Yes, if you have bills, a car loan, dependents, or a mortgage, you need life insurance. If you are the primary earner and your income is necessary to maintain the family household, your dependents may suffer financially if you die. The policy’s death benefit can fund your dependents’ needs.
Your income can be considered your family's most valuable asset because it allows you to obtain the necessities of life. Some day you may not be here to provide that income, yet the need for income may continue for those who are financially dependent upon you. Your need for life insurance and the amount required will depend on your personal and financial circumstances. If any of the following statements applies to you, you probably do need to consider life insurance:
- You have a spouse.
- You have dependent children.
- You have an aging parent or disabled relative who depends on you for support.
- Your retirement pension and savings are not enough to insure your spouse's future against a rising cost of living.
- You have a sizeable estate.
- You own a business.
Life insurance is a long-term commitment. Before buying any policy, ask yourself these very important questions:
- How much insurance do I need? If I were to die, what would my spouse and dependents need in order to live comfortably?
- In addition to protection, what am I trying to accomplish with life insurance? Am I accumulating funds for education costs? Providing a way to pay estate taxes? Do I need some additional supplemental income for my retirement or emergencies? Remember that term life pays a death benefit only, while whole life, universal life and variable life policies can supplement your income through withdrawals or loans against a policy's cash value.
