Choosing the right type of cover in case the unexpected happens

Coronavirus (COVID-19) has exposed – or more accurately, underlined – the importance of life insurance. It’s understandable that we would rather not think of the time when we’re no longer around. But it’s important to protect the things that really matter – like our loved ones, home and lifestyle – in case the unexpected happens.

Protected financially

We insure our cars, homes and even our mobile phones – so it goes without saying that we should also consider insuring our full replacement value to ensure that our loved ones and business are financially catered for in the event of our premature death. Life insurance can help you to financially protect your family. It could pay out a cash sum if you die while covered by the policy. You choose the amount of life cover you need and how long you need it for, and you can pay your premiums monthly or annually.

Life insurance is designed to provide a safety net for your family and loved ones if you die, helping them cope financially during an otherwise difficult time. Ultimately, it can offer reassurance that your family would be protected financially should the worst happen.

We never know what life has in store for us, so it’s important to get the right life insurance policy. A good place to start is asking yourself three questions: What do I need to protect? How much cover do I need? How long will I need cover for? This sum must consider your family’s living costs, as well as any outstanding liabilities such as a mortgage.

Financial safety

It may be the case that not everyone needs life insurance but if your spouse and children, partner or other relatives depend on your income to cover the mortgage, liabilities or other living expenses, then it will be something you should consider.

Life insurance is designed to make sure they’re taken care of financially if you die. So whether you’re looking to provide a financial safety net for your loved ones, moving house or a first-time buyer looking to arrange your mortgage life insurance – or simply wanting to add some cover to what you’ve already got – you’ll want to make sure you choose the right type of cover. That’s why obtaining the right advice and knowing which products to choose – including the most suitable sum assured, premium, terms and payment provisions – is essential.

Premature death

The appropriate level of life insurance could enable your dependants to cope financially in the event of your premature death. When you take out life insurance, you set the amount you want the policy to pay out should you die – this is called the ‘sum assured’. Even if you consider that currently you have sufficient life insurance, it’s possible you will need more later on if your circumstances change. If you don’t update your policy as key events happen throughout your life, you may risk being under-insured.

Different stages

As you reach different stages in your life, the need for protection may change. How much life insurance you need really depends on your circumstances – for example, whether you’ve got a mortgage, you’re single or have children. Before you compare life insurance, it’s worth bearing in mind that the amount of cover you need will very much depend on your own personal circumstances, such as the needs of your family and dependants.

These are some events when you should consider reviewing your life insurance requirements:

  • Buying your first home with a partner
  • Covering loans
  • Getting married or entering a registered civil partnership
  • Starting a family
  • Becoming a stay-at-home parent
  • Having more children
  • Moving to a bigger property
  • Salary increases
  • Changing your job
  • Reaching retirement
  • Relying on someone else to support you
  • Personal guarantee for business loans
Individual lifestyle factors determine the cost

The price you pay for a life insurance policy depends on several things. These include the amount of money you want to cover and the length of the policy, but also your age, your health, your lifestyle and whether you smoke.

Replacing at least some of your income

If you have a spouse, partner or children, you should have sufficient protection to pay off your mortgage and any other liabilities. After that, you may need life insurance to replace at least some of your income. How much money a family needs will vary from household to household, so ultimately, it’s up to you to decide how much money you would like to leave your family that would enable them to maintain their current standard of living.

Two basic life insurance types

There are two basic types of life insurance: ‘term life’ and ‘whole-of-life’. But within those categories, there are different variations.

The cheapest, simplest form of life insurance is term life insurance. It is straightforward protection – there is no investment element, and it pays out a lump sum if you die within a specified period. There are several types of term insurance.

The other type of protection available is a whole-of-life insurance policy, designed to provide you with cover throughout your entire lifetime providing the policyholder’s dependants with a lump sum that may be tax-free. Depending on the individual policy, policyholders may have to continue contributing right up until they die, or they may be able to stop paying in once they reach a stated age, even though the cover continues until they die.

Remove the burden of any debts

Generally speaking, the amount of life insurance you may need should provide a lump sum that is sufficient to remove the burden of any debts and, ideally, leave enough over to invest to provide an income to support your dependants for the required period of time.

The first consideration is to clarify what you want the life insurance to protect. If you simply want to cover your mortgage, then an amount equal to the outstanding mortgage debt can achieve that.

To prevent your family from being financially disadvantaged by your premature death and to provide enough financial support to maintain their current lifestyle, there are a few more variables you should consider:

  • What are your family expenses and how would they change if you died?
  • How much would the family expenditure increase on requirements such as childcare if you were to die?
  • How much would your family income drop if you were to die?
  • How much cover do you receive from your employer or company pension scheme and for how long?
  • What existing policies do you have already and how far do they go to meeting your needs?
  • How long would your existing savings last?
  • What state benefits are there that could provide extra support to meet your family’s needs?
  • How would the return of inflation to the economy affect the amount of your cover over time?

For more information or to discuss any of the issues raised in this article, please contact your adviser, or call us directly on 0161 819 1131. Further information can also be found at gov.uk.

Personal circumstances differ and not all of this information is applicable to every client and/or their business, this information is general in nature and should not be relied upon without seeking specific professional financial advice.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) does not regulate tax advice, estate planning, trusts or will writing.

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