5 Major Mistakes to Avoid for Parents Buying Life Insurance

Purchasing life insurance can be complicated — make sure you avoid these mistakes when searching for a policy.

Protecting your family is the most significant responsibility when becoming a parent, and purchasing life insurance is one of the ultimate ways to do so.

Life insurance is designed to provide financial security to your loved ones in case of a tragic accident where you happen to pass away. It’s crucial to make sure you buy a policy with the most benefits and coverage while at the lowest cost possible.

It can get extremely confusing to search for the most suitable plan, so mistakes are bound to happen. Here are five major mistakes that you should avoid making as a parent buying life insurance.

child sat on parents shoulders in a corn field.

This is a collaborative post.

5 Mistakes to Avoid as a Parent Buying Life Insurance

1. Choosing the Wrong Type of Insurance

One of the essential parts of buying life insurance as a parent is to make sure that you purchase the correct type of insurance. There are two basic types of life insurance — term and permanent.

Term life insurance pays out a death benefit and remains in place for a set amount of time.

A permanent life insurance policy will not be effective for a set amount of time but your entire life. A permanent life insurance policy will also build up cash value as time goes on, which does not happen with a term life insurance policy.

When choosing between the two policies, weigh the benefits and costs of each policy you are considering. 

2. Not Speaking with a Life Insurance Agent

You are not an expert on life insurance policies, and it will take an enormous amount of time to be one — that’s why there are life insurance agents. They will collect your information and compare rates for you, and find you the most comprehensive coverage.

If you decide to take the reigns on finding your policy, it could leave you paying more with fewer benefits.

Contact a local insurance agent to ask them questions and receive their insight because this is an important purchase. You will want to ensure that you are making the most educated decision. 

3. Never Reviewing Your Policy

Purchasing your life insurance policy is not a one-time activity. It needs to be reviewed every so often, especially when there are significant family changes.

For example, family changes could include marriage, new vehicles, new health concerns, deaths in the family, and more. Instead of viewing life insurance as a product, you should see it as a process that needs valuable attention.

As time passes, there may be a possibility that you need more money, less money, or you can find out if you can receive a lower rate. 

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4. Waiting to Purchase Coverage

It’s not often that a young and healthy adult will realize how important it is to buy life insurance as young as possible, but purchasing your life insurance policy as soon as you can increase the chances of being much more affordable.

Unfortunately, we never know what can happen. Having a life insurance policy at a young age will protect you and your loved ones in case of an accident.

Most young adults have debts, including student loans and credit cards, that are left to their loved ones to pay if there is no plan in place. 

You may also want to read:

7 Golden Money Rules To Embrace in Life

Emergency Fund Examples: 23 (Unexpected) Reasons Why You Need One

5. Relying Only on Your Employer’s Coverage

Many companies offer life insurance to employees, but it might not be the most suitable for every employee. Employer coverage sounds like a fantastic deal in theory, but it all depends on the type of coverage they offer and the type of coverage you need.

If your employer is paying for part of the life insurance premium, there is a good chance that the policy is not at the lowest price possible. It’s also important to remember that the coverage is tied to your job, so you will not have the coverage if you are no longer with your employer.

You can speak with a life insurance agent to quote various plans to determine if your employer coverage is suitable for you.

Buying life insurance as a parent can be scary and stressful, but it doesn’t have to be. Fabric is software that allows you to quickly quote and compare life insurance policies in as little as ten minutes.

The app and website have been designed for busy parents searching for ways to understand and apply for affordable coverage. So apply now and get back to what matters most to you — your family!

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Last Updated on 16th June 2021 by Emma

About Emma

I'm here to help you become confident in making the best money decisions for you and your family. Frugal living has changed my life, let me help you change yours.

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