The search for life insurance can be frustrating and confusing, so it’s important to get the best policy for your own unique needs and circumstances. So many web sites offer discount life insurance, and as a result people often end up with a policy not suited to their needs.
One of the questions that arise time and again is whether a term life policy or a whole of life policy is best, and what’s the difference between them.
Term Life Insurance:
Term life insurance is a bit like leasing a car. You pay cover for a predefined term, and are covered for that term. However, at the end of the term, whether for example its 15 years or 30 years the deal is done and you simply walk away.
Term life insurance only offers protection for the duration of the mortgage, and is normally of no value when your mortgage is paid off.
However, term insurance is cheap, and the cost can even reduce over time. There are five main forms of term life insurance, and these are as follows:
* The first is known as level term cover, and it’s the most common type. With this form of policy the premium costs are locked in for as long as you hold the policy. In other words, you will pay the same amount throughout the entire term of the policy.Unfortunately, it means that as time goes by you could end up paying more for your life cover. However, the nice thing is that you get the benefit of paying at today’s rates. However, bear in mind that over time these rates could fall instead of rise.
* The second type of term life cover is known as escalating term insurance. This type of scheme means that you pay an increasing amount each year, so the payout at death also increases. They are generally low cost policies, and are more suited to first time buyers and the young. However, they can become more expensive as you get older.
* The third type is known as decreasing term insurance. In this case your monthly payments will stay the same, although the amount of cover you receive will reduce each year.
* The forth type of term life policy is known as increasing term insurance. With this type of term life insurance the benefit on death increases. However, in order to make up for this increase you will need to increase your premiums at certain times, for example on the birth of a child, or as your financial circumstances improve.
* The fifth and final type is known as convertible term insurance. It is a type of term life insurance that you can convert at a later stage into an investment vehicle. The value of the investment is normally based on your health when you originally took out the policy.
Whole of Life Insurance Policies:
A whole of life policy can be more complicated and more expensive than term life insurance. However, a whole of life insurance policy covers you up until the time of your death, providing that you keep paying your premiums!. The advantage of these types of policy is that your family could receive a considerable lump sum when you die.
This type of policy is more expensive and complicated than term life policies. The investment you make earns some interest each year. So, providing your investment grows, your annual premiums can actually reduce over time. Also, there may come a time when the interest produced can cover all your future premiums, and as a result you may have no more premiums to pay on your policy.
However, it’s important to understand that it is possible the cash-in-value of a whole of life policy may actually be less than the amount put into the policy over it’s full term.
Summary:
Buying a term life policy, or whole of life insurance is an important decision and one that needs to be made carefully. Before you take the plunge, you need to examine your needs, and exactly what you wish to achieve.
The simplest form of life insurance is a level term policy with renewable option. This allows you to buy life cover for as long as you may require it.
On the other hand, you might like to consider a policy that grows in value over time, giving you a very nice nest egg which you can benefit from, while you are still alive.
Both types have their advantages and disadvantages, and careful consideration and advice from a competent insurance adviser is vitally important.
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