What’s Life Insurance and Why You May Need It

Purchasing life insurance may seem like a no-brainer–it can protect your family and loved ones in the event that you unexpectedly pass away. But there are so many different plans and kinds of coverage to consider. It can all seem really confusing and expensive. 

Still, life insurance can be an important building block for your financial plan. And It can help you and your family achieve financial stability, while giving you some peace of mind. Also it may not be as expensive as you might think.

Life insurance could be for anyone who:

• Has a spouse or partner, dependents, or aging parents who depend on them financially.
• Has a mortgage or some other big financial obligation to pay off.
• Is a stay-at-home parent who provides unpaid but essential childcare, transportation, and household work that keeps your family functioning.

Read on and we’ll explain.

What is life insurance?

Life insurance is a contract between you and an insurer that can pay money, usually a lump sum, when you die, to your beneficiaries. Just as auto insurance covers you in the event of a crash, life insurance can cover your spouse, partner, and dependents in the event that you pass away. 

You can think of life insurance as a life raft. It can provide your dependents and loved ones with financial resources to stay afloat, which is especially important if you were the primary earner in your family.

There are multiple types of life insurance, with two of the most popular being term life and whole life.

What’s term life insurance?

Term life insurance is a life insurance policy that offers protection for a specific period of time, or for a set “term.” Most commonly, you can purchase policies that last for 5, 10, 20, or 30 years. 

So, If you have a term life policy for 20 years and die within the 20 years, your beneficiaries can receive the payout from the term life policy. There are no restrictions on what your dependents can use the payout for, such as funeral or housing costs, or for day-to-day expenses.

Term life policies generally have lower monthly premiums than whole life policies. However, term life policies do not accumulate in cash value and expire at the end of the term.  That means you forfeit the funds that would have been paid out if you had died. Some policies may give you an option to renew for a new term when the old term expires, but the monthly premium is likely to be higher, because you will be older. 

Good to know: The payout for term life insurance is typically tax free.

What’s whole life insurance?

Whole life insurance, on the other hand, provides a cash payout to your beneficiaries regardless of when you die. (To help you remember how it differs from term, think of it as being valid for your  “whole life.”) Whole life policy monthly premiums are typically more expensive than those for term life policies.

In contrast to term life policies, whole life policies accumulate cash value over time from the premiums you pay, and this money typically grows tax-free. Some whole life insurance plans may even pay dividends as a distribution of the insurance company’s profits¹.  What’s more, policyholders can also borrow against the cash value of their accounts during their lifetimes. Assuming the account is current, there may be a payout when the policy holder dies. That payout will vary from policy to policy, according to state regulations, and depending on the cause of death.  Like term-life payouts, whole life policy payouts are also tax free. 

What do term life and whole life policies cost?

The cost of your policy can depend on the type and amount of coverage you want, how old you are, and where you live, among other factors. Term life policies for a healthy 35-year-old can average about $40 a month for several hundred thousand dollars worth of coverage. Whole life premiums, on the other hand, can cost significantly more for the same person.

The key differences

While both term life and whole life insurance have some obvious similarities, here’s a rundown of some key differences:

• Term life policies are for set durations of time, or “term”
• Whole life policies cover you for your entire lifetime.
• Term life policies are generally less expensive.
• Whole life policies accumulate cash value over time.
• Whole life policies can pay out dividends¹.

Which should you choose?

How should you decide between a term or whole life policy? The answer will depend on your particular situation and goals.

If you want to make sure your family is covered in the event of your death for a specific period of time, and prefer lower premiums, then a term life policy could be a good choice. Some life insurance experts say that because term life insurance is cheaper, it can allow you to take the money you save and use it to invest in stocks, bonds and funds.

If you want life insurance with coverage for your entire lifetime, and you want to use your policy as an account that gains value over time, and you are comfortable with possibly higher fees, then a whole life policy may be a better choice for you.

Why Stash partners with Bestow²

With prices starting at $8 a month and coverage starting at $50,000 (up to $1,000,000), Bestow has term life insurance options for Stash users as they look to continue their journey to making personal finance a source of hope. 

Bestow’s application and underwriting process is 100% online and requires no medical exam³, which can make shopping for life insurance easy and affordable. It’s as simple as filling out a form, and there’s no need to speak with an agent. But, if you do need to speak to someone for some guidance, the Bestow team can easily be reached on the phone, email, or chat.

You can go to Bestow’s website, and literally walk away from your computer with a quote for term life insurance coverage.