Term Life Insurance vs Whole of Life Insurance
When looking for life insurance, it’s important to find the best policy for your own unique needs. There are so many web sites offering online discount life insurance, so it’s a common mistake made by many, to end up with a policy that’s not suitable.
There are a variety of life insurance policies available, so it’s important to understand the differences.
Term Life Insurance:
With term life insurance you pay for a predefined term, and are covered for that term (normally the same term as your mortgage).
This means that term life insurance only offers protection for the duration of the mortgage, and is usually of little value once your mortgage is fully paid off.
Term insurance is generally cheap and is expected to fall over time providing you don’t suffer from a major disease. However, there are a number of different types of term life insurance policy:
* The first is known as level term cover, and it’s the most common type. With this form of policy the premium costs are locked in for as long as you hold the policy. In other words, you will pay the same amount throughout the entire term of the policy.Unfortunately, it means that as time goes by you could end up paying more for your life cover. However, the nice thing is that you get the benefit of paying at today’s rates. However, bear in mind that over time these rates could fall instead of rise.
* The second type of term life cover is known as escalating term insurance. This type of scheme means that you pay an increasing amount each year, so the payout at death also increases. They are generally low cost policies, and are more suited to first time buyers and the young. However, they can become more expensive as you get older.
* The third type of term cover is known as decreasing term insurance. With this type of policy the monthly/annual payments stay exactly the same. However, the amount of protection reduces each year.
* The forth type of term life insurance is what’s known as increasing term insurance. Here the lump sum payable at death increases each year. This increase in value of the policy is made up by increasing the premiums periodically over the years.
* Finally, convertible term insurance is a type of term life cover that can be converted into an investment/insurance policy in the future. Normally, the value of such investments will be based on your health, at the time you bought the term insurance policy.
Whole of Life Insurance:
Whole of life insurance covers you right up until the time of your death, providing that you keep paying your premiums. It can give a considerable lump sum to your family when you die, and it normally accumulates in value over the years.
Whole of life policies can be more expensive and more complicated than term life insurance. Also, the investment you make can earn some interest each year. Therefore, since your investment generally grows each year, your premiums can actually reduce over time. You may also reach a time where the interest gained covers all the future premiums, which means you may have no more premiums to pay.
However, it’s important to understand that it is possible the cash-in-value of a whole of life policy may actually be less than the amount put into the policy over it’s full term.
Summary:
The decision of whether to buy a term life policy, or whole of life cover comes down to your own unique needs, and circumstances, and what you wish to achieve.
The simplest form of life insurance is a level term policy with renewable option. This allows you to buy life cover for as long as you may require it.
On the other hand, a whole of life policy might suit you better if you need a policy that grows in value over the years.
There are advantages and disadvantages to both forms of insurance, so it’s always important to get advice from a competent insurance adviser.
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