Life insurance is one of the most important safeguards you can get to protect the welfare and support of your family in the event that something dire were to happen to you. But figuring out the best type of policy for you and your family can seem like a maze sometimes. Consider these tips as you work through your own decisions.
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.
When buying life insurance, it is important that you know how your broker will be paid. If they are working strictly on commission, for example, your needs may be secondary to selling you a policy that gives the best commission. Any commission at all for your broker can lead to a conflict of interest, so always ask to see all of the alternative products before buying.
Don’t lie or withhold information on your life insurance application. If an insurance provider finds out that you did not disclose a medical condition or a certain type of lifestyle on your application, they can void your policy. If you die, this can then leave family members left behind in a difficult position.
Drop bad habits and get into good shape prior to opening a life insurance policy. If you are in good physical health, you are likely to get a better rate from your provider. Smoking, high cholesterol, blood pressure, as well as depression, can drive up your rates more than you would think.
Consider a convertible policy if you cannot decide between term or permanent life insurance. This type of life insurance policy starts out as term life insurance, and if they choose to before the term expires,the insured can convert the policy to permanent insurance without having to take a new medical exam.
Work on improving your health before applying for a life insurance policy. Poor health equates to higher health risks and higher life insurance premiums. To get the lowest premiums, stop smoking, reduce your weight, work more exercise into your lifestyle and eat healthier meals. Your body and your wallet will thank you.
Before purchasing life insurance you should determine the amount of coverage that you need. The easiest way to do this is to take your average yearly salary and multiply it eight. There are also a number of simple to use online calculators that will help you figure out how much life insurance you need.
When purchasing life insurance, it’s important that you understand your particular needs. Nobody knows what you need or what your family needs better than you, so take time to think any policy choice through, examining the situation from every possible angle and determining what best fits your particular needs.
If you want to save money on your life insurance, you should strive to improve your credit. If you have low credit, you will have to pay higher premiums than those who have good credit. The reason is because a person with a low credit score will be a higher risk to an insurance company; so therefore, this person will have to pay higher premiums to compensate for this risk.
Now that you are armed with specific tips to help you select the best policy for your needs, you can feel more confident about moving forward. Once you do so, you will enjoy the profound peace of mind that comes from knowing you have done your very best to assure that your family is protected and secure.