What we'll cover
What to consider when getting life insurance
How life insurance could benefit your loved ones
Why waiting could end up costing you more
On your long list of to-dos, getting life insurance might be at the bottom, even when you know it's important to put this crucial safeguard in place for your family. While it's easy to delay this critical task, you should ultimately consider life insurance sooner than later.
Life insurance is a simple and effective way to help provide for your loved ones in your absence.
How to determine the right time to buy life insurance
In general, there is no wrong time to buy life insurance. However, the sooner you purchase a policy, could be better. The older you are, the higher the premiums will likely be. Beyond that basic premise, some life events and situations (weddings, children, a new home, etc.) may make the need for life insurance even more urgent. Consider these questions when determining the right time for you to get serious about life insurance.
Do you have a significant other?
Whether you're married, planning to get married or have a partner that would be impacted by your absence, life insurance is a good way to help your partner maintain financial stability if you die. Life insurance can enable your partner to make mortgage payments, afford daily expenses, contribute to retirement and more.
Do you have children?
Kids can be a major motivator for purchasing life insurance: Raising children is expensive. In your absence, life insurance can help pay for childcare and other future expenses like college, helping to ensure your children are taken care of.
Are you a homeowner?
Unfortunately, in the event of your death, your mortgage, real estate taxes, property insurance, maintenance and utilities will still need to be paid. Life insurance can help relieve that burden for your partner or whomever those expenses might fall on after you're gone.
Do you have debt?
Outstanding college loans, credit cards and other types of debt can also become a financial strain for your loved ones in the event of your death. A life insurance policy can help protect your beneficiaries from this potential hardship.
Don’t wait to buy life insurance
Even if you answer no to all of these questions, it may still be wise to get life insurance now. Regardless of all other factors, the younger you are, the lower your premiums will typically be. Your future self will thank you for locking in a lower premium now.
Starting a life insurance policy early is the rare instance in which you can actually help protect yourself from the financial effects of aging. See the average monthly cost by age below — and how average premium rates increase by age. And use Ladder's life insurance coverage calculator to see the impact waiting to buy life insurance could have on your premium.
Move life insurance to the top of your to-do list
While you're busy living your life, don't forget to protect those who depend on you. Life insurance is a simple and effective way to help provide for your loved ones in your absence. Start planning now to lock in a lower rate today and help look after your family's tomorrow.
Disclosures: Ladder Insurance Services, LLC (CA license # OK22568; AR license # 3000140372) distributes term life insurance products issued by multiple insurers – for further details see www.ladderlife.com. All insurance products are governed by the terms set forth in the applicable insurance policy. Each insurer has financial responsibility for its own products.
