Helpful Life Insurance Resources

Maybe you just bought a house.

Maybe you just got married.

Maybe you're worried about paying for your parents' funerals.

Life insurance is how you can help secure your family's financial stability. The coverage amount and policy type you choose will vary based on your purpose, needs, and goals. As you start to research your options, you'll find this resource list useful. I've gathered some of the best articles on the following life insurance topics:

• Understanding life insurance
• Types of life insurance
  
  • Term life insurance
  • Whole life insurance
  • Universal life insurance
  • Final expense insurance
  • Policy riders
• Buying life insurance
  
  • Purchase methods
  • Applications and underwriting

Understanding life insurance

Once you understand how life insurance works and its terminology, you can make confident decisions about what you need as you explore your options.

• Life Insurance Lingo: 8 Terms Everyone Should Know — Forbes
• Life Insurance 101: Everything You Need to Know — InfographicJournal
• Ultimate Guide to Retirement — CNN Money
• The Millennial's Quick Guide to Life Insurance — The Motley Fool
• Life Insurance 101: The Best Way to Protect Your Loved Ones — VolumeOne
• Understanding Types of Life Insurance — Best Company

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Types of life insurance

Life insurance falls into two categories: temporary and permanent life insurance. These policies meet different needs and goals. For example, term life insurance can be a good option if you just want to cover debt. Permanent life insurance is great if you want lifelong coverage. 

Life insurance policies can also be customized with riders to provide additional coverage or protect your policy. Some insurers include some riders in their policies as features while others offer them a la carte. Learn more about policy types and riders to see what might fit your situation best:

• Term life insurance
• Whole life insurance
• Universal life insurance
• Final expense insurance
• Policy riders

Term life insurance

• Buying Term Life Insurance Buys Peace of Mind — Forbes
• Term Life Insurance 101: An Inexpensive Way to Protect the Ones You Love – The Penny Hoarder
• What Is Term Life Insurance and Do You Need It? — DollarSprout
• 10 Things to Consider When Buying Term Life Insurance — Best Company
• Buyer's Guide: Term Life Insurance [Downloadable] — Best Company

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Whole life insurance

• Debunking the Myths of Whole Life Insurance — The White Coat Investor
• Whole Life Insurance: How Does It Work? — Military.com
• Whole Life vs. Term Life Insurance: What's the Difference? — TheStreet
• Here's Why You Should Avoid Whole Life Insurance Like the Plague — The Motley Fool
• 9 Things to Consider When Buying Whole Life Insurance — Best Company

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Universal life insurance

• Universal Life Insurance Policies Offer Flexibility… But There’s a Catch — The Penny Hoarder
• The Golden Rules of Buying Indexed Universal Life Insurance — Forbes
• What Is Universal Life Insurance and How Does It Work? — TheStreet
• When Is a Universal Life Insurance Policy a Good Choice? — The Motley Fool

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Final expense insurance

• Is Burial Insurance Your Best Option? — The Motley Fool
• Final Expense Insurance: What You Need to Know — Funeralwise.com

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Policy riders

• 12 Cheap (And Simple) Ways to Upgrade Your Life Insurance Policy — Forbes
• 7 Common Life Insurance Policy Riders — Best Company
• Which Life Insurance Riders Should Consider and Avoid — Leigh Insurance Agency
• Child Rider Life Insurance — LifeInsuranceBlog
• 5 Questions to Ask About Living Benefits — Best Company

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Buying life insurance

When you're ready to buy life insurance, you should understand the application and underwriting processes. Knowing what to expect will help you navigate the process. Some life insurance policies are guaranteed acceptance or do not require full underwriting. These policies can be bought online. If you want more guidance through the application process or a fully underwritten policy, you can work with an independent agent or directly with the insurer.

Applications and underwriting

• How to Apply for a Life Insurance Policy — Best Company
• Life Insurance 101: Underwriting — Military.com
• The Definitive Guide to Underwriting Life Insurance over 50 — LifeNetInsurance.com
• Why Is My Premium So High?: What You Need to Know About Life Insurance Underwriting — Best Company
• How Life Insurance Companies Get Intel on You — Forbes

Purchase methods

• How to Buy Life Insurance Online the Smart Way — FinancialMentor® 
• The Colossal Risk of Buying Life Insurance Without an Agent — Insurance Forums
• What Does a Life Insurance Agent Do? — Betterment
• What's the Best Way to Buy Life Insurance?: What You Need to Know About Buying from an Insurer, Agency, and Online Retailer — Best Company
• Life Insurance Brokers vs. Quote Comparison Websites — Best Company
• Top Life Insurance Companies (customer reviews) — Best Company