Expected Costs of Life Insurance

Who wants life insurance? Not me. If I die, I don’t get any benefit. True, but those who count on you will.

Yet when asked to estimate the cost of $250,000 term life policy for a healthy 30-year-old, most people guess around $500 per year or more.

The average cost of such a policy is closer to $160 per year, suggesting over half the population thinks term life insurance is over 3X more expensive than the true cost.

Two categories:

Term – Term is a fixed period, like 10 or 20 years with benefits designed to cover mortgage, tuition, living expenses.

Cash Value Policies – whole life, indexed, universal – have both a death benefit and a cash accumulation. You die, beneficiaries get the funds (like Term). You have built a nice nest egg.

Reasons People Buy Life Insurance

Income Replacement - 37%
Burial Expenses - 30%
Wealth Transfer - 28%
Pay Off Mortgage - 27%
Business Purposes - 21%
Fund for College Education - 14%
Estate Taxes/Liquidity - 14%
0
%
believe life insurance is a necessity
0
%
feel life insurance provides peace of mind
$
0
the average cost of a funeral

Factors that Affect Life Insurance Premiums

Curious if you could get a great deal on life insurance? Wondering how to get the best value when shopping for a policy?

Here are some key factors that affect how your life insurance company determines your life insurance premiums.

  • Age
  • Gender
  • Height and weight
  • Medical history
  • Family history
  • Smoking and tobacco use
  • Occupation and hobbies
  • Lifestyle factors
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1 in 3 Homes

would have immediate trouble paying living expenses with the loss of the primary wage earner

7 out of 10 Families

are dependent on two incomes

3 out of 10 Households

are completely uninsured

7 out of 10 Women

think life insurance is essential

1 in 3 Wives

don’t even own a life insurance policy at all