Nobody likes thinking about life insurance — but if anyone depends on your income, it's one of the most important financial decisions you'll make. We help you figure out how much you need, what type makes sense, and which carrier offers the best value.
Term life insurance
Term life is the simplest and most affordable type of life insurance. You choose a coverage amount and a term length — 10, 20, or 30 years are the most common. If you pass away during that term, your beneficiaries receive the full death benefit, tax-free. If the term expires and you're still alive, the coverage ends (though many policies offer conversion options).
Term life is ideal for covering temporary obligations: replacing income while your children are young, paying off a mortgage, or bridging the gap until retirement savings are sufficient. A healthy 30-year-old can often get $500,000 in 20-year term coverage for less than $30 a month.
Permanent life insurance
Permanent life insurance — including whole life and universal life — covers you for your entire lifetime as long as premiums are paid. These policies also build cash value over time, which you can borrow against or use to fund retirement. Premiums are significantly higher than term, but the coverage never expires.
Permanent life makes sense for estate planning, leaving a guaranteed inheritance, covering final expenses, or supplementing retirement income. We help you understand the trade-offs between different permanent products so you can decide whether the higher cost is justified for your goals.
How much life insurance do you need?
The right amount depends on your situation. Here are the most common factors we look at:
💰
Income replacementA common starting point is 10–12 times your annual income. If your family depends on your paycheck to cover housing, food, and daily expenses, this gives them a runway to adjust.
🏠
Mortgage payoffMany families want enough coverage to pay off the house so the surviving spouse isn't burdened with a mortgage payment on a single income.
🎓
Children's educationIf funding college is part of your plan, factor in the cost of tuition for each child. Life insurance can ensure that plan survives even if you don't.
⚰️
Final expensesFuneral costs, medical bills, and estate settlement expenses can run $10,000–$25,000 or more. A small policy dedicated to final expenses can spare your family from covering these costs out of pocket.
Common questions
It depends on the carrier and coverage amount. Many term policies under $500,000 are available with no exam — just a health questionnaire. Higher coverage amounts may require a brief paramedical exam (blood draw, blood pressure, height/weight) which the carrier arranges at no cost to you.
Yes. Different carriers have different underwriting appetites. Some are more lenient with diabetes, others with heart conditions, others with tobacco use. As an independent agency, we know which carriers are favorable for specific conditions and can help you apply where you're most likely to get approved at a reasonable rate.
For most families, term life provides the most coverage per dollar. If you need lifelong coverage or want the cash value component, permanent life may be worth the extra cost. We walk you through both options and help you decide based on your specific goals and budget.
Protect your family's future
Get a free life insurance quote — we compare carriers to find the right coverage at the right price.