3 Types of Term Life Insurance for Every Need

​Considering a term life insurance policy to protect your spouse, children and other loved ones? That could be a wise move. Risk management is the cornerstone of any solid financial plan. You can’t focus on achieving your goals until you minimize the risks that could undermine your financial future. There is perhaps no greater financial risk to your family than your unexpected death.
 
Life insurance is often an effective tool for managing this risk. You pay regular premiums to a life insurance company, and, in return, the company guarantees a lump-sum payment to your beneficiaries upon your death. Your premium amount is based on your age, health and other factors at the time you purchase the policy.

A wide range of different types of policies are available, but most fall into one of two groups: term insurance and permanent insurance. As the names imply, term coverage lasts for a specific period of time, while permanent coverage is in place as long as you live, assuming you meet the premium requirements.

Term insurance is popular because it is usually affordable relative to comparable permanent policies. While term life insurance is often very straightforward, there are a few different types available. Below are descriptions of three of the most common types, along with tips on how they can help you protect your family:

Traditional Term
Traditional term insurance is a relatively simple and easy-to-understand tool. You select a death benefit amount and a term. For example, you might select a term of 10, 20 or even 30 years. Your death benefit is in place for that period of time, assuming you stay current with your premium payments.
 
At the end of the period, the coverage expires. Some policies offer the opportunity to renew the coverage, although the premium is adjusted up to reflect your current age. You may also have the opportunity to convert to a permanent policy, again based on your age at the time of conversion.
 
Term policies are cost-effective strategies when you have a temporary need. For example, many new parents choose term policies to provide coverage while there are minor children in the home. The term policy expires after the children are grown, at which point there may no longer be a sizable life insurance need.

Decreasing Term
A decreasing term policy is similar to a regular term policy but with one important distinction—the death benefit decreases over time. Every year the benefit adjusts down until the end of the policy term, at which point the death benefit is zero. The premium on a decreasing term policy is often lower than that on a traditional term policy.
 
Decreasing term policies are usually used only for very specific purposes. One common example is to cover an outstanding debt. For instance, your mortgage lender may require you to own sufficient coverage for your family to pay off the loan if you pass away. A decreasing term policy could be an appropriate choice because the death benefit will decrease over time along with the mortgage balance.

Increasing Term
Just as there are policies in which the death benefit decreases over time, there are also policies in which the benefit increases. Known as increasing term, these policies usually include cost-of-living adjustments to increase your death benefit along with inflation or some other variable.
 
Increasing term policies are effective strategies to keep up with a rising coverage need. For instance, you may buy a policy when you have a child and choose an increasing policy because you anticipate having more kids or more expenses to cover in the future.
 
Ready to develop your life insurance protection plan? Let’s talk about it. Contact us today at First Fidelity Group. We can help you analyze your needs and create a strategy. Let’s connect soon and start the conversation.

 
Licensed Insurance Professional. This information is designed to provide a general overview with regard to the subject matter covered and is not state specific. The authors, publisher and host are not providing legal, accounting or specific advice for your situation. By providing your information, you give consent to be contacted about the possible sale of an insurance or annuity product. This information has been provided by a Licensed Insurance Professional and does not necessarily represent the views of the presenting insurance professional. The statements and opinions expressed are those of the author and are subject to change at any time. All information is believed to be from reliable sources; however, presenting insurance professional makes no representation as to its completeness or accuracy. This material has been prepared for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide, and should not be relied upon for, accounting, legal, tax or investment advice.
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