The Conversation You Don’t Want to Have: Life Insurance

Most people don’t like to talk about Life insurance, but better to talk about buying it than to regret not having coverage.

Are you struggling to get your loved ones to discuss Life insurance? The topic can be difficult, but it’s also critical. It’s easy to put it off—especially if you’re younger and don’t think you need it. But having the conversation is the first step toward protecting your family’s financial future.

Here are some tips you can use to start the discussion:

1. Start with your goals. It’s easier to start by focusing on your current and future financial goals rather than to think about the worst thing that could happen. What assets do you have, what are they worth, and what do they cost to maintain? Do you have education goals for your children? Retirement plans? Would your surviving family be able to afford it all? Assessing your goals will naturally get you thinking about how to protect what’s important to you.
2. Come prepared with the basics. Start with our resource, Term Life – Your Most Asked Questions Answered, for some useful information about Life insurance.  The more you know, the easier it will be to guide the conversation.
3. Include extended family members Although your older family members may already have Life insurance, you should review their coverage to make sure it’s suitable. Policies purchased many years ago may no longer be adequate. Family members who have retired may need to supplement coverage if they no longer qualify for employer-sponsored life insurance. Consider Children’s Life insurance too. Once insured, you children can increase their coverage– and may remain insured for life.
4. Start planning. The longer you wait, the more expensive insurance becomes – and even more so if your health declines. Start by determining how much coverage you need and for how long you’ll need it. Our Life insurance needs calculator can help you get started.

Once you consider the consequences if something happens to you or a loved one without life insurance, it’s much easier to start the conversation.