I Just Graduated. Isn’t It Too Early to Talk About Life Insurance?
by Kirk Cremer |
First of all, congratulations! All your hard work has finally paid off, and you’ve been rewarded with that sweet certificate. So, what’s next?
Whether you’re continuing your education, entering the workforce or settling down with someone special (or all of the above), life insurance should be part of your plan. You may be thinking, “But I’m young! Isn’t life insurance for older people?”
Life insurance may not seem like a priority right now, especially with competing financial concerns, such as saving for your first big purchases or paying off your student loans. But being a young adult means you’re entering a new stage of life. Here are a few reasons to consider purchasing life insurance now, depending on your personal situation.
A New Graduate
Just finished school and looking for a job? We get it—money is probably tight. However, consider a term life insurance policy, which is generally one of the least expensive options. It will likely never be more affordable than it is now—and it’s probably less expensive than you think. If one of those terrible “it could never happen to me” things actually does happen, you won’t leave the financial burden of paying for your final expenses for your parents or loved ones to handle.
Entering the Job Market
If you’ve just started looking for a job, you may also be putting together a budget for the first time. Money has a way of disappearing quickly if you don’t keep track of your spending habits. Consider directing at least a portion of your pay toward long-term financial goals, like saving for retirement and purchasing a life insurance plan.
This is also an opportune time to explore the life insurance offered through your new employer. Typically, it’s equal to one or two times your salary, or it may be a set amount like $50,000. While employer life insurance on its own is generally not enough coverage as you get older and have more financial responsibilities, it’s still a great benefit to have. And did we mention that life insurance from your employer is usually free for you? So be sure to take advantage of it when you receive your new employee paperwork and assign the appropriate beneficiary.
Preparing for the Future
Graduation is often a time when other life milestones start taking shape as well. If you plan to buy a house, get married or have children, you can help protect your loved ones by purchasing a life insurance policy now.
You truly never know when the unexpected will happen. Take Summer Stokes’ story, for example. At 22 years old, Summer was managing her own household, working full-time and attending school with dreams of becoming a doctor. When she found out she was going to be a mom for the first time, she bought life insurance, even though her budget was tight and her mom, Coleen, originally advised against it. That ended up being the most responsible decision she could have made for her son, Nathan, and his future. Watch her story here.
Paying Off Your Debt and Expenses
Life insurance is also important if your parents co-signed for your student loans or other debt, such as a car. If something happens to you, your co-signers could be immediately burdened with the responsibility of taking over these payments. Life insurance can help alleviate or even eliminate these expenses.
Depending on your circumstances, there may be other final expenses like medical bills to pay as well. Life insurance could help cover these costs.
Why Should I Do It Now?
Getting life insurance as a recent graduate may present you with several advantages. During your application process, you’ll undergo something called underwriting. In a nutshell, the insurer looks over your health records and decides how likely it is that you will pass away. Based on this risk, you are either approved or denied. No one is guaranteed to be approved for life insurance, but you typically have a much better chance to qualify when you are younger and in good health.
Insurers also determine how much you will pay, which is called your premium. If you are younger and healthier, you will likely be offered a lower premium than someone who waited until they were older and their health has declined, even just a little.
Choosing Your Policy
So, we’ve convinced you to consider purchasing a life insurance policy? Great! The next step is to choose your policy.
Kirk Cremer is passionate about helping others and is in demand as a freelance writer, speaker and political commentator. He has also worked with some of the country’s leading insurance and financial services firms for nearly two decades.