Life Insurance Common Questions:
How much coverage do I need?
A common guideline is to buy a policy with a death benefit that is 10 to 15 times your annual income. We can help you calculate a number and a plan. 
 
What is the difference between Term and Permanent insurance?

• Term Life Insurance: Provides coverage for a specific number of years (e.g., 10, 20, or 30 years). It is generally more affordable and ideal for covering short-term obligations like a mortgage or raising kids.

• Permanent Life Insurance: Covers you for your entire life and generally builds cash value over time. Policies like Whole Life or Universal Life are more expensive but serve as a long-term financial asset.
   

Do I need a medical exam to qualify?
It depends on the policy. Many comprehensive policies require a standard medical exam, including blood and urine tests, to determine your health risk class. However, "simplified issue" policies do not require a physical; they are approved based on your answers to health history questionnaires
 
Can my beneficiaries be my children?
In California, minors cannot directly receive life insurance payouts. If you want to leave money to children, you should name a trust as the beneficiary or set up a guardianship to manage the funds until the child turns 18.
 
Do I need life insurance at all?
If any of the following statements describe your situation, you should consider a life insurance policy:

• Other people depend on my income: You don't have to be your family's primary wage earner – if people would feel economic hardship without you, they depend on your income. If you're single but planning to get married and have children in the next few years, your answer to this question may also be "Yes."

• I have debts that others would be responsible for if I die: Do you have student loans that your parents will have to repay if you can't? A car, mortgage, business, or personal loan with co-signers? If so, a life insurance policy can help keep you from burdening a loved one with thousands of dollars in debt payments.

• I don't have enough savings or assets to cover all my obligations: Most individuals don't have enough saved to fully pay off their debts and support family members in their absence. So, if you're like most adults with financial obligations and changing financial needs, you may want to consider buying life insurance.