What is the best length for term life insurance?

You should get term life insurance for a length of time that covers your major financial obligations and the years your dependents rely on your income, such as until your children are financially independent or your mortgage is paid off. Common term lengths are 10, 15, 20, or 30 years, with some insurers offering up to 40 years.

At what age should you stop term life insurance?

There isn't any age cut-off that makes life insurance no longer worth it; it's all about your personal situation. That being said, it is often worth having life insurance after 65 if you have dependents who rely on you financially.

Is it better to get 20 or 30 year term life insurance?

20-year term policies cost less than 30-year term policies with the same coverage amounts. However, if you're pretty sure you need coverage for 30 years, go with a 30-year term. The monthly life insurance premiums will be higher, but you will likely see cost savings over the entire three-decade span.

What does Dave Ramsey say about term life insurance?

Dave Ramsey strongly advocates for term life insurance, calling it the only smart option, to provide income replacement for dependents during a specific period, typically 10-12 times your annual income for a 15-20 year term, while avoiding expensive permanent policies that bundle investing with insurance. He stresses that life insurance isn't for wealth transfer but a temporary safety net, allowing you to invest the savings to become self-insured by the time the term ends. 

What is the best term life insurance length?

Many clients find that 20-25 years of coverage is a good starting point, as it provides protection during the prime earning and child-rearing years. However, your situation of wanting to be financially free by 65 makes a longer term policy worth considering.

How Much Term Insurance Do I Need?

What is the downside to term life insurance?

The main disadvantages of term life insurance are its temporary nature (it expires), the lack of cash value, and expensive renewals, as premiums jump significantly if you need coverage past the initial term, especially as you age and health declines, meaning no payout if you outlive the term. It's essentially "pure insurance" for a specific period, offering no investment growth, unlike permanent policies, and can become unaffordable if you still need it later in life. 

What does Warren Buffett say about life insurance?

Berkshire Hathaway owns companies like GEICO and General Re, and it invests heavily in life insurance operations. Insurance is not just a side business for Buffett. It is the foundation of his success. Buffett understands that insurance is about managing risk fairly and building trust.

How much does a $1,000,000 term life insurance policy cost?

Term life insurance with $1 million in coverage and a 10-year term length costs an average of $62 per month for men and $59 per month for women. Longer terms cost more because insurers take on higher risk over time. A 30-year term policy costs an average of $173 per month for men and $146 per month for women.

What is the 25 rule Dave Ramsey?

So a mortgage is the one kind of debt we don't yell at you for. But if you go that route, stick to the 25% rule—remember, that means never buying a house with a monthly payment that's more than 25% of your monthly take-home pay.

Why is whole life insurance a money trap?

Whole life insurance builds cash value, but here's the catch: It can take years—sometimes over a decade—before the cash value grows into a meaningful amount. Initially, most of your premiums are allocated to fees, commissions, and insurance costs.

At what age is term insurance best?

However, it's generally a good idea to consider purchasing term insurance in your 20s or 30s. This is because premiums for term life insurance are significantly lower when you're younger and healthier. The risk of disease increases with age, and this can lead to increased premiums or even denial of coverage.

What is the 7 year rule for life insurance?

The 'seven-pay' test

The IRS uses the “seven-pay” test to determine whether to convert a life insurance policy into a MEC. If you put too much money into your policy in the first seven years, it becomes a modified endowment contract.

What does $9.95 a month get you with Colonial Penn?

For $9.95 a month from Colonial Penn, you buy one "unit" of guaranteed acceptance whole life insurance, not a specific dollar amount of coverage, with the actual benefit amount depending on your age, gender, and state, generally for ages 50-85, featuring a two-year waiting period for natural deaths and no medical exams. 

What does Suze Orman say about life insurance?

Suze believes that permanent life insurance such as whole life or indexed universal life (IUL) are bad investments, much like other financial entertainers such as Dave Ramsey. In her opinion, she feels you would be better off investing the money you save by buying cheaper term life, than by investing in life insurance.

How much is a $500,000 life insurance policy for a 70 year old man?

For a 70-year-old non-smoking man, a $500,000 life insurance policy costs roughly $800 to over $1,000 per month for term life (depending on term length) and significantly more for whole life, potentially over $2,000 monthly, with premiums varying based on health, smoking status, and policy type. Term life offers coverage for a set period (e.g., 10, 20 years), while whole life provides lifelong coverage but at a much higher cost, with estimates for a 70-year-old man potentially reaching $25,000+ annually for whole life, says Aflac and Guardian. 

Which is better for seniors, whole life or term life insurance?

For seniors, term life offers affordable, temporary coverage for specific needs (like a mortgage), while whole life provides permanent coverage, a guaranteed death benefit, and cash value, making it better for lifelong security, legacy planning, or covering final expenses, though premiums are higher, especially when purchased later in life. The best choice depends on your financial goals, budget, and how long you need protection; term is for temporary needs, whole life for lifelong peace of mind. 

How much house can I afford if I make $70,000 a year?

With a $70,000 salary, you can generally afford a house between $210,000 and $350,000, but your actual budget depends heavily on your credit score, existing debts, down payment, and current mortgage rates, with lenders often following the 28/36 rule (housing costs under 28% of gross income, total debt under 36%). A good starting point is keeping your total monthly housing payment (PITI) under $1,633, but a lower Debt-to-Income (DTI) ratio and larger down payment increase your buying power. 

What is Dave Ramsey's 8% rule?

Dave Ramsey's 8% rule suggests retirees can safely withdraw 8% of their starting portfolio value annually, adjusted for inflation, by investing 100% in stocks, expecting a 12% average return to sustain withdrawals. This strategy is highly controversial, as it differs significantly from the traditional 4% rule, carries much higher risk (especially with early market downturns), and relies heavily on consistent high stock market returns, leading many financial experts to criticize it as unsustainable and overly optimistic. 

What does Suze Orman say about paying off your mortgage?

“You can always pay off the mortgage [with savings], but why not let the savings grow and make a nice interest rate because your mortgage is just going to continue to go down.” Orman's guidance highlights the importance of balancing financial security with long-term growth.

What happens if I outlive my term life insurance?

If you outlive your term life insurance, the policy simply expires, and coverage ends with no payout (unless you have a specific Return of Premium rider), but you can often convert it to a permanent policy, renew it (at a higher cost), or buy a new policy to continue protection. Since term insurance covers a specific period, it's designed to end, and you're essentially outliving the "term" you needed it for. 

How much can you sell a $100,000 term life insurance policy for?

A typical life settlement is worth around 20% of your policy value, but can range from 10-25%. So for a 100,000 dollar policy, you would be looking at anywhere from 10,000 to 25,000 dollars.

What is the $1 million death benefit?

What is a million dollar life insurance policy? A million dollar life insurance policy pays out a death benefit of $1 million to your beneficiaries if you pass away during the policy term. In exchange, you can pay premiums monthly or yearly to keep the policy active.

What does Suze Orman think of annuities?

David points out how Suze has wittingly demonized all forms of annuities – even the IRA and the Roth variety. While Suze is right saying that most annuities have surrender charges, she misses the entire point of why people usually get annuities: to get a guaranteed stream of income they can never outlive.

Do rich people invest in life insurance?

Yes, rich people absolutely use life insurance, often in significant amounts, but for sophisticated wealth management, estate planning (especially for estate taxes), tax-advantaged wealth accumulation (using cash value), liquidity, and to create an internal "family bank" for loans, rather than just simple income replacement, making it a key tool for preserving and growing fortunes across generations. 

What is Buffett's number one rule?

Warren Buffett's Rule No. 1 for investing is "Never lose money," with the crucial follow-up, "Rule No. 2: Never forget Rule No. 1". This core principle emphasizes capital preservation, meaning investors should avoid frivolous risks, only invest in businesses they understand (their "circle of competence"), and prioritize long-term value over short-term gains, making smart choices to protect their principal investment.