What is the difference between term and permanent life insurance?
Term life covers you for a fixed period — usually 10, 20, or 30 years — and pays a death benefit only if you die during that term. It is the less expensive option and fits most working-years needs. Permanent life lasts your whole life and builds cash value, and it costs significantly more for the same death benefit.
Neither is better in general — they do different jobs. The office can explain in plain language which one fits a specific need, like covering a 20-year mortgage versus lifelong coverage. This is education, not financial, tax, or investment advice.
How much life insurance do I need?
A common starting point is 10 to 12 times your annual income, though the right number depends on who relies on you and for how long. Most people add up the mortgage, any co-signed debts, years of income to replace, and final expenses, then work from there.
Most people work through the mortgage, income replacement for dependents, and education or childcare costs, then adjust for how long those obligations actually run. The office can help you reason through the number without pressure to buy a particular product. Coverage and cost depend on health questions and underwriting.
Is the life insurance through my job enough?
For most people, no. Group life through an employer usually runs about one to two times your salary — enough to cover a few months, not a mortgage or years of income for a family. It also ends the day you leave the job, which is often the worst time to be uninsured.
Because it usually is not portable, a job change or layoff can leave a gap exactly when a family is most stretched. The office can explain how an individual policy works alongside work coverage, so you are not relying on a benefit you do not control.
Do I need a medical exam to get life insurance?
Not always. Some policies require a medical exam, while others use health questions or simplified underwriting instead. Whether an exam is needed depends on the coverage amount, your age, and the company's process.
The office can explain the general options and what each typically involves, though approval, cost, and terms always depend on the underwriting and the policy selected. This is not a promise of approval — it is help understanding the path before you start.
How do I update the beneficiary on my life insurance?
You update a beneficiary by submitting a change form to the company that issued the policy — your will does not override it. A marriage, divorce, or new child are the most common reasons to review who is listed.
Outdated beneficiaries are one of the most common and avoidable problems in life insurance. If you are not sure who is currently listed, the office can help you confirm it and walk through how to make the change cleanly.