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Top 7 Reasons Why Millennials Need Life Insurance

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Top 7 Reasons Why Millennials Need Life Insurance

Young adults face unique financial challenges these days, from figuring out how to save for retirement to tackling crushing student loan debt. One of the things that millennials tend to put on the back-burner is having adequate insurance. In fact, the under 30 crowd is more likely to lack things like health and life insurance than older consumers. It’s easy to think you don’t need life insurance when you’re starting your career and you’re relatively healthy. However, you may want to check out these good reasons to buy it sooner rather than later.

1. It’s Cheaper

Life insurance premiums are based on several factors, including your age and overall health. It stands to reason that the younger you are, the less you’ll pay for coverage. This is especially true if you don’t smoke or have any preexisting health conditions. As a young and healthy person you pose less of a liability to the insurance company. If you wait until your thirties or forties to buy life insurance, you’ll see the monthly cost jump significantly. Looking at rates now can lock in a good rate for the rest of the policy, saving you money along the way.

2. Funerals are Costly

The average funeral costs between $6,000 and $10,000. Even if you plan for a more non-traditional funeral like an end-of-life party, someone will have to foot the bill. A relatively small life insurance policy can help do that.

3. You Don’t Want to Stick Your Family With Debt

Top 7 Reasons Why Millennials Need Life Insurance

It’s no secret that today’s grads are burdened with record-breaking levels of student loan debt. If something were to happen to you, it could fall entirely on your parents to pay off those debts. For example, if Mom and Dad took out a PLUS loan that you’re making payments on, the balance lands on their plate if you suddenly pass away.

For another example, let’s say you just got married and you’ve racked up credit card debt on a joint account. Or maybe you just bought a home for which you and your spouse co-signed a lease. You have to consider whether your spouse would be able to handle the load alone. Buying enough life insurance can take care of all these financial issues. That way your loved ones can have less stress to deal with in the event you pass away.

4. Some Policies Offer Built-In Savings

While many financial experts would likely recommend a term life policy for millennials, it’s worth taking a look at whole life insurance. This type of permanent insurance covers you until your death. It’s a bit pricier than term life when it comes to the premiums, but the policy grows tax-free and accumulates cash value over time. You can then borrow against that cash value down the road. The life insurance policy can act as a savings vehicle with relatively low risk. As a millennial, you likely have many years to accumulate savings and this kind of cash value policy can be a nice supplement to your nest egg.

5. You Have Kids

Most millennials are waiting longer to get married and have children. But if you’ve gotten an early start, you have to make sure your little ones will be taken care of in the worst-case scenario. This is particularly important if your spouse is a stay-at-home parent since they’d need the money to replace your income stream at least temporarily. Even if both of you work, life insurance could still come in handy when it’s time to pay for higher education costs down the road.

6. Your Employer’s Insurance May Not Be Enough

If you’re fortunate enough to land a job that offers an excellent benefits package, you may already have some life insurance through your employer’s plan. For millennials who don’t have a family, workplace coverage might seem like enough. Even so, buying a separate policy can still be a smart move.

If you were to develop a serious illness and couldn’t work, it can cover you if your employer’s policy lapses. Depending on the type of insurance you have, you may be able to borrow against it to cover your medical costs if you also lose your health insurance. Another insurance policy would also cover you in the event you’re laid off, you change jobs or your employer goes out of business.

7. Your Employer’s Insurance May Not Be the Best One for You

Top 7 Reasons Why Millennials Need Life Insurance

Even if you are offered life insurance through your employer, it might be more expensive to add coverage than to buy a separate policy. The rates may actually be higher through the group life insurance offered by your employer. It also might not offer the features that you care most about. Plus, most employer-sponsored policy premiums increase sharply after age 35.

Bottom Line

Managing your money in your 20’s usually involves a lot of trial and error. But learning as much as you can about the basics gives you an advantage. Life insurance especially may be the last thing on your mind. However, it’s definitely something that all millennials should consider as part of their larger financial plan.

Tips for Managing Money in Your 20s

  • Start saving for retirement. While retiring might be the last thing on your mind as you embark on your career, the sooner the start the more you can save, thanks to compound interest.
  • Make a financial plan. A financial advisor can help you identify your financial goals, whether that be buying a home or paying off debt, and the steps you’ll to take to achieve them. A matching tool like SmartAsset’s can help you find a person to work with to meet your needs. First you’ll answer a series of questions about your situation and goals. Then the program will narrow down your options from thousands of advisors to up to three registered investment advisors who suit your needs. You can then read their profiles to learn more about them, interview them on the phone or in person and choose who to work with in the future. This allows you to find a good fit while the program does much of the hard work for you.

Sourecnoes: http://www.insurancequotes.com/health/millennials-and-insurance; http://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2014/03/07/millennials-in-adulthood/

Photo credit: ©iStock.com/Arand, ©iStock.com/danchooalex, ©iStock.com/gradyreese

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