Guide
Term vs. permanent life insurance
What each kind is for, what it costs, and why most families start with term.
Term life provides a fixed death benefit during a set period (usually 10, 15, 20, 25, or 30 years) for a level premium. When the term ends, the policy stops or renews at a higher rate. It is the cheapest way to buy a large benefit during the years when a family needs it most.
Permanent life (whole life, universal life, and variants) stays in force for your lifetime and builds cash value inside. Premiums are much higher for the same benefit, and the cash value grows slowly in early years. It is right for lifelong needs: a dependent who will need support forever, estate taxes, or business succession.
How to choose
Start with the need, not the product. If the need has an end date—a mortgage that will be paid off, children who will be independent—term coverage lines up cleanly with it. If the need lasts forever, a permanent policy or a term with a conversion option might be better. Many carriers let you convert term to permanent without new underwriting during a conversion window.
What people in Delano often do
A practical approach is a 20- or 30-year term sized to the real obligations of your household, reviewed when circumstances change. It keeps premiums affordable enough to buy adequate coverage now, which is what matters. Susman Insurance Agency can talk through permanent options if your situation calls for lifetime coverage.