7 Killer Insurance Mistakes You're Probably Making

Why you should take out more insurance, not less

By Kimberly Palmer

Posted: March 31, 2009

Thinking that it's too expensive. Many people mistakenly think life insurance is prohibitively expensive, says Bonvento, but it's possible to find a policy that fits your needs—and your budget. Term insurance, which provides temporary insurance over a specific time period, is more affordable than permanent insurance, which lasts a lifetime. In addition to managing financial risk, people sometimes use permanent insurance as an investment tool, as well.

But those on a tight budget tend to choose term insurance. One of Bonvento's clients, a married man with one child and another on the way, decided he needed to take out $1.5 million worth of term life insurance. His monthly payment, pending an assessment of his health, will cost between $102 and $219 per month.

Forgetting to update it. While major life events, such as the birth of a child, marriage, or divorce, usually mean it's time to update your insurance policy, many people forget to do so. Even Sept. 11, which affected many of Bonevento's clients, did not serve as the motivator he thought it would. Then, he says, "when tragedy strikes, they face financial problems on top of everything else."

Term v/s Permanent Policy

Term insurance allows to invest the difference which provides much higher returns than the permanent. So after some years, the investment value of "invest the difference" can even exceed the total insured value. People who cannot save perhaps may not have enough even to buy any policy. There are other instruments of saving tax free, and tax deferred, using automatic withdrawal techniques. Buy long term insurance ( 10-15 years) and not yearly term to take care of insurablility issues.

Jasbir Singh Bhatia of FL @ Sep 14, 2009 09:41:13 AM

The term insurance lies

What Jemaine does not mention is the differances between permanent policies. He tells us that if you borrow against the cash values and do not pay it back, your death benefit is reduced. Only true with Universal Lifte and not Whole Life. He also does not mention what happens when the TERM policy runs out and one is uninsurable. That's right...you no longer have life insurance!!! After all, isn't life insurance for the unknown. Further, I did not read anything about the non tax growth of the cash value...translates to a higher interest rate doesn't it? Millionaires still buy whole life in droves because attorney's and CPA know the benefits. So A L WILLIAMS PEOPLE. STOP PUTTING YOUR ADVERTISING ON VENUES SUCH AS THESE.

Randy Chapman of IN @ Sep 01, 2009 10:32:42 AM

Buy Perm and Invest the Difference in your Policy's Cash Value

Permanent (often called cash value insurance) vs term insurance is best for most folks. Some have suggested that it is folly to buy permanent insurance.....that it is better to buy term and invest the different. That's exactly what happens in a permanent life insurance policy. The premium you pay "overfunds" the coverage that you purchase. In other words, you establish and build a reserve, which can be used for emergencies. Or this reserve can be used to keep the policy from lapsing if you experience temporary unemployment or other financial problem loss. If life insurance premiums are paid over a long period, cash can be withdrawn to help supplement retirement. Finally, permanent insurance is especially beneficial for those who have difficulty saving money. The overfunding mentioned above provides "forced savings." Probably 80% or more of us need that. Buying term and investing the difference sounds like sound advice. But most spend the money and have little to show for it down the road.

u. s. bennett of TX @ Aug 19, 2009 11:51:12 AM

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