Life insurance does one job: it replaces an income or covers a debt when you're not there. That's it.
If somebody — a spouse, a kid, an aging parent — would feel a hole in the household budget if you weren't around, you probably need a policy. The harder questions are how much, what kind, and for how long.
We answer those without trying to sell you the biggest premium we can.
Carriers we work with for life and supplemental: Mutual of Omaha (anchor), Germania Life, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, and Aetna. We shop across the panel to fit health history, risk class, and the right policy structure.
Term vs. whole life — in plain English
Term life — pays a death benefit if you die during a fixed window (10, 20, 30 years). Cheapest option, no cash value, premium is locked in. Right for most working-age families with a mortgage and dependents.
Whole life / permanent — covers you for life, builds cash value over time, premium is higher. Right in narrower situations: estate planning, business succession, or cases where you've maxed out other tax-advantaged savings.
Final expense — small whole-life policy ($10K–$25K) designed to cover funeral costs and final medical bills. Right for older adults whose mortgage is paid off and whose kids are grown.
Most families we work with end up on term. A handful end up on whole. We won't talk you into one if the math says the other.
How much coverage makes sense
A common rule of thumb is 10–12 times your annual income. That's a starting point, not a finish line. The real question is what your household actually needs covered:
- The mortgage balance, so the family doesn't have to move
- Years of replaced income while kids are still in school
- College, if that's part of the plan
- Final expenses (typically $10K–$15K)
- Existing debts that aren't tied to assets
We do that math with you, in twenty minutes, with no pressure to come back with a "yes" the same day.