If someone will suffer financially when you die, chances are you need life insurance. Life insurance provides cash to your family after your death. This cash (known as the death benefit) replaces your income and can help your family meet many important financial needs like funeral costs, daily living expenses and college funding. What’s more, there is no federal income tax on life insurance benefits.
Most Americans need life insurance. To figure out if you need life insurance, you need to think through the worst-case scenario.
- If you died tomorrow, how would your loved ones fare financially?
- Would they have the money to pay for your final expenses (e.g., funeral costs, medical bills, taxes, debts, lawyers’ fees, etc.)?
- Would they be able to meet ongoing living expenses like the rent or mortgage, food, clothing, transportation costs, healthcare, etc?
- What about long-range financial goals?
- Without your contribution to the household, would your surviving spouse be able to save enough money to put the kids through college or retire comfortably?
Whether you’re young or old, married or single, have children or don’t, take a moment to consider how life insurance might fit into your financial plans. Check out our life insurance needs calculator.
My Life Stage Is:
- Single, Recent grad, etc.
- Getting Married
- Planning a Family
- New Additions
- Retirement Planning / Empty Nesters
- Your Golden Years / Final Expenses / Estate Tax Planning