Term Life Insurance or Whole of Life Insurance Policy?

When you buy life insurance its vital you get the right policy for your needs. With a plethora of web sites offering discount life insurance, it’s often easy to end up with a policy that is not suited to your unique needs and circumstances.

One of the questions that arise time and again is whether a term life policy or a whole of life policy is best, and what’s the difference between them.

Term Life Insurance Cover

Term life insurance is a bit like leasing a car. You pay cover for a predefined term, and are covered for that term. However, at the end of the term, whether for example its 15 years or 30 years the deal is done and you simply walk away. This means that term life insurance only offers protection for the duration of the mortgage, and is usually of little value once your mortgage is fully paid off.

Term insurance is generally cheap and is expected to fall over time providing you don’t suffer from a major disease. However, there are a number of different types of term life insurance policy.

	The first is known as level term cover, and it’s the most common type. With this form of policy the premium costs are locked in for as long as you hold the policy. In other words, you will pay the same amount throughout the entire term of the policy. Unfortunately, it means that as time goes by you could end up paying more for your life cover. However, the nice thing is that you get the benefit of paying at today's rates. However, bear in mind that over time these rates could fall instead of rise.
	The second type of term life cover is known as escalating term insurance. This type of scheme means that you pay an increasing amount each year, so the payout at death also increases. They are generally low cost policies, and are more suited to first time buyers and the young. However, they can become more expensive as you get older.
	The third type is known as decreasing term insurance. In this case your monthly payments will stay the same, although the amount of cover you receive will reduce each year.
	The forth type of term life policy is known as increasing term insurance. With this type of term life insurance the benefit on death increases. However, in order to make up for this increase you will need to increase your premiums at certain times, for example on the birth of a child, or as your financial circumstances improve.
	The fifth and final type of term life insurance is known as convertible term insurance. This type of term life policy provides a way for you to convert your policy into an investment/insurance policy in the future. With this type of policy the price of your future investment policy is based on your health when you bought the cheaper term insurance.

Whole of Life Insurance Policies

Whole of life cover covers you right up until your death. Provided, of course, that you keep paying your premiums! It can pay out a substantial benefit to your loved ones when you die, and it can also accumulate a cash value over time.

This type of policy is more expensive and complicated than term life policies. The investment you make earns some interest each year. So, providing your investment grows, your annual premiums can actually reduce over time. Also, there may come a time when the interest produced can cover all your future premiums, and as a result you may have no more premiums to pay on your policy.

However, it’s important to understand that the final cash-in-value of a whole of life policy may or may not equal the amount of money that has been paid into the policy over it’s full term.

Summary

When it comes to the decision of whether to choose a term life policy, or whole of life insurance cover, the ultimate decision must be guided by your individual needs.

The simplest form is a level term policy with a renewable option. This will allow you to get life insurance for as long as you may need it.

However, you may prefer a policy that offers a growing nest egg, that pays out while you are still around to enjoy it! Both types have their advantages and disadvantages, and careful consideration and advice from a competent insurance adviser is vitally important.