Purchasing a life insurance policy might be one of the most important decisions that an individual makes. Their family’s well being and livelihood can depend upon it. Navigating the insurance industry can prove to be difficult at times though. In this article we will discuss some proven tips for both navigating the system and finding the policy that is right for you.
When designing your life insurance policy to pay out to a spouse, consider the tax implications of the titled spouse owning the policy. When the titled spouse dies, the policy payout then becomes part of their estate, and transferring those funds to the living spouse creates a tax burden. If the non-titled spouse owns the policy the funds are not considered to be part of the deceased’s estate.
Try to determine for yourself how much life insurance you actually need. Many life insurance providers offer several ways in which they can make their own estimations. They usually over estimate in order to turn a larger profit. Do your own estimating so that you can be sure you aren’t getting ripped off.
It is possible to save on life insurance coverage by buying more of it. Though it may seem strange, many agencies will offer large discounts to people who buy greater coverage. This not only saves money, but is also a god way to ensure your family is sufficiently covered.
The first thing to consider when obtaining your first life insurance policy is determining the amount of coverage you need. A simple way to do this is to multiply your current annual income by eight. However, this is far from perfect, as each person along with their dependents’ situations and therefore needs are unique. For example, your specific situation could be unique in that you have a child planning to go to college in the next four years. There are various tools available online that can help you determine a more appropriate amount of coverage. Insurance companies generally have representatives that can consult you on your needs also.
Avoid insurance policies called “guaranteed issue” unless you have no other choice. This type of policy is essentially put together for individuals with pre-existing medical conditions. 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.
Do your research on the prices of life insurance. Compare the policies and the prices from many different companies. Every company will have their own price, so you want to make sure you are getting what you need in a policy, for the lowest posible price. You can compare most companies at home on the internet.
Before you purchase a life insurance policy, you should look at that policy for thirty days before you purchase it. You have thirty days to look at a policy for free before making a decision. You should study it to make sure you understand it. If you do not like the policy during this time period, you can cancel it, and your premium will be reimbursed to you.
Speaking with an independent broker about your life insurance policy options is a pretty good way to avoid the company’s sales pitch. A private broker will always have access to many more policy options, meaning that you will have a much wider range of life insurance policies to choose from.
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.
If you want to ensure you have cheap life insurance premiums, you should purchase a term insurance plan rather than a whole life plan. A term insurance policy is purchased for a specific amount of time; therefore, because of the smaller risks, the premiums will be cheaper than a riskier whole life plan that lasts for the entire life of the policy holder.
When purchasing a life insurance policy, be truthful on all medical exams or history profiles. Should anything happen and the carrier discovers you provided false information when purchasing a policy, they can legally deny a claim which defeats the purpose of buying life insurance. Letting your insurance company know about any pre-existing conditions or risky hobbies, may result in slightly higher premiums, but prevent problems with claims.
As we have discussed in this article, making a life insurance policy decision is both important and at times frustrating. We have reviewed some proven tips that can help and provided methods for making your search easier. Take some time in making your decision and don’t be afraid to ask your agent a few questions. You’ll soon secure a policy that works for you and peace of mind will follow.
