Which age group has the most need for life insurance?

Asked by: Elenor Bernier DDS  |  Last update: March 16, 2025
Score: 4.9/5 (47 votes)

People in Their 30's The majority of people start thinking about a life insurance policy when they reach the age of 30. The reasons are clear: many people decide to start a family at this age or already have a small child or children.

What age buys the most life insurance?

Gen X (ages 44-59) and Baby Boomer (ages 60-78) claim the highest percentage of ownership at 55 percent and 57 percent, respectfully. Millennial and Gen X generations are significantly more likely to own term life insurance when compared to younger and older generations.

Who has the greatest need for life insurance?

Perhaps the demographic with the greatest need for life insurance is young people who have become parents for the first time, according to Peter Colis, a life insurance executive and member of the Forbes Finance Council.

What age is best to get life insurance?

As we age, we're at increased risk of developing health conditions, which can result in higher mortality rates and higher life insurance rates. You'll typically pay less for life insurance at age 25 than at age 40. Waiting until age 60 may mean an even bigger rate increase and limited policy options.

Who buys life insurance the most?

70% of whole life insurance policies are bought by millennials and the boomer generation. 46% of millennials who purchased permanent products purchased a whole life policy, followed by a universal life policy (25%).

How Much Term Insurance Do I Need?

37 related questions found

Which person needs life insurance the most?

Who needs life insurance the most?
  1. Parents of young children. As a parent, the well-being and future of your children are always at the forefront of your mind. ...
  2. Stay-at-home parents. ...
  3. Small business owners. ...
  4. Couples without children. ...
  5. Caretakers. ...
  6. Empty nesters. ...
  7. Retirees.

Do people make a lot of money selling life insurance?

Annual income for a life insurance agent can vary from as little as $28,000 per year to as much as $125,000 per year. How much money you can make selling life insurance will depend on a variety of factors, including your own ability to convert leads to customers, as well as the area in which you live.

At what point is life insurance not worth it?

The point of life insurance is to replace your income when you die. If you don't have anyone who'll need that income when you die, then you don't need life insurance. Or if you're doing so well financially that you're self-insured, you're still good to go without it.

At what age do you drop life insurance?

Life insurance can provide peace of mind at any age, but isn't always necessary after age 60. To see if you need life insurance, assess your family's needs, your financial resources and assets, your outstanding debts and your long-term financial goals.

What does Dave Ramsey recommend for life insurance?

Core Ramsey Teaching: You only need life insurance while you have people depending on your income. Buy a 10–20-year term policy worth 10–12 times your annual income. Since life insurance is only for the short-term, you should only buy term life insurance. (Hence the name.)

Who is likely to have the least need for life insurance?

If you have no financial obligations at your death, have no spouse or dependents that rely on your income now or in the future, or you own no property or business that would need to be purchased at your death by your business partners or liquidated for income needs, then you may not need life insurance.

Who is considered high risk for life insurance?

Factors that make people high-risk applicants for life insurance
  • Heart disease.
  • Cancer.
  • Diabetes.
  • Chronic respiratory diseases.
  • Autoimmune diseases.

Who benefits most from life insurance?

Why is life insurance important? Buying life insurance protects your spouse and children from the potentially devastating financial losses that could result if something happened to you. It provides financial security, helps to pay off debts, helps to pay living expenses, and helps to pay any medical or final expenses.

How many years is best for life insurance?

For example, if you have a 34 year mortgage, you could take out life insurance for 34 years. If you have children, you may want to have cover in place until the youngest is likely to be financially independent, up to age 18, for example, or longer if you would like to account for higher education.

What disqualifies life insurance payout?

Life insurance proceeds can be denied. Some denials are legitimate, like in case of policy lapses, material misrepresentations, or exclusions in the form of illegal activities or war. In other cases, bad-faith insurers use elaborate methods to reject claims so they do not have to pay the proceeds.

What is the cheapest age to buy life insurance?

Young people tend to pay the lowest life insurance rates, whereas older people tend to pay the highest. Although there are exceptions — usually based on the health of the applicant — a 30-year-old will likely receive a lower premium quote than a 40-year-old.

At what age does life insurance not make sense?

At What Age Is Life Insurance No Longer Needed? Life insurance is no longer needed for many people once they reach their 60s or 70s. At this point they have retired, their kids have grown up, and they've paid off their mortgage and other debts.

Who does not need life insurance?

There are people who have saved up enough money to cover all the potential needs discussed above. Many either have no children or children who are financially self-sufficient. With few or no debts, no dependents, and a healthy nest egg saved up, life insurance might not be necessary.

What is the average cost of life insurance per month?

The average cost of life insurance per month is $26.

What is the major problem with life insurance?

Cons of life insurance

One disadvantage of life insurance is that the older you are, the more you'll pay for a policy. This is because you're more likely to pass away during the policy period than a younger policyholder and will, in turn, cost the life insurance company more money.

What's better, whole life or term life insurance?

Choosing between term and whole life insurance comes down to how long you want coverage and how much you can afford. Term life is more affordable but lasts only for a set period of time. On the other hand, whole life insurance tends to have higher premiums but never expires.

Does life insurance affect your credit score?

Getting multiple life insurance quotes won't affect your credit score, so there's no need for concern there. Ask the insurance company about the underwriting process and what type of credit inquiry they may perform. This can help you prepare for any potential impact to your life insurance application.

Why is life insurance so hard to sell?

Why Is Life Insurance So Hard To Sell? It's hard to sell because it deals with the topic of death. That's something many people find difficult to consider or discuss. Furthermore, it's hard to keep trying to sell because agents find that they can't make enough money to support themselves.

What is the most lucrative insurance to sell?

Life insurance is the most profitable—and the hardest—type of insurance to sell. With the highest premiums and the longest-running contract, it brings in cash over a long period of time. In the first year, agents make the largest annual sum on a policy, bringing in anywhere from 40–120% of the policy premium.

How much commission do life insurance agents make?

Typically, a life insurance agent receives anywhere from 30% to 90% of the amount paid for a policy (also known as the premium) by the client in the first year. In later years, the agent may receive anywhere from 3% to 10% of each year's premium, also known as "renewals" or "trailing commissions."