understandable by the average person. Don't worry: The secrets of life insurance can be unraveled. Your life insurance agency can be a great resource. Following is basic information you need to know:
Straight life insurance is also known as whole life or permanent insurance. Your premiums are set for life when you purchase the policy just like the death benefit. In general, the younger and healthier you are when you purchase the policy, the lower your premiums for the rest of your life.
As long as you pay the premium, your beneficiary will receive the proceeds when you die. Straight life policies build up cash values that you can borrow or withdraw if needed, but this will reduce the amount that will be paid to your heirs, if it is not paid back.
Annuities are a form of life insurance that not only has a death benefit, but can also create a stream of income for you while you are still living. There are several types of annuities, but there are two basic types; fixed and variable.
A fixed annuity pays a fixed yield and has pre-determined payout to you while still alive depending on the date that you annuitize the policy and how many years the insurance company estimates you will live to collect those payments. You also can elect to pay a fixed payment monthly in exchange for a fixed monthly benefit for a specified period of time.
A variable annuity operates in a similar manner, but can potentially pay much better benefits to you because your premiums are invested in the stock market, and have the potential to earn or lose money. Your actual monthly payout, should you decide to annuitize is dependent on your success with your investments. There are also other options available with annuities, but you should talk with an agent for more explanation and discussion about whether or not this is a good option for you.
Perhaps the most popular is term life which is the easiest to understand and is the most economical. Term life is for a specific term (example 10 years), and will pay to your heirs only if you die during the term of the coverage.
Young families can purchase a high amount of coverage relatively inexpensively to ensure that young children will be cared for in the case of the death of one of the partners. Term life insurance does not build cash value.
Burial insurance is self explanatory. It is meant to pay funeral expenses.
Mortgage life is like term life but usually more expensive. The purpose is to pay off the mortgage in case of the death of one of the borrowers on the mortgage. The value declines at about the same rate as the mortgage balance declines. Inexpensive term coverage, which retains a consistent life amount through the term of the policy, is a better value.
For more specific information about what type of protection would be best for your situation, it is always recommended that you do your own research, and of course, check with an agent who can answer your questions. - 31884
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In the San Francisco Bay area, call on Stoneridge Financial for advice and assistance with life insurance and other insurance related investment products. Powered by SEO 2.0 Services
