Life Insurance
in West Des Moines, Urbandale and Throughout Iowa
Life insurance is a guarantee that your family will be financially protected in the unfortunate scenario of your passing away. If your life insurance benefits are adequate, the money will help assist your family in taking care of some of your uncovered final expenses and will provide them with long-term monetary assistance.
McCartan Insurance Group, Inc. provides world class life insurance coverage options for your unique needs. Our knowledgeable and experienced agents will ensure that your coverage is comprehensive and affordable. We will make certain that your family is taken care of no matter when you might pass away.
Call us at (515)633-2273 or click here to get a quote on potential life insurance coverage.
Common Life Insurance Questions
How Does Life Insurance Work?
Life insurance is a guarantee that your loved ones will be financially secure and cared for when you aren’t there to do so.
A life insurance policy guarantees that a sum of money, or death benefit, will be provided to a surviving beneficiary upon your death. The money you designate varies depending on the policy you have and the amount of coverage you choose, but the settlement will help your family stay afloat and give them the opportunity to recover from your loss. They might use the money to pay off debts, cover a mortgage, fund a child’s education or meet any number of other obligations.
What is Whole Life Insurance vs. Term Life Insurance?
There are two primary types of life insurance:
Term Life Insurance: A term life policy provides a death benefit to your loved ones if you die during the policy’s term. This term might be a period of 10, 20, 30 or more years, depending on the expiration date of the policy. If you do not die during this time, then the policy does not pay, and will expire when the term ends. You will also have to reapply for a new policy if you want to continue to have coverage.
Whole Life Insurance: Whole life policies last for the remainder of your life once you enroll. They will not expire unless you stop paying for them. Additionally, these plans offer cash value investment opportunities, and the cash value component can enable you to receive a source of income during your lifetime (in addition to the eventual death benefit).
Several more specific policies also exist, including:
- Universal Life Insurance
- Final Expense Insurance
- Group Life Insurance
- Individual Life Insurance
- Key Person (Key Men) Insurance
- Long-Term Care Insurance
- Mortgage Protection Insurance
- Second-To-Die Policy
Speak to one of our agents to learn more about which type of policy is best for your needs.
How Much Life Insurance Do I Need?
The amount of life insurance you need is entirely up to you. For example:
If you want a policy to help pay for a child’s college education, then a 20-year term policy might be best for you. You can let the policy terminate at the end of the term, but you can rest assured that if you do die before your child graduates college, this policy will pay for their tuition and other expenses.
Many people tie the value of their life insurance policies to the value of their debts—mortgages, car payments, etc. If you die while these debts are outstanding, then your beneficiary can use the money to settle expenses.
Some people tie the benefit to their income and leave a certain number of years’ worth of their paycheck to their survivors. So, if you were to take your current paycheck and multiply it by ten, then your death benefit will provide ten years’ worth of income to your family.
Essentially, you get to choose your own death benefit, and our agents will provide continuous assistance in choosing the proper amount.
When Is the Best Time To Buy Life Insurance?
Many people choose to buy life insurance shortly after a big life event, like marriage or the birth of a child. However, it’s smart to consider purchasing life insurance if you have jointly-held debt or want to help your loved ones cover potential funeral and burial costs in the event of your unexpected death.
The best time to buy life insurance is as soon as you can afford to do so. Younger and healthier people tend to get lower premiums, which means choosing to purchase life insurance now could help you secure the lowest possible rate.
How Can You Use Life Insurance Money?
Life insurance policy beneficiaries can use money from a life insurance settlement for any purpose so long as they are of legal age. If the policy owner wants to control how beneficiaries use life insurance proceeds, it’s crucial to work with a professional estate planner to help put specific guardrails into place.
Is It Ever Too Early To Buy Life Insurance?
Many financial experts recommend purchasing life insurance as soon as you are of legal age. In general, life insurance costs less when the insured person is young and healthy.
Life insurance companies use information about an applicant’s age, sex, location, occupation and health history to determine rates. You may have a better chance of getting a lower premium when you are young because as people age, they tend to develop chronic health problems.
How Much Does Life Insurance Cost?
Depending on aspects such as age, income and chosen coverage, your life insurance premium can vary.
A common concern is that people worry about the affordability of life insurance, whether it’s because they have a pre-existing health condition or face other risk factors. Our agency takes this into account when working with you, and we can ensure that you will be provided adequate coverage no matter what your situation is.
How to Get Life Insurance
If you’re in need of a life insurance policy, we’re here to help. Give McCartan Insurance Group a call or request a quote online to get started.