Term insurance is usually recommended to meet the needs of families with young children as a way to supplement financial obligations. In particular, it is ideal for situations to offset the risk of a family losing one of its key income earners. If your insurance needs include immediate expenses, like short-term debt obligations, then term insurance is probably the right choice for you.
Term insurance only provides protection for an established period of time or until a certain age. If you die within this period, then your beneficiary receives the insurance proceeds. However, if at the end of the term you are still alive, then the policy terminates and the protection ceases. Most companies will allow you to renew your term insurance until age 75 or 80.
Term insurance is generally priced so that it is more affordable while you are younger. As each term expires, the renewal for the next term would be at a higher price. Therefore, the popularity of term insurance is "geared towards" younger age groups.
In assessing your short-term expenses and needs, you should also provide for all final expenses and any necessary income replacement needs. It may often be difficult to assess the exact amount of your personal debt, because it may vary from month to month. However, overall it would include any outstanding credit card balances and personal lines of credit. By using insurance to provide a lump-sum payment of cash to your beneficiaries, you'll be providing an alternate income source to meet these needs.
Finally, if the expense of insurance is an obstacle, you may want to consider a term policy to bridge the gap until you can afford either a longer-term policy or a form of permanent insurance. Additionally, if you've reviewed your needs and have determined you require coverage for such obligations as paying taxes or capital gains, then term insurance may not be an appropriate choice - you'll need to consider permanent insurance.
Determining which type of insurance you need is not always easy. A life licensed Investment Advisor could assist you to review your insurance options and determine which choices are the best for you.
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