Endowments are investment-oriented policies that combine life insurance with an annuity. Endowments can either pay upon the death of the insured or at a specified maturation date.

An annuity is a contract with an insurance company in which the purchaser pays a specific sum of money, usually in installments. In return, the insurance company guarantees to pay the purchaser a fixed, regular income from a set date until his or her death.

Life insurance policies are most useful for the beneficiary who will receive money after a policyholder's death. Therefore, this is one way of planning for your family's future financial security and protection.

Because your insurance needs will be constantly changing, you should be aware of times you should consider reevaluation of your insurance plan. You may need to reevaluate your insurance plan at turning points in your life such as marriage or remarriage, divorce, birth of a child, death of a dependent or disability of a dependent.

Estate and financial planning are two ways of meeting your long-term financial goals. Planning involves evaluating your current financial situation, estimating the cost of your goals, and establishing strategies to meet them.

The main reason for life insurance is to supplement your income for your family in case of your death. Most young, single people do not invest in life insurance.

Though group life insurance is a substantial benefit if offered by your employer, you should remember that if you leave the company, you might also lose the insurance policy.

If you're wondering how much life insurance you need, your insurance agent can help. Your agent can perform a financial needs analysis and help you determine exactly what's right for you.

Many life insurance plans now offer investment programs such as annuities, trusts, bonds and money market portfolios. You may choose to invest your money conservatively at fixed rates in bonds and mortgages, or more aggressively, at variable rates.

A good way to plan for your retirement is through insurance plans offering investments such as annuities. An annuity is a plan in which you contribute regular deposits to your insurance while you are working.

Getting life insurance if you're over the age of sixty may be difficult. Many life insurance companies are hesitant to insure senior citizens. Life insurance plans offered by employers often contain provisions that reduce the benefits for employees at a certain age, usually sixty-five.

When applying for life insurance, many companies will require you to take a physical exam and ask you to fill out a questionnaire regarding your lifestyle.

Limited payment policies, also known as 'vanishing premium policies' are arranged so that you only make premium payments over a given period of time. After that period of regular payments, the policy is fully paid.

Participating and non-participating refer to whether or not an insurance company pays dividends to policyholders. If your insurance company is referred to as a mutual insurance company, then it does pay benefits to policy holders, and is therefore participating.

Life insurance is important for those with spouses and children who depend on the financial support of a family member. All income earners in a household should be covered by life insurance so that, in the event of death, the missing income can be replaced by coverage from the insurance policy.

Single premium life insurance is designed for one large lump premium payment for your life insurance. This can be very expensive, but in exchange for your one payment, you'll be insured for the rest of your life.

If you want a direct, simple life insurance plan that doesn't involve components of savings, then you probably want term insurance. Term insurance protects you for a specified 'term' which you'll decide on with your insurance agent, and doesn't have a cash value.

There are different types of life insurance policies available. Term insurance is the most straightforward and often least expensive type of life insurance coverage you can buy.

Life insurance coverage is important, but it's also important to know the kind of coverage that best fits your needs. Term insurance coverage is popular, and is usually the least expensive.

If you want to be able to control the frequency and amount of your life insurance premiums, a universal life insurance policy might be right for you. The insurance company will set a minimum cash value for your policy, after which you can vary the amount and frequency of your premium payments and even skip payments if necessary.

If you want to be able to control how your premiums are invested, a variable life insurance policy might be right for you. Variable life policyholders choose from a selection of investment funds including stock band and money market funds managed by the insurance company.

If you have children or own a business, it's a good idea to have life insurance. Life insurance will protect anyone that you support from financial disaster.

Whole life insurance is exactly what it sounds like. It's life insurance that lasts your whole life, or until you decide to cash it in early. You might want to consider the policy as an investment as well as an insurance policy.