Understand the terms of your life insurance policy

Understand that most life insurance companies offer a range of different payment options to your beneficiaries. If you think those you leave behind would be better off receiving periodic payments, then this is something you have to decide now. You can choose to give the lump sum or to break it up.

Understand the terms of your life insurance policy before purchasing, and make sure you are getting the coverage you need. A financial planner can help with this, but you can also educate yourself easily. Understanding the terminology used helps you make better life insurance choices and ensures your policy provides the coverage you are expecting.

When purchasing a life insurance policy, be truthful on all medical exams or history profiles. Should anything happen and the carrier discovers you provided false information when purchasing a policy, they can legally deny a claim which defeats the purpose of buying life insurance. Letting your insurance company know about any pre-existing conditions or risky hobbies, may result in slightly higher premiums, but prevent problems with claims.