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Advantages and Disadvantages of Life Insurance
Here are some of the top advantages—and disadvantages—of having life insurance coverage.
The Advantages of Having Life Insurance
YOUR FAMILY IS PROTECTED
Like it or not, life is unpredictable. As a parent, it’s part of our job to prepare for those unpredictable times. Whether you’re newly pregnant, the supreme soccer mom, or even an empty-nester, securing life insurance guarantees your child’s financially secure future.
Losing a parent or partner is challenging enough. Compound that already staggering emotional loss with financial uncertainty and the burden can become unbearable. However, a life insurance payout can go towards mortgage payments, replacing lost income, debts, college, and so much more.
Even if it’s never needed, securing life insurance not only takes a massive weight off your shoulders, but that of your family’s as well. Stop thinking about the what-ifs so you can focus on life’s more important things.
TAX-FREE FINANCIAL BENEFIT
If you were to pass away, wouldn’t you want as much money as possible to go towards your family—and not to the government? With a life insurance payout, the money your family receives is almost always completely tax-free, with a few exceptions.
That means if you take out a $300,000 life insurance policy, your beneficiaries will see every eligible penny. However, money transferred to your children through an estate would have a sizable estate tax applied. Arranging for the majority of the payout to be paid out through life insurance essentially means more money for your family.
IT’S EASIER TO SECURE THAN EVER
Long gone are the days of having to dig up long lost medical reports, or physically shopping around to countless insurance companies comparing quote after quote.
Today, we can easily compare dozens of high-quality life insurance quotes almost instantly online and through easy-to-use apps—sometimes without even needing a doctor’s visit. With a family to care for, who has time for that?
Disadvantages of Having Life Insurance
IT’S EXPENSIVE
For many of us, just one more expense can be one expense too many. If you’re living paycheck to paycheck, sometimes it’s necessary to take a gamble and go without something we don’t literally need to buy.
Though you may be surprised at the affordability of life insurance plans, getting life insurance can become even less attainable if you’ve been diagnosed with an illness like cancer, have a chronic health condition, or recently had a drunk driving arrest. Monthly premiums can then quickly skyrocket making life insurance financially inaccessible.
Life insurance is a wonderful luxury to have, but it’s not worth bankruptcy.
IT’S COMPLICATED
Even if acquiring life insurance has become easier than ever, it can still be a pain. Especially if you have extenuating circumstances like poor health or a criminal record, there can be hoops to jump through, health insurance options to compare, numbers to punch, budgets to consider, etc.
As a parent, we already have a million and one new things to figure out constantly. Who has activities today? Can I fit in meditation? How did Xolani’s hands get so sticky? Even if the process of acquiring life insurance has been simplified, it’s still one more thing to do.
IT’S NOT ALWAYS NECESSARY
Honestly, some of us simply don’t need it. You’ve done the math, researched all possible financial scenarios, and you’re confident in your family’s financial security in the event of your passing—even without life insurance. Why throw money away every month for something you truly don’t need?
But even if your last name’s Winfrey or West, ensure you’ve crossed all those t’s and dotted the i’s before skipping insurance. Completing an updated last will and testament stating where every allotted dime will go and how it’s to be used is absolutely essential.
For the majority of families, obtaining life insurance is undeniably the best way to ensure complete future financial security. Despite some of the frustrations, if it’s possible to get coverage and you even think it’d be beneficial, it’s almost always worth dealing with the disadvantages.
To find out about our policies and coverage, book an appointment today.