Awareness Is Key

Consumers can choose from among many different varieties of life insurance. To help find the right policy, they should consult with experienced financial professionals, who are well qualified to guide them through one of the most important purchasing decisions. But no matter what type of coverage is purchased, consumers should regularly review their policies for as long as they are in force.

Changing family, job and economic situations can affect the needs for and costs of life insurance. Routinely reviewing your life insurance needs with a financial professional is an important part of financial wellness. In fact, households who have a written financial plan prepared by a financial professional are 21 percent more likely to be “very confident” or “extremely confident” that they will reach their most important financial goals.

Below are some tips on how consumers can stay engaged so that their life insurance coverage remains sufficient under any circumstance:

• Establish a regular check-in schedule with the insurance agent who sold you the policy.
• If you cannot connect with the agent, contact the life insurance company directly.
• Discuss any changes in your family situation (new child, marriage, other family member now living with you, etc.).
• Review any changes in your financial obligations (new mortgage, added tuition, other debt, etc.).
• Analyze your current policy to see if the benefit remains sufficient (e.g. is your policy still sufficient to provide a benefit that could keep your family in your home).
• For universal life policies, discuss the payment schedule and updated projections based on current economic conditions.
• Assess whether changes need to be made to any policy to provide adequate coverage.

Publications and Resources

What You Should Know About Life Insurance. An ACLI guide to help you choose the right life insurance products to meet your needs.

Tips on Buying Life Insurance (PDF). Choosing a life insurance product is an important decision. As with any major purchase, it is important to understand your family's needs and the options available. Use this list of buying tips to help you choose.

State Insurance Department Directory. The State Insurance Department Directory, with contact information for 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Includes names and phone numbers for key personnel and specific subject contacts.