Is It Time to Review Your Life Insurance Needs?

Your life insurance needs may change without you even realizing it. You may have purchased life insurance years ago, and never gave it a second thought. Or, you may not have life insurance at all–and now you need it. The following are some of the most common life changing events where you might want to review your life insurance needs so that the people you love are protected.

You’re tying the knot

Now that you’re getting married, someone else may be depending on your income. If one of you should die, the other spouse may need to rely on life insurance benefits to meet expenses and pay off debts. The amount of life insurance coverage you need depends on your income, your debts and assets, your financial goals, and other personal factors. Even if you have some low-cost life insurance through work, this may not be enough. To be adequately protected, you may each need to buy life insurance policies from a private insurer. The cost of an individual policy will be based on your age and health, the amount of coverage you buy, the type of policy (e.g., cash value or term insurance), and other variables.

You’ve become a parent

When you become a parent, it’s time to take another look at your life insurance needs because your family’s financial security is at stake. Married, single, and stay-at-home parents all need life insurance. Life insurance proceeds can help your family meet both their current expenses (such as a mortgage, child care, or car payments) and future expenses (such as a child’s college education). Even if you already have life insurance, it is a good idea to review your policy limits and beneficiary designations.

You’re contemplating divorce

During a divorce, you’ll have a number of pressing financial issues to address. Make sure that one of these is life insurance. You’ll want to think about what protection you need, and what protection your children (if any) will need in the future. For example, if you’ll be paying or receiving child support, you may want to use life insurance to ensure continuation of those payments. During a divorce, you may also need to negotiate ownership of life insurance policies. Life insurance ownership and obligations may be addressed in your divorce settlement, and state laws vary, so ask your attorney for advice and information. Finally, you’ll want to evaluate your own life insurance needs to make sure your family is protected in the event of your death.

Your children have left the nest

If having children was the reason you originally purchased life insurance, you may feel that you no longer need coverage once your children are living on their own. But this isn’t necessarily the case. Before making any decision, take a look at the types and amounts of life insurance you have to make sure your spouse is protected (if you’re married). And keep in mind that life insurance can still be an important tool to help you transfer wealth to the next generation–your children and any future grandchildren.

You’re ready to retire

As you prepare to leave the workforce, you should revisit your need for life insurance. You may find that you can do without life insurance now if you’ve paid off all of your debts and achieved financial security. But if you’re like some retirees, your financial picture may not be so rosy. You may still be saddled with mortgage payments, tuition bills, and other obligations. You may also need protection if you haven’t accumulated sufficient assets to provide for your family. Or maybe you’re looking for a way to pay your estate tax bill or leave something to your family members or to charity. You may need to keep some of your life insurance in force or even buy a different type of coverage.