When something breaks, you fix it. When someone needs help, you find a way. At work, at home, in your family, you are the plan.
So I want to ask you something, and I ask it with love.
I don't want to scare you. I just want to show you things we weren't taught.
I grew up watching families pass around the collection plate, set up fundraisers, and plan fish fries after someone passed. Today it looks like a GoFundMe link. Different lane, same story.
Good people, doing their best, with no plan in place. I still think about how a little money, left on purpose, could have changed what came next for them.
That's why I do this work. Not to sell you something you don't need. To make sure the people you love have options.
Grab a pen. Write in the margins. Then decide what's right for you.
Not because they don't care. Because nobody ever walked them through it.
Life insurance is priced partly on your age and health. The same coverage generally costs more later, and health changes can affect what you qualify for.
THE FIXGet a real quote now, even if you don't buy today. Knowing your options costs nothing.
A small policy can cover final expenses. It usually can't replace your paycheck, pay off the house, or keep your kids' routines steady.
THE FIXFigure out what your household actually runs on. Part two walks you through it.
Group life through your job is a good perk. It's often a flat amount or a multiple of your salary, and it usually ends when you leave unless the plan lets you convert it.
THE FIXTreat work coverage as a bonus, not the plan. Own a policy that stays with you.
Marriage, divorce, a new baby, a loss in the family. If your beneficiary form doesn't match your life, the money may not go where you meant it to.
THE FIXCheck once a year and after every big change. If your children are minors, ask about a trust or custodian, since insurers generally can't pay a minor directly.
Every policy type has a job. None of them does every job. If someone says one product is the answer to everything, that's your cue to ask more questions.
THE FIXWork with a licensed agent who compares carriers and can explain, in plain words, why a policy fits you.
There's no magic multiplier. Your number comes from your real life. One simple way to build it is called DIME.
What would be left behind besides the house? Car, credit cards, student loans, medical bills.
How many years would your household need your income? Multiply those years by what you bring home in a year.
Your mortgage payoff, or enough rent to keep everyone in place for the years that matter.
School, childcare, help for an aging parent, final expenses. The things only you know about.
Coverage you own personally, plus savings you'd want used. Leave out coverage from work.
This is a starting point for a conversation, not a recommendation. A licensed agent can walk through it with you.
| Term | Permanent | |
|---|---|---|
| How long | A set period, like 10, 20, or 30 years | Designed to last your lifetime, as long as premiums are paid as required |
| Cost | Lowest cost for the most coverage | Costs more for the same death benefit |
| Cash value | None | Builds cash value, with fees, rules, and surrender charges that vary by policy |
| Common types | Level term, return of premium term | Whole life, universal life, indexed universal life |
| Often a fit for | The years people depend on your income, the mortgage, kids at home | Lifelong needs like final expenses, an inheritance, or specific estate goals |
Check what's done. Circle what's next.
Income, debts, monthly expenses, savings, and what's coming up. Honest numbers make good decisions.
Use the DIME worksheet. It turns "how much do I need?" into something you can actually answer.
Replacing income for 20 years is a different job than leaving an inheritance. Name the job first, then pick the tool.
Rates, health questions, and underwriting rules differ from company to company. One quote isn't a comparison.
Waiver of premium, accelerated death benefits, and child riders can help. Availability varies by carrier and state.
Primary and contingent. If your kids are minors, plan for who manages the money.
A policy nobody knows about can't help anyone. Keep it with your important papers and make sure a trusted person knows where.
You've read the guide. Now take the IF Test. It looks at your real life and shows you where your protection stands today.
It's free, and you can do it on your own time.