TechKnowable
The loss of a loved one can be devastating to your family. It can cause financial hardship in addition to mental pain. With the correct life insurance coverage, you can help safeguard your family in the case of a terminal illness or an unexpected accident. While the policy you choose will depend on your unique position and financial demands, the finest life insurance policies will provide comprehensive coverage as well as the freedom to make modifications as needed.
When you get life insurance, you must name beneficiaries who will receive financial assistance after you pass away. Your premium, which is a defined amount, can be paid monthly or annually, and after your death, the beneficiary will get a specific amount of money (also known as the death benefit). The size of the death benefit and the length of the coverage period are two factors that influence the cost of your premium.
Basic life insurance and life insurance bundled with a quasi-investment product are the two types of life insurance products available. Whole life, universal life, perpetual life, and any policy with a cash value component are all bundled products that are generally more expensive and difficult. For most people, term life insurance, a sort of basic life insurance, is the most affordable and straightforward option.
“I want to focus on term insurance if I need to make sure my family or business is protected in the event of my untimely death,” said David Gastwirth, an insurance specialist with American Business. “It’s the cornerstone of one’s insurance strategy.”
Term life insurance death benefits normally range from $100,000 to $3 million, which should be sufficient to fulfill the majority of people’s needs. (You can purchase a term life insurance policy with a $5 million benefit in some instances.) If all other factors are equal, Gastwirth advocates getting additional coverage because the cost of a life insurance policy rises as you get older, and if you acquire health issues later in life, you may become uninsurable.
The optimum time to acquire life insurance is when you’re young and healthy, but as you get older, it becomes increasingly vital. Most experts advise purchasing a policy with a death benefit of 10 to 12 times their annual salary and a term long enough to cover living expenses as well as future financial obligations like house payments and college tuition.
The term length and size of the death benefit define the cost of the insurance, as well as the price of your monthly or annual premium. Your health and age at signup, gender, whether you smoke, and where you live are all factors that may come into play. Adults under the age of 40 who are in good health can expect to spend $25 to $50 per month for a 20- or 30-year term life insurance plan with a death value of roughly $500,000.
From 25 life insurance firms, we evaluated coverage features, customer service rankings, business stability, and the average price of a policy. For $23 to $32 per month (or $5,520 to $7,200 over the period), the six businesses listed below offer 20-year plans with a $500,000 death benefit. Larger businesses, such as Northwestern Mutual and State Farm, who are known for excellent customer service, provide the more expensive plans. Companies who do not sell plans to residents in every state were left off the list. This is how the finest among them compare.
Read More: Best Crypto Wallets for Crypto Investors and Crypto Exchangers
Best Life Insurance Companies
Table of Contents
Principal Financial Group
Principal Financial Group tops our list of the best life insurance companies because we believe it offers the best balance of inexpensive coverage and customer satisfaction. According to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, it placed fourth in J.D. Power’s 2019 customer satisfaction study and had much less customer complaints than the industry average.
Principal’s insurance coverage monthly premium, with packages containing universal life insurance, was the second least expensive of the businesses examined here. A healthy 35-year-old can get a 20-year, $500,000 term life policy for $23 per month, compared to the average life insurance rate of $25.80. Principal is a terrific insurance company for just about everyone wishing to ensure that their loved ones have additional financial stability, thanks to an A+ financial strength rating from A.M. Best and 140 years in the business.
Principal offers 10, 15, 20, and 30 year term life insurance plans with death payouts ranging from $200,000 to $5,000,000. Although the $200,000 minimum is higher than most, most people should select for a policy that provides at least $250,000 in coverage.
State Farm
State Farm’s pricing are comparable to Northwestern Mutual’s, but the latter’s more expensive policies have high customer service ratings and a wide range of term length options. You can also start the life insurance application process on the State Farm website, but you’ll almost always need to meet with a State Farm agent to complete your insurance product application. State Farm, like Haven Life, offers add-on riders that allow the policyholder to have a living benefit deducted from the death benefit cash value in the event of a terminal illness or disability.
Haven Life (MassMutual)
MassMutual, one of the largest and oldest insurance firms in the United States, backs Haven Life Insurance Agency’s coverage. But it’s the modern touches and unrivaled convenience that set this insurance agency apart from the competition.
Before approving your policy, most insurers need you to visit with a financial advisor or a life insurance product agent in person. (Some won’t even offer you a quote without first speaking with you on the phone.) Shopping for term life insurance, universal life insurance, or a permanent life insurance policy from the comfort and safety of your own home is a particularly appealing idea in the post-coronavirus era. Haven Life is one of the few life insurance companies that will sell you a policy without first needing you to consult a doctor or a lab. In the case of a handicap or terminal disease, Haven Life additionally offers policy riders that may allow you to receive a portion of a policy’s cash value death benefit.
The majority of clients will be required to complete a medical exam within 120 days of signing up, but coverage will begin as soon as they are accepted online. Your responses must be exact, since any inconsistencies could cause problems with the death benefit payment. The application should take no more than 15 to 20 minutes if you have a good awareness of your family’s (and your own) medical history.
Among all the providers provided here, Haven Life, a leading life insurance firm, had the lowest term life price quote. For a healthy 35-year-old, a 20-year, $500,000 coverage costs $22.34, compared to an average of $25.80. Haven Life offers 10- to 30-year term life insurance policies with coverage benefits ranging from $100,000 to $3 million to assist provide financial security for your family. And MassMutual has a good track record when it comes to customer service and financial stability.
Read More: 4 Ways Apps Are Changing Our Everyday Lives
Nationwide
Nationwide does not win any life insurance coverage categories outright, but it routinely rates high in all life insurance product plans, with an offering that is close to Principal Financial Group’s. The costs of the life insurance firm are competitive, with options for term life insurance, universal life insurance, whole life insurance, and variable life insurance. The insurer is well-known for its excellent customer service and financial stability. It also has a much larger number of riders than many of its competitors.
Banner Life/Legal and General America
Legal and General America, the American branch of the British global financial services corporation, issues Banner Life insurance plans. Despite the fact that Legal and General was not featured in JD Power’s poll, the life insurance firm has been around since 1836 and has a strong reputation for customer service and affordability. This organization offers term life insurance as well as universal life insurance, which is a sort of permanent insurance. It’s also one of the few companies we’ve encountered that provides terms of up to 25 years.
Northwestern Mutual
Despite the fact that each of these life insurance companies has a reputation for excellent customer service, Northwestern Mutual is widely regarded as the best. Northwestern Mutual, the country’s largest life insurer, topped JD Power’s 2019 customer satisfaction study and was named by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners as having the fewest customer complaints on average among all life insurance coverage insurers.
The majority of Northwestern’s term insurance plans are between 10 and 20 years long. Benefits range from $100,000 to $5 million, however, a company representative told me over the phone that they’re continually launching new products and that you should talk to a financial advisor about which life insurance program is best for you.
Northwestern has excellent customer service, but its plans, which include term life insurance, whole life insurance, and universal life insurance, are not inexpensive. There are numerous of more affordable life insurance plan options, with quotations that are around 20% more than competitors’. However, if you value excellent customer service, Northwestern is the greatest option.
