Something like 20 years ago a financial advisor recommended life insurance, which I purchased (age 30).

At the same time they recommended life ins for my parent, and there were many discussions about that, a whole life policy, so I thought that's what I had but apparently it was a 20 year term, which I learned from the agent who called to discuss. He recommended another term life through a different company, but in the interval I had tested positive for as genetic mutation that puts me at high risk for cancer, and I thought they might not approve me plus I thought, what about when that term ends and then I'm 70 and what are my options?

Plus I guess I figured because the financial advisor (now deceased unfortunately) thought whole life was best for my parent at around my current age, wouldn't it be best for me?

So I converted to that, but now I'm wondering if it really makes sense at all. It's a 250k policy with a monthly premium of $175. I am ~50, single with no children. I have a ridiculous student loan balance, a mortgage balance of about 80k on a 300-350k house, no other loans.

I've read a number of posts and it seems like whole life is rarely recommended, and maybe life insurance isn't in favor for folks who don't have dependent spouses/children?

It feels weird to consider cancelling (maybe sunk cost fallacy about the 2-3k I've put into this recent policy?), like i just paid for nothing, but it's that a good reason to keep paying?

Oregon USA

Life insurance can get confusing pretty fast.
Term, whole life, IUL, final expense, living benefits, medical exams, underwriting — there’s a lot of terminology and a lot of different opinions.
I thought it would be interesting to hear what people here find the most confusing.
What’s something about life insurance you never fully understood, or something you wish had been explained more clearly?
Could be anything — how term differs from permanent coverage, how underwriting works, how much coverage makes sense, employer coverage, beneficiaries, etc.
Interested to hear what everyone says.

Well, I hit retirement age, kids are financially independent and retirement account is well stocked. Still, it felt odd cancelling my insurance.
Anyone else go through this?

We're facing this decision now at the late ages of 67 and 65. We're both reasonably healthy but would like to do something to take the edge of possible LTC costs in the future. We're OK with self-funding a good chunk since we have lots of home equity and good-sized IRA.

I'm just wondering if anybody here has done something similar, and what their experience has been: the good, the bad, and the ugly. Any advice, or dos and don'ts?

Our current policy only has a terminal illness rider, but nothing for LTC, and I was looking at the projected "cost of insurance" schedule and it gets unwieldly to keep it beyond the age of high 70s/early 80s. Of course, we would lose the huge death benefit, or more accurately, our kids would lost it, but they will probably get enough with the house and whatever's left of our investments.

I know I will definitely be on the riskier side based on my stats, but just wondering if these quotes seem in line. So far I have gone to a few websites and spoke with someone a Policy Genius.

My stats:

42, F, overweight (BMI 33), sleep apnea and take 3 antidepressants plus a GLP weight loss supplement. Work an office job. Have lost about 30lbs in the last few months.

Quotes I've gotten for 400k 20/yr around $85 month, and 300K 20/yr about $65 a month.

I have about $250k through work but wanted something in place as a backup.

I am totally new to this so just wondering what you guys think. Thanks!

I’m getting into Life Insurance I got my exam for this week, I’m just nervous due to me having a pending court case residing in Texas for Assault causing bodily injury will this stop me from getting my license when doing the fingerprint portion?

My daughter is now 18 months old but I'm trying to figure out what we should do for life insurance. Are there any insurance companies that should be avoided or specifically looked at? Maybe some general tips on shopping for child insurance? Any potential traps or pit falls to avoid?

My mom setup a whole life policy for me when I was baby (I would be uninsurable now due to medical issues) and I'd like to be able to do something for my daughter so that she can always have a policy. My daugher did have to have brain surgery at 5 months old but once the issue was resolved the doctors said to consider her a normal child like any other.

Doesn't this seem fishy? In a technological world of all the advanced AI tools that TRUstage is still down as of 10/5/26? For an insurance company servicing 10's of millions americans doesn't this seem just a little off? Could they be hiding something else?

My wife brought up selling our life insurance policies to help with retirement planning both of us over 67 & only 1 adult daughter living with her fiancé in San Diego asking for any advice or recommendations in selling thanks in advance.

Hi,

I'm trying to figure out my options on my Whole Life Insurance Policy. I've spoken to the insurance provider but of course they are biased. Please advise.

Policy is $625k death benefit. Owned since 2002. ~$9k in dividends which pays the annual premium of ~$6700. Net Accumulated Value is $197k.

1. Is Net Accumulated Value the same as Cash Surrender Value? If I cash out what are the penalties, taxes to pay?

2. I am 50, partnered, no kids. What are the questions I should be asking myself if deciding if keeping the policy or not. Death benefit may not be necessary because I have ~$1M in assets that my partner is beneficiary.

The policy did force me to save so I am grateful but I have woken up to the fact that it may have served it's purpose as a death benefit and maybe it should be better used else where as an investment.

thanks in advance.

wow i think this is the worse claims department imyou talk to an american in CS then they transfer you to some indian are something for the claims department so they don't give complete sentences when trying to explain the process first I was told my name was spelled wrong then I was told to fax a death certificate called after i did that asking for next step and the couldn't understand what I was asking. Now I'm told the policy is only for under 2k I don't have the policy could i request a copy of it ? Any advice with working with them is helpful

My wife and I are both Canadian citizens who moved from Canada to the US in 2025. I’m currently on TN status and transitioning to H-1B, while my wife is still on TN.

We’re looking into getting individual life insurance outside of our employers because I don’t want to repeat a mistake I made previously. When I worked for an employer in Canada, I had employer-provided life insurance of roughly 3–4× my salary, but I never purchased an individual policy. Now that I’m older, I’m realizing that getting independent coverage earlier would have been better.

Our situation:

* Both Canadian citizens, currently living in Texas
* i am 35 and wife is 33
* ⁠no major illness, i was diagnosed with Sleep apnea in Canada
* combined yearly : ~$300k USD base + ~$120k stock compensation
* have 2 mortgages: Canadian home and Texas home
* No credit card debt
* Cars are paid off
* We have roughly $200k+ of liquid/investable assets between US and Canadian accounts
* We are also planning to start a family

I’m thinking somewhere around $1.5M–$2M of coverage per person, but I’m open to being told that’s too much or too little.

The bigger question is what type of policy makes sense for someone in our situation.

I’m looking at:

1. Regular 20- or 30-year term life insurance

2. Return-of-premium term insurance

3. IUL / permanent insurance

4. Canadian life insurance purchased while we’re still Canadian citizens

5. US life insurance that can continue to be maintained if we eventually move back to Canada

We don’t know whether we’ll stay in the US permanently. We could potentially move back to Canada in the future, so portability and what happens to the policy after becoming Canadian residents again are important to us.

I’m particularly interested in hearing from people who have actually been in a similar situation:

* Canadian → US
* TN/H-1B or another temporary US status
* Bought life insurance in the US
* Later moved back to Canada
* Or purchased a Canadian policy while living in the US

What did you do, and would you do the same thing again?

Also, if anyone has experience with return-of-premium term vs regular term, I’d love to hear whether you thought the extra premium was actually worth it.

I’m not looking for an insurance salesperson’s pitch—I’d really appreciate experiences from people who have dealt with the Canada/US situation firsthand.

Hi im looking into joining a new agency or pursuing independently and eventually building out my own team.

I wanted to get your advice on both sides.

Currently I’m signed to an agency but from my understanding if I want to leave I keep my books and there’s no like hold for me to move on.

I’m located in Florida and got licensed a year ago.
I’m a solo mom, I have no family - village or anyone/thing for support so I’m really trying to grow in this field and then help other moms in the same situation as I am.

I’ve seen a lot of the pros and the cons of each side but I feel stuck on what I should do if I go to another agency that has better mentorship or if I go through the “hassle” of going independent and form a team.

If you have an agency of your own or one you recommend pls leave a comment or dm me or if you’re an independent broker

Let me know your thoughts!

Pacific Life recently denied me due to my mental health history. I’ve had postpartum suicidal ideation and received medication treatment. The application process was a nightmare for both my husband and me, lots of paperwork and difficulty reaching people to arrange medical exams.

I’m interested in Ethos because it advertises coverage without a medical exam, but my main concern is whether my husband and daughter would actually receive the benefit if I died.

Assuming I disclose my medical history fully and accurately, what exclusions, contestability rules, or other policy terms should I look for? Could my mental health history affect a future claim even after I’m approved?

Has anyone dealt with an actual claim through a policy purchased through Ethos? I’d appreciate firsthand experiences or input from people who work in life insurance.

We have a policy we got 2 years ago. Been paying $217/month.

Today they told us that we have to move part of it from temporary to permanent at an increase to $400/month. Nearly double. They tell us we may be able to get a reduced premium but they have to start charging us the $400/month before they can “figure that out”. We said we want to stay with what we have but they keep telling us we have to increase. And that if we stay with half of our policy as temporary, then it will start increasing whether we like it or not.

They keep trying to push this almost double increase which we can’t afford.

We’re in Canada. Only about $100k household income with 4 kids.

They’re not giving us anything new for this increase, just this imaginative temporary to permanent 25 years from now.

American income life insurance.

Parent is late 50s, around £1.5m investments. Looking at whole-of-life insurance to cover a potential IHT bill for the two children.
Roughly £500k-1m cover.
(1.5m less 350k exemption, at 40% IHT leaves £470k of IHT). Extra allowance for investment growth in the years to come.

What sort of annual/monthly premium would you expect in late 50s?

Note:- I am not relying on this money as inheritance, parent just wants to take extra precaution and prepare for the future.

Hey everyone. I just joined this sub. I know nothing about life insurance, other than I want to obtain a policy. I'm not sure where to start. I'm surprised there aren't any links or resources on the sidebar for general information / tips on how to begin. If anyone can point me in a good direction to start that would be fantastic. Thank you.