different stages

Reaching different stages in your life that require protection

The appropriate level of life insurance will enable your dependants to cope financially in the event of your premature death. When you take out life insurance, you set the amount you want the policy to pay out should you die – this is called the ‘sum assured’. Even if you consider that currently you have sufficient life assurance, you’ll probably need more later on if your circumstances change. If you don’t update your policy as key events happen throughout your life, you may risk being seriously under-insured.

As you reach different stages in your life, the need for protection will inevitably change. How much life insurance you need really depends on your circumstances – for example, whether you’ve got a mortgage, you’re single or have children. Before you compare life insurance, it's worth bearing in mind that the amount of cover you need will very much depend on your own personal circumstances, such as the needs of your family and dependants.

What you need to ask yourself:

• Who are your financial dependants – your husband or wife, registered civil partner, children, brother, sister, or parents?
• What kind of financial support does your family have now?
• What kind financial support will your family need in the future?
• What kind of costs will need to be covered, such as household bills, living expenses, mortgage payments, education costs, debts or loans, or funeral costs?

There is no one-size-fits-all solution, and the amount of cover – as well as how long it lasts for – will vary from person to person.

These are some events when you should consider reviewing your life insurance requirements:

• Buying your first home with a partner
• Covering loans
• Getting married or entering into a registered civil partnership
• Starting a family
• Becoming a stay-at-home parent
• Having more children
• Moving to a bigger property
• Salary increases
• Changing your job
• Reaching retirement
• Relying on someone else to support you
• Personal guarantee for business loans

Enable loved ones to maintain their current standard of living

The price you pay for a life insurance policy depends on a number of things. These include the amount of money you want to cover and the length of the policy, but also your age, your health, your lifestyle and whether you smoke.

If you have a spouse, partner or children, you should have sufficient protection to pay off your mortgage and any other liabilities. After that, you may need life insurance to replace at least some of your income. How much money a family needs will vary from household to household, so ultimately it's up to you to decide how much money you would like to leave your family that would enable them to maintain their current standard of living.