Friday 7 June 2013

Don’t Make These Life Insurance Mistakes

Buying life insurance is not a task to be taken lightly. Your life insurance policy is the financial protection that your family needs to survive your death and the loss of your income. To help you get it right first time we reviewed 5 of the most common mistakes people make when buying life insurance. 

1. Not buying enough cover 
So how much cover do you need? When you invest in life insurance it is critical that you carefully work out how much cover your family will need in the event of your death. This is no easy task and one best left to the professionals. Your life insurance company or broker will be able to walk you through what is known as a needs analysis, a method of calculating your benefit amount based on your assets and liabilities. If you are looking for a rough figure you can also use an online life insurance calculator. 

2. Not insuring the life of a stay-at-home parent 
A stay-at-home mom or dad might not earn any money but they do a lot for the family every day. Piles of laundry, endless meals and school lunches, driving here and there… How would the surviving spouse or partner pay for these services in the event of the death of the stay-home mom or dad? Suddenly a life insurance policy makes a lot of sense, doesn’t it?

3. Not being honest with your provider 
Be scrupulously honest when answering all questions put to you by your life insurance company. If they found out that you have withheld any information your family’s claim might be reduced or rejected. 

4. Not reading your policy documents 
We are all guilty of this. Your policy documents arrive, you put them aside thinking ‘I must read those’ and somehow it just never happens. It really is essential that you read your policy documents carefully and that you ask your broker or provider if you have any questions. You need to take special note of policy exclusions (the circumstances under which your life is not covered) and premium increases. 

5. Not reviewing your benefit amount 
Life does not stand still, does it? Just as your life changes remember that your benefit amount needs to increase as well. The birth or adoption of a child, marriage, a salary increase and an increased debt load all mean that is is time to review your life insurance amount!

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