Securing Your Future: The Importance of Choosing the Right Life Insurance Policy

What is life insurance?

Life insurance is one of the most valuable purchases you will make. Just as we take car or house insurance to protect ourselves from property damage or the consequences of asset loss, life insurance protects us from the financial consequences of our death. The loss of income resulting from the death of the main earning member of the family can have an additional impact on the economic dependents. For example, survivors may find it difficult to maintain their old lifestyle, may not have the money to pay for college tuition, and may still need to make outstanding mortgage payments. All of this can cause stress and anxiety, as well as the financial pressures faced by relatives of the deceased.

The essence of life insurance is a contract between the insured and the insurer. The insured pays a premium to the insurance company, and in return the insurer pays indemnity in the event of the death of the insured while the policy is in force.

Check out AIG's Direct Guide to Life Insurance Benefits to learn in detail what life insurance can do for you.

Who needs life insurance?

Every adult should seriously consider life insurance. We cannot predict the future, and we must plan for the unexpected before it happens. We can't wait until a tragedy strikes to figure out how to respond, and buying life insurance is one of the tools you can use to take the worry out of the future. This doesn't mean that life insurance is necessary for everyone, but don't decline insurance just because you think "I'm too young" or "I'm healthy."

To decide whether you need life insurance, you should carefully consider your current and future circumstances and financial obligations. Fortunately, you won't have to do this by yourself. AIG Direct Life Insurance agents can guide you through the process and help you make the most of:

What financial obligations would you like to meet after your death? This can include paying off outstanding loans, but it can also include getting insurance coverage for your financial loved ones when you no longer support them with your income.
A timeline for each of these commitments (for example, most people expect to pay off a mortgage long before they die)

How much money is needed to meet these financial obligations?

You need to figure out what level of life insurance coverage you need and how much you want your policy to cover. AIG Direct's term life insurance calculator will ask you for a few details and then give you a firsthand picture of the coverage you may need. You can then request a quote to see what your life insurance premiums could look like based on your contract term.

To give you an overview, if you answer "yes" to any of the following questions, then you should be taking out life insurance:

• Do you have an outstanding mortgage on the home?
• Do you have financial dependence? (This may include your spouse or partner, children, or other relatives or acquaintances who depend on your financial assistance.)
• Do you have any other debt that could go into your inheritance after you die?

How does life insurance work?

Simple rules govern life insurance's fundamental concepts. First, the policyholder and the insurance company sign a contract that sets out the terms of the policy. The agreement specifies specific details such as: B. Type of life insurance, total value of insurance coverage, life insurance rate (or premium) and, if any, term(s). ) Instruction). The policyholder starts paying periodic premiums to the insurance company until the life insurance policy expires or the policyholder dies.

If the policy is still in force at the time of death of the insured, the insurance company will pay the specified coverage as per the terms of the policy. If the insured is still alive when the policy expires, the insurance company will not pay any compensation.

Keep in mind that there are various kinds of life insurance. There are advantages to each type of life insurance, and none is inherently "better" than the others. The best type of life insurance for you will depend on your own circumstances and preferences, so review all of your options before committing to one type of policy.

After learning the fundamentals, you might want to investigate AIG's guide to selecting a life insurance policy if you want to delve a little deeper into purchasing life insurance. policy, how much coverage you need, what's involved in the application process, and more. Direct resources can be found. , More. Ahead. Ahead.

Which life insurance do I need?

There are different types of life insurance, but most people primarily choose between two types of life insurance: term life insurance and continuous life insurance, such as term life insurance. B. Universal Life Insurance. There are good arguments for both types of life insurance, and it really depends on the consumer which type of life insurance best suits their needs.

Term life insurance offers protection for a predetermined amount of time (the "term"), usually between 10 and 30 years. If the policyholder dies within the maturity, the insurance company pays a fixed amount to the beneficiary of the policyholder. Affordability is one of the biggest selling points of life insurance, and these policies are also highly customizable to the consumer.

Permanent life insurance has no time limit, in contrast to term life insurance. With perpetual life insurance, the insurance company pays benefits after the death of the policyholder. This type of life insurance also has a cash value that can grow over time and can be withdrawn before the insured's death or used to secure a loan. As a result, permanent life insurance premiums are higher than term life insurance.

Read on to know more about term life insurance, permanent life insurance and other types of life insurance.

How much does life insurance cost?

Life insurance companies consider several factors when calculating life insurance premiums. As mentioned above, permanent life insurance premiums are generally more expensive than term life insurance. In general, your rates will be lower the younger and healthier you are. Women receive lower life insurance premiums than men. For more information and sample rates for different life insurance types and hypothetical customer demographics, read AIG Direct's Life Insurance Price Guide.

apply for life insurance

The life insurance application process consists of several steps and it is good to start the journey with a clear idea of what you are getting into. Check out AIG Direct's Life Insurance Application Guide to learn what to expect when you're ready to apply.

One of the most important parts of the application process may be the life insurance health check. In addition to being a factor in determining an applicant's premium, the physician can make the difference between approving or denying an application. Read AIG Direct's guide to life insurance medical exams to learn what to expect and how to prepare.

Request an AIG Direct Life Insurance Quote Today

You should now have a more clear idea of how life insurance can secure you and your family's future, but there is a lot to consider. Avoid procrastinating on next steps; Instead, speak directly with one of AIG Direct's life insurance agents to ask your questions and discuss your options with someone else. Call 800-294-4544 to speak with a representative today.