Did you know that women are responsible for most consumer purchases? This includes items as varied as stocks, computers, and automobiles.
The financial planning marketplace is more diverse than ever, with women in various roles, including entrepreneur, professional, head of household, and primary caregiver. Women are highly educated and empowered when it comes to finances.
However, one area where women are still lagging behind men is life insurance. Only 44% of women have individual life insurance, compared to 56% of men.
There are several reasons why this may be the case. For one, many women still think that life insurance is something that only breadwinners need. But this is not true.
Life insurance is an essential financial tool for anyone with dependents, regardless of gender. If you have a spouse, children, or other family members who rely on your income, then life insurance can help ensure that they are taken care of financially during your death.
In addition, women tend to have longer life expectancies than men, meaning they may need life insurance coverage more than their male counterparts.
So if you’re a woman who doesn’t have life insurance, what are you waiting for? Here are seven things to consider before buying a policy:
- Your Needs The first step in buying life insurance is to assess your needs. How much coverage do you need? This will depend on many factors, including family size, income, and debts. For example, if you have young children, you’ll need enough life insurance to cover their expenses until they are adults. Likewise, if you’re the primary breadwinner for your family, you’ll need enough coverage to replace your income. And if you have significant debts, such as a mortgage or student loans, you’ll need enough life insurance to pay off those debts in the event of your death.
- Your Budget Once you know how much coverage you need, you can start shopping for life insurance policies. There are various types of life insurance, and each has its own set of benefits and costs. Term life insurance is the most affordable type but only provides coverage for a specific period. On the other hand, whole life insurance is more expensive but provides coverage for your entire life. Universal life insurance is a type of whole life insurance that also offers flexibility in how you use your policy. For example, you can use it to save for retirement or to cover unexpected expenses.
- Your Health Your health is another crucial factor to consider when shopping for life insurance. You’ll likely qualify for lower premiums if you’re in good health. However, you may be charged higher premiums or even denied coverage if you have a pre-existing health condition, such as diabetes or high blood pressure. This is why it’s essential to shop around for life insurance before you need it. It may be too late to get the coverage you need if you wait until you’re sick or have a pre-existing condition.
- Your Family History Your family history is also essential regarding life insurance. If you have a family history of illness or disease, you may be charged higher premiums or denied coverage.
- Your Age Age is another essential factor to consider when shopping for life insurance. The younger you are, the less expensive your premiums will be. However, your options may be limited if you wait too long to buy life insurance. This is because most life insurance policies have an age limit, typically between 65 and 75.
- Your Job Your job is another factor affecting your life insurance premiums. For example, you may be charged higher rates if you have a dangerous job, such as a police officer or firefighter.
- Your Lifestyle Your lifestyle is also a factor in determining your life insurance premiums. You’ll likely pay higher rates if you smoke, drink alcohol, or engage in risky activities like skydiving.
The bottom line is that life insurance is an essential financial tool for anyone with dependents. So if you’re a woman without life insurance, get coverage immediately.
Empowered Women Move Forward
Women have come a long way in recent years, but there’s still progress to be made. One area where women need to catch up to men is financial security.
According to a recent study by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), only 52% of women say they are “very” or “somewhat” confident in their ability to save for retirement. This compares with 65% of men.
Considering what was indicated above, women still have a lot of work to do regarding financial planning and security. Part of the problem is that women still need the same information and education as men regarding financial matters.
This has to change. Women need to be empowered to take control of their finances and move toward a bright future.
Final Words
The bottom line: women need life insurance just as men need it. If you’re a woman without life insurance, get coverage immediately. You never know when you might need it.
