I. A Layman’s Guide to Deciphering Life Insurance

What is the Best Type of Life Insurance?

Just as the circumstances for financial planning change from one life stage to the next, the same is true when planning life insurance. There are different types of policies to serve different needs depending on a person’s age and unique situation. There are two main types of life insurance: term life and whole life . Below is a breakdown of each type of coverage.

Term

Term life is designed to meet temporary needs because it provides protection during a specific time period or “term.” It is the most affordable option and serves the purpose of providing more short-term coverage, for instance, while the kids are in college or until the mortgage is paid off . It is important to note the term is not typically very long, a 30-year term being the longest available.

Some people choose term when in their 20s or 30s before they are financially stable enough to afford a more costly policy. Consider the following example:

TIPS – Although term life is not a permanent solution, it meets an immediate need with guaranteed premiums and flexible coverage options that allow you to increase your coverage amount when necessary. Extending coverage, however, is expensive once the term is up, and you will face limited conversion options for changing to a different type of policy. It is recommended to get enough coverage when you are young to last until you no longer need any.

Whole/Permanent

A permanent policy is crucial to retirement planning. It offers lifelong protection that never expires as long as the premium payments are made and no loans or withdrawals are taken out against the value policy. This type of coverage is a more expensive option early on because the policyholder is basically “overpaying” to ensure a set premium during older, higher-risk years—but that overpayment is set aside and considered to be the policy’s cash value. This is the unique benefit of whole life coverage. It allows the policyholder, at any time during his or her lifetime, to borrow against the policy’s cash value, tax-free. An example of whole or permanent life insurance coverage follows.

During the first 10 to 15 years of a whole life policy, the insurer will stipulate “surrender charges,” which are fees designed to recoup the company’s costs in the event the policyholder cancels, or surrenders, the policy. The borrowable amount of the policy is the accumulated cash value minus the surrender charges. The cash value is also referred to as the “loan value.”

TIPS – Any amount of money borrowed from your whole life policy (that you do not otherwise pay back) reduces the amount paid out upon your death. This means the more you borrow now, the less your beneficiaries will receive.

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II. Variations on Traditional Policies

Now that you understand the basic differences between term life and whole, it is important to recognize the variations of these policies. Below are explanations of the different types of variations you will find when shopping around.

Convertible Term Life

For consumers who are torn between term life and whole, consider a convertible term life policy. This is a hybrid of sorts between temporary and permanent insurance in that it allows a term life policy to easily convert into a permanent policy of equal value. It does tend to cost more than a basic term life option, and some insurers stipulate that the policyholder can only convert the term policy to a permanent policy up until the age of 65.

TIPS – A convertible policy may cover you past the age of 65, but you must take action prior to the cut-off age to convert it or risk losing the option to switch to permanent life insurance altogether.

Universal

For individuals who like the security of whole life but want a little more flexibility with payments, a universal life policy may be the right choice of policies. There is a trade-off for the guaranteed certainty of whole life, however, for the flexibility found in universal life.

The number one thing to remember about universal life is that the rate of return is not guaranteed because it is determined by the market. This is because the policy adds money market investments to the death benefit. You can pay your premiums whenever you want and in any amount you choose within the given minimum and maximum payment amounts.. The example below illuminates this type of coverage.

TIPS – The premium amounts you choose when buying universal life will affect your death benefit. The more money you pay in, the bigger the benefit.

Variable

Managing a universal life policy may not be everyone’s cup of tea. Variable life policies, though, are even more complex and require the insured to remain vigilant.

This type of coverage allows you to choose your own investment strategy and manage it as you would any investment portfolio. It is very similar to a universal life policy, but, rather than the insurer managing the investment, you get to take the reins.

Not the best at investing? No worries. Most variable policies are designed with a minimum benefit that still pays out to your beneficiaries, so they receive the benefit, even if you make poor investment decisions.

TIPS – Even though variable life comes with greater risks, you may be able to achieve greater returns if you understand investing and do not mind managing the policy.

No Exam

While not exactly a particular type of life insurance , no exam policies earn a place here. Most life insurance products require medical exams as part of their application process. The purpose of a health exam is to determine not only an applicants’ eligibility for the policy but also to determine the cost of premiums. The whole idea of this often discourages many applicants, especially those who are not in the best shape physically.

Also known as simplified issue, no exam life insurance is seeing an increase in demand among busy families who do not want to jump through hoops to obtain coverage. It does usually cost more than a traditional policy because the insurer is taking a bigger risk by not evaluating the applicant’s health status, but this can work in the insured’s favor if he or she:

• Has not seen a physician in more than two years and do not know if lab work would look good enough on a traditional insurance application
• Needs coverage fast and cannot wait four to eight weeks for the average underwriting process
• Does not like needles or feel that any medical exam is a deal-breaker

TIPS – Not everyone qualifies for no exam life insurance . You will have to answer a series of health questions, and the insurer may check your pharmacy records, motor vehicle report, and any data collected by the Medical Information Bureau.

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III. Things to Keep in Mind When Buying a Policy

Now that you know why you need insurance and what options are available, you may be leaning towards a particular type of coverage. Before purchasing a policy, though, keep these important facts in mind:

It is a Contract

While there are certain requirements applicants must meet, there are also things the insurer must make good on. Life insurance is not just a product that is bought and discarded on a whim. It is an important life decision—so savvy shoppers should read the fine print and ask questions until they understand the policy they plan to purchase thoroughly—before they finalize the decision.

Circumstances Change

Life never stays constant. You may have started looking into buying insurance or even purchased a policy when you got married (or divorced), when you had kids, when you were laid off from your job, when you closed on your first home, or when you turned 50. Major life events tend to define the biggest life decisions we make, but it is important to step back and reconsider how life has changed when purchasing or renewing a policy. Ask yourself if the coverage you intend to have is enough if circumstances change.

It is a Commodity

Since insurance is a product sold by professional salespeople, you need to be as informed as possible when shopping for it. This does not mean insurance agents are out to take advantage of you, but they are not the best judge of your personal needs—you are. Do not let anyone talk you into buying something you know is not the best solution for you and your family.

Loss is Difficult

It is not easy to imagine what life will be like for your loved ones after you are gone, and they probably do not want to think about it either. Nonetheless, planning ahead is for their benefit, so consider all the possible “what ifs.” Even if you decide to purchase a term life insurance policy and outlive your term , think of it like this: you will still be with your family to love and support them, a much better alternative than not outliving your term. Make your choice carefully, but be confident in your decision, knowing you have thoughtfully made the best choice possible to provide support to your family.

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IV. The Do’s and Don’ts of Buying Life Insurance

If you still need some basic rules of thumb before taking the plunge and buying a life insurance policy, here is a handy list of do's and don’ts:

DO

• Do purchase a policy that will cover six to eight times the amount of your annual salary, in other words, provide for six to eight years of income.
• Do review your policy regularly and increase or reduce your coverage based on lifestyle changes.
• Do shop lower premiums on your current life insurance policy if your health has improved. For example, if you have quit smoking since you purchased your policy, your coverage may be less expensive as a non-smoker.
• Do consider automatically renewable coverage that renews regardless of any changes in health status.
• Do consider meeting with a financial planner to get a better idea of the amount of coverage you need.

DON’T

• Don’t make the mistake of getting several small policies thinking you will save money. It is usually more affordable to buy one major life insurance policy for your immediate coverage needs. The only situation where it makes sense to buy multiple policies is when laddering life insurance policies to account for lower insurance needs as you age.
• Don’t ignore uninsured spouses. Stay-at-home parents and spouses who work part-time may not contribute much to the family in the way of income, but think of the housekeeping, daycare, and other services and needs that would need to be met should that spouse die.
• Don’t buy a whole life policy thinking it will be a high return investment. Protecting your loved ones financially for a few years after your death should be the main reason behind your purchase. Most policies have a very low return on the investment.
• Don’t buy a policy from the first agent you find. Shop around and do your homework until you understand your needs and know how to find the best rate for the coverage that best fits your needs.