Term Life: Coverage for a set period (10, 20, or 30 years). It's affordable and simple—think of it as renting protection. Once the term expires, you're back at square one unless renewed (often at higher rates).

Permanent Life (like Whole Life or Indexed Universal Life): Coverage for your entire life (or age 100-120, whichever comes first), typically with a cash value growth component. Consider it the difference between renting an apartment and buying a home—you build equity along the way.

The standard industry guideline is typically 8-12 times your annual income. But the best way is to perform a "Needs Analysis," calculating factors like debt, income replacement, education costs, and funeral expenses. Or just enough to ensure your spouse won't sell your prized golf clubs at a garage sale.

We tend to lean on the side of Maximizing your Policy so you can leave a legacy for your loved ones.

Life insurance death benefits are typically income-tax-free, making it an efficient financial tool. Uncle Sam doesn't usually crash your funeral looking for his cut, thankfully!

Estate taxes may apply if your estate exceeds certain amounts, but with strategic planning, even this can often be avoided. This is why it's important to work with an agency like ours to ensure the IRS doesn't interfere with your legacy planning.

Indexed Universal Life is a permanent life insurance policy combining a death benefit with cash value accumulation tied to a stock market index (like the S&P 500). It’s designed to offer upside potential without exposing you directly to market losses. Think of it as a roller coaster with safety rails—you enjoy the thrills but avoid catastrophic drops.

Upside: You participate in market growth through indexing methods, subject to caps, floors, and participation rates.

Downside Protection: Typically includes a guaranteed minimum interest rate (often 0%), ensuring you don't lose money in down years. Your account value won't suffer if Wall Street takes a nosedive—making it ideal if you're allergic to volatility-induced heartburn.

The best day to buy life insurance is yesterday. The second-best is today. The worst day? "Too late."