Term Life Insurance or Whole Life Insurance: Which Should You Opt for and Why?

Term Life Insurance or Whole Life Insurance: Which Should You Opt for and Why?

What is life insurance? What is term life insurance? What is whole life insurance? Which one should I opt for? Which is the better one? These are common questions an amateur investor on the insurance front faces. The key thing to remember is that the purchase of term or whole life insurance not only depends on your individual financial goals but also on the financial wants of your family. In both forms, the policy holder's beneficiaries, i.e. loved ones, get a lump sum payment on the policy holder's death. This payment is called the death benefit. Let us understand each form below:

Term Insurance:

In term insurance, the policy holder's beneficiaries get a substantial payout in the event of the sudden demise of the policyholder, within a stipulated time period. In the event that the policyholder does not die within the given term, then the person does not receive any kind of payment from the insurance company. Hence the premiums for a term insurance are very low while the payouts are quite substantial.

Is Term Insurance for you?

Term life insurance is ideally designed to ensure that people who cannot buy a complete life cover can also avail protection for their loved ones. The low premium ensures that you can afford insurance and hence protect your family in unforeseen circumstances.

If you are in your thirties, have young children and are the sole bread winner, a term plan would be ideal for you to help your family in your absence. You can choose the term to cover the time period till your children start earning and become self-sufficient.

Whole Life Insurance:

Also known as a universal cover, this category is designed to not only pay the policy holder's beneficiaries in the event of his/her death but also to provide a lump sum payment to the policy holder at the maturity of the policy or at the policy holder's retirement. Thus this form of insurance ensures the policyholder with life benefits, peradventure the policyholder does not die till the maturity of the policy.

Should you opt for Whole Life Insurance?

If you have the financial bandwidth, then whole life insurance is the best option for you. Here it not only protects you but also ensures that you build a cash portfolio for your retirement which can aid you in your golden years.

Hence while you stand on the brink of buying life insurance, here are some questions you need to ask yourself so as to make a sound decision of choosing the right policy for yourself.

• Your age
• The age of the loved ones you want to cover
• Family expenses today
• Future family expenses
• Your current health
• Your retirement plans

Author is an Insurance agent with a Leading insurance Company in India.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Ishana_Chaudhary/2306945