Life insurance is more than just a safety net — it’s a strategic tool that offers financial security, tax-free benefits, and coverage for final expenses. By understanding how life insurance can make your life better, you can take proactive steps to ensure a stable and secure future for yourself and your loved ones.
The role of life insurance in estate planning
Life insurance offers more than just peace of mind; it can be a pivotal estate planning tool. Here’s how life insurance can make your life better.
- Income Replacement
The primary benefit of life insurance is the financial security it provides by replacing lost income to those who depend on you. Adequate coverage provides your beneficiaries with the necessary funds to maintain their standard of living in your absence.. This can cover daily expenses such as housing, utilities, and groceries, which, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, averaged annual expenditures of $72,967 in 2022. Furthermore, life insurance can cover significant future expenses like college tuition.
- Tax-Free Benefits
An attractive feature of life insurance is the tax treatment of death benefits. Unlike most forms of income, life insurance payouts are not normally subject to income tax. This means the check your beneficiaries receive is not diminished by taxes, allowing them to use the full amount for their needs.
- Paying Estate Taxes
Life insurance is a great tool to pay taxes on estates large enough to incur state or federal estate taxes. This keeps what you’ve built intact.. With proper planning, the proceeds can avoid estate taxes as well. This is often structured through an irrevocable life insurance trust (ILIT) to avoid the insurance proceeds being taxable within the estate.
- Supplementing Retirement Savings
Certain types of cash value life insurance policies can add an additional layer of tax-deferred financial security, accumulating cash on a tax-favored basis. Some options can even avoid market fluctuations. Over time, this cash value can be used like your own personal family bank, providing another avenue of financial flexibility for both you and your loved ones.
- Securing a Legacy
Life insurance plays a pivotal role in ensuring that a policyholder’s legacy and intentions for their heirs are preserved. With proper planning, both the life insurance proceeds as well as the rest of your estate can avoid the complicated probate process. Additionally, trusts and endowed funds can be set up, ensuring financial support for future generations and extending the family legacy.
Not just life insurance, but the RIGHT life insurance
Proper life insurance coverage is vital, and there are several different types of life insurance policies available. With so many different choices and alternatives, you could find great benefit from an easy to understand life insurance policy assessment. At Stratus Financial Partners, The Policy Analyzers®, we provide independent, unbiased reviews of your insurance portfolio that put you confidently in the driver’s seat. That way you can make informed decisions and be certain both you and your beneficiaries have the best and most appropriate answers for your particular situation.
Call us today for a free consultation..