Term life
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- Inflation and term life
understanding inflation's effect on life insurance
So like thousands of other Americans every day, you're running a term
insurance quote online.
Based on your age, area, and other key demographic information, a list of
life insurance rates appear on the screen.
Since it's term life they're relatively inexpensive so you consider
increasing the amount or extending the duration.
The numbers jump up quite a bit.
You're looking for that gut sense as to what feels more do-able.
Stop right there!
Before you answer that question, let's first analyze the powerful effect that
time has on that life insurance quote and your future ability to pay for it.
Read further below on inflation protection options in life
insurances!
You can quote inflation protection options here:
By definition, term life contracts will generally require that you pay the
premium over a period of time...and quite possibly, a long period of time.
15, 20, 30 year term periods are pretty standard depending on your
particular needs.
Even 15 years is a long way from now.
Go back 15 years ago and picture where you were.
Yes...it's that length of time we're discussing.
Funny things happen over such long stretches of a person's life and we're not
talking about the widening of certain dimensions or a graying up above.
Money changes over that length of time as well.
What exactly does that mean?
Well, thanks to a nasty little term called inflation, your dollar is
losing value each and every year (or at least during most years).
On average, the value that a dollar has or essentially, what a dollar is able
to buy is reduced with time.
The average is probably around 3-4% annually.
So that dollar is really worth about 97 cents 12 months from now.
That may not sound like a big deal but multiply that by thousands or
hundreds of thousands of dollars or better yet, multiply that percentage by 5,
10 or even 15 years.
You can see how the impact can really add up over time.
How does this affect our term life insurance rates and needs?
Effect of Inflation on Life Insurance
Term life insurance is quite different from most other products you buy in
that the rate you pay is generally fixed.
It doesn't change over the period of time...even long periods of time.
It might as well be the only product that behaves this way.
When's the last time your cable bill was flat for years.
Even food prices go up over time.
This fixed price function of term life insurance is unique and it adds
some interesting kinks to the decision on how much term life insurance to
purchase.
First, never purchase more term life than you can afford.
It defeats the purpose to "over-insure" and cancel the policy later on.
That being said, keep in mind that inflation will be de-valuing not only the
benefit you expect to receive but the premium you expect to pay.
Let's take a look at both sides.
First, the Benefit
Let's say you make $50K annually now and you want to adequately cover the
next 10 years in terms of income replacement.
You come up with $500K.
You're making decision based on today's value of money and today's financial
needs.
Let's go out to the end of the term, 10 years from now.
Assuming an annually inflation rate of 4% (hopefully), that's a 40% decrease
in the real purchasing value of that $500K benefit if it's needed in the last
year.
Really, that benefit will feel like $300K does today.
The longer the period, the more pronounced this decrease in value.
In some respects, it might still work out since you figure that you were able
to earn the other 9 years if you don't trigger benefits until the 10th but it's
important to keep this inflationary effect in mind.
Now let's look at the other side of the arrangement.
In the above example, let's say the $500K benefit cost you $50 monthly. Maybe
$1M term life benefit would cost you $85/monthly.
On one hand, that's $35 more per month.
Now, let's go out 10 years from now.
That $50 premium will really feel like $30 in today's money (due to
inflation).
That $85 will fee about like the original $50.
Inflation can work on both fronts and in the case of premium, it's in our
favor.
When you're running your
term insurance quote, especially for longer periods of time, make sure to
keep in mind the power of inflation both for and against us in the decision.
Inflation Protection in Life Insurance
There is a way to protect your future self financially.
Almost all life insurance plans offer some level of inflation protection
options.
There is generally simple and compounded options.
Some of the newer plans even have riders where you can buy up inflation
protection every few years.
Do these make sense?
It depends on a few factors but the length of the policy is primary.
Inflation effect is cumulative.
It builds over time!
Five years won't see much affect.
30 years will see a tremendous impact.
Our recommendation?
You can check the cost difference right through our online life quote tool
but some guidance would help here.
Everyone's situation is completely different.
With 25+ years experience, we can quickly find the best inflation protection
value for you.
Again, there is absolutely no cost to you for our services. Call
800-710-0455 Today!