There are similarities between whole of life insurance and term insurance in that both forms of life insurance pay out a specified sum to the bereaved when the person whose life is insured passes away. However the similarity stops there. Whole of life policies pay out whenever the insured dies, regardless of when that is, whereas term insurance policies only pay out if the insured party dies within the specified time frame of the policy.

Owing to this fact term insurance, especially short term term insurance can be significantly cheaper. This is due mainly to the fact that it will only run for a specified period and there is a chance that the life assured will not die during this period. However due to the fact that whole of life insurance will run for the whole of the life of the client there is somewhat of a guarantee that it will definitely pay out some day and for that reason it is more expensive.

This is not the only reason why they can be more expensive, though. Due to the fact that some of the policies contain an element of investment which will add to the cost. You should realize at this point that whole of life insurance would not make for a very good savings plan, and if this is what you are looking for, then you would be better off exploring other avenues for securing an investment on your money.

The main reason that this type of insurance builds up an investment element is so that it can always meet the ever changing cost of the life assureds risk of dying. When you take out a life insurance contract the life insurance company has to work out the chance of you dyeing and then cost the plan accordingly. With whole of life contracts this costing exercise can be very difficult as the life company does not know what is going to happen in the distant future, with that in mind if they can build in a buffer zone by way of an investment element it should assist them with the changing costs of covering you well into the future.

Now this is all understood I can now get into the important bit of telling you how you can make it cheaper. Again with a lot of whole life contracts there are three levels on which you can quote the plan based on premiums and another three based on benefit. They are essentially the same but owing to the fact that some people want a specific premium level and some people want a specific sum assured they have set the plans up in this way.

Let us first look at premium based maximum benefit plans. The quote is basically formulated with the goal of producing the best benefit based on a particular premium payment. Therefore you will be receiving the best benefit possible for the lowest possible premium. However, this sort of plan is only available for 10 years, after which the plan is subject to review. This will result in either the premium going up or the sum assured going down, depending on the review. The investment element usually suffers a bit with this sort of plan, so do not expect a great return for your investment here.

Next is standard cover this will generate a quote that should be maintained throughout the life of the contract. This is the best type of whole of life insurance quote as it will more than likely be the most accurate long term premium as the life insurance company is giving you the quote based on what they think the cost of cover will be for the duration of your life.

The last option is minimum assured cover. This will definitely be the most expensive option as it depends primarily on investment to create cover. As such, there is little contribution towards a life insurance policy. Before embarking on this sort of plan, it is extremely advisable that you discuss it with your financial advisor first. If investment is the way you have decided to go, there are better performing and more cost effective options available to you than using a whole of life insurance policy to do it.

It is important to know that sum assured plans also work on the basis of minimum premium for maximum payout. For example, standard premium gives standard cover, and maximum premium for minimum cover. Regardless of this, it is always most advisable to seek out the expertise of an independent financial advisor when considering level term or whole of life insurance cover as they will be best able to give you good advice as to what to choose. Remember, your family will be thankful of the time spent when they actually need to use your life insurance.

In conclusion, then, by opting for either maximum cover or minimum premium when going for whole of life insurance, there are definitely savings to be made. But you should keep in mind that the true cost will need to be met at some time during the span of your whole of life insurance policy. That said this is still a good way of at least getting some form of life insurance cover at a rate that is affordable to you now. It will at least give you some form of reassurance and comfort for what will lie ahead in your future.

There comes a time when each one of us will need life insurance. Whether it is to cover a loan or a mortgage or just to make sure that your loved ones future is cared for life insurance plays a part. The aim of this article is to help in your understanding of which type of policy to best suit your needs and circumstances when the time comes.

You should recognise exactly why you are purchasing life insurance in the first place. By doing this you will be more certain of what sort of policy you will require. If you require a mortgage you may opt for term insurance, for family security it could be term or whole of life insurance, and if you are concerned about inheritance liability there is a policy known as gift inter vivos. So you can see why you should review your circumstances.

Once you have decided what suits your circumstances it’s time to go and find the best premiums you can obtain. There are several different ways to go about this. Firstly you could obtain your life insurance directly through a certified business, or you could enquire whether your bank could facilitate you, or you could seek the services of a financial adviser, or you could surf the net to get the deal you require.

However, you need to be careful. Do as much research as possible before making any final decision as some of these routes do offer impartial advice on life insurance, but many do not. The key is to look after number one and be well informed.

The first port of call will most probably be to a life insurance company. The main benefit of dealing in this way is that you will have a face to face meeting with a company representative which makes it personal, real, and reassuring. But it is worth bearing in mind that the policy you will be offered will be a standard one- you will not benefit from any offers. Also the choice of policies on offer will only be ones that are in that particular company’s portfolio.

The banks, again these can be popular for the same reason as the life company they are well known, but again owning to the fact that they will be affiliated with one life company they can only offer their products which will limit your choice at the end of the day.

Using a financial advisor can be extremely beneficial, but ensure that the advisor you use is an independent one. If not, you are in the same position as you would be with an insurance company or bank as they will only show you products available from the insurance company with whom they are associated. An independent advisor, on the other hand, will be able to trawl all the policies available from all providers and will use their expertise to advise you on the right policy to suit your individual needs.

This leaves us with the option of the internet to discuss. Now it should be stated from the outset that it is only really an option if you have already done your research and know exactly the type of policy you require, given your present circumstances and future aspirations. That done, a few minutes on the internet will yield an almost limitless range of options for you to choose from, from the comfort of your own home, and with as much time as you require. Also, you are more likely to get a less expensive policy online than you would through an insurance company because there is no middleman.

So to summarise, do your homework know what you want, how much and for how long. Find a route that works best for you. If you go on the internet use a site that will give you real time quotes from a range of life companies. Try not to use sites that just have a form and get back in touch with you with a list of quotes as they may want to try a hard sell on the phone. Above all if you need help click on the contact button on the site, most companies have qualified advisors available to discuss your requirements and it should not effect the premium so you may get the best of both worlds.