Life insurance sounds like something that is not necessary. Perhaps if you’re older, you’ll get some. But safeguarding your loved ones is never something you should put off. A policy is there to help your family financially if you pass away.
It’s understandable that no one likes to think about their own death, but it’s not something we have control over. But you can control how well your family is looked after if it happens sooner than you expect. With insurance, you’ll protect your assets and your loved ones, giving you peace of mind.
More than a nice-to-have, life insurance is a must-have if you have children and a spouse who depends on you,
What is a life insurance policy?
A life insurance policy is an agreement between you, the policyholder, and the insurance company. The agreement states that as long as you make regular payments on your insurance, your insurance provider will pay out a death benefit to your beneficiaries when you pass away.
You’ll be able to state who is a beneficiary and how much they receive. You can name your spouse, children, or even a charity. The cash sum or death benefit they are paid is meant to help them through a financially and emotionally difficult time. Your beneficiaries will be able to spend the money any way they like. They can use it to pay mortgages, credit card bill, utilities, taxes, college, groceries and even on your funeral. And they don’t have to claim it on their taxes.
Benefits of life insurance
Peace of mind
Cash value
Savings vehicle
What you should know about life insurance policies
Term life insurance
Term life insurance covers you for a specified amount of time. It could be 10, 15, or 20 years. You can also buy term life insurance that lasts until you reach a certain age, such as 65 years. You’ll pay insurance premiums for the term. And with most insurance policies, your premiums will stay the same. If you pass away before the term is up, your beneficiaries will receive the death benefit.
When the term of your insurance policy is up, you will no longer be covered by insurance. However, many life insurance companies will allow you to extend your coverage at a higher premium rate or convert your insurance policy into a whole life or permanent one.
Term life insurance is less expensive than whole life insurance. It’s a good option if you want coverage for a short time like until your children have grown up and moved out or until your mortgage is paid off.
Permanent life insurance
The other type of insurance policy you can buy is a permanent or whole life one. This coverage won’t expire, but rather, you’ll be covered by life insurance for your entire life.
You’ll pay monthly premiums like term life insurance, and those payments will stay the same. However, with whole life insurance, your premiums will be higher than term life insurance. That’s because, with permanent life insurance, your beneficiaries will receive the death benefit at some point
Permanent life insurance has an added benefit that term life insurance does not. That is its cash value and investment potential.
The other type of insurance policy you can buy is a permanent or whole life one. This coverage won’t expire, but rather, you’ll be covered by life insurance for your entire life.
You’ll pay monthly premiums like term life insurance, and those payments will stay the same. However, with whole life insurance, your premiums will be higher than term life insurance. That’s because, with permanent life insurance, your beneficiaries will receive the death benefit at some point
Permanent life insurance has an added benefit that term life insurance does not. That is its cash value and investment potential.
Whole life Whole life
Whole life insurance cash value
If you’re considering buying whole life insurance, keep in mind that the cash value that accumulates is not added to the amount your beneficiaries get. In other words, unless you use that money before you pass away, you’ll lose it. Here are some of the ways you can take advantage of the cash value of your whole life insurance policy.
Policy loan – you can take a loan from your insurance company and use the cash value as collateral. You don’t have to pay the loan back, but you do need to pay interest on the loan. If you don’t pay the interest, it gets added to your outstanding balance. If your outstanding balance is more than your cash value, your policy will be void. But if you pass away and there is an outstanding balance, it will be deducted from the death benefit.
Cash – dividends can be taken out as cash. And there is no tax charged on them.
Partial withdrawal – your insurance company will allow you to take a certain amount from your cash value. There may be a fee to withdraw money, or what you take out may be deducted from your death benefit. Speak to your insurance broker about the terms and conditions of your life insurance.
Sell your policy – in some cases, if you no longer need life insurance to protect your loved ones, you may be able to sell your policy.
Cancel the policy – if you don’t want life insurance anymore, you can contact your life insurance company and cancel the policy. When this happens, you will get the cash value back.
Universal life
How much life coverage do I need?
There is no set amount of life insurance coverage you need. While experts recommend having a death benefit that is seven to 10times your yearly salary, it depends on your circumstances and financial situation.
When calculating how much insurance coverage you need, add up all your debts, including your mortgage payments and other expenses. It is a good idea to include funeral costs in this calculation, so your family does not have to worry about paying for those during an emotional and stressful time. Next, consider your assets and how much money your family currently has to cover those debts. You’ll want to get enough insurance coverage for your beneficiaries to pay for all their expenses for as long as possible.
If you’re looking at buying term life insurance, consider how long you’ll need the policy in place. If you’re younger, you’ll want to opt for a longer-term. Remember that you can always increase your coverage later on or convert it to whole life insurance or permanent life insurance policy when you’re older. Finally, if you cannot afford as much life insurance as you’d like, buying the option that fits your budget will still be worth it. It’s better to provide your family with some financial support rather than leave them with nothing if you pass away suddenly.
Do you need a medical exam to get life insurance?
While you may not need to undergo a medical exam to qualify for life insurance, you will be asked some health questions. Life insurance companies want to know how much risk you are to cover. In other words, how long are you expected to live based on your lifestyle and behaviours? Keep in mind that the healthier you are, the lower your premiums. So, if you’re a smoker, it might be worth quitting before you apply for life insurance.
Some life insurance policies require you to have a medical exam. It’s important to be clear about the requirements before you apply. Talk to your life insurance broker if you’re not sure whether you need a medical exam. They’ll be able to clarify the terms and conditions of the life insurance.
Why Maple Bay Insurance?
At Maple Bay, we understand your desire to provide for your family if something should happen to you. We are insurance brokers, which means we aren’t here to push any particular insurance product. Instead, we’ll get to know you and your situation, to help you find the right life insurance for you. We have access to a range of life insurance products from different life insurance companies, meaning that you’ll be able to get the best deal on life insurance.
When you’re ready for a life insurance policy, contact the team at Maple Bay Insurance, and let us help you find the best policy that fits your lifestyle.