You’ve put money aside for your child’s health, education and financial well-being. You secured those funds with life insurance. Now the kids are out on their own, making you and your spouse empty nesters. This lifestyle change will have a major impact on your financial situation and life insurance needs. Do I Need Life Insurance? The quick answer is “Yes!”. There are numerous reasons why empty nesters should maintain adequate life insurance coverage. To wit: - Your children may not be financially independent. Your child may be away at college or out of high school and still depend on you financially. Life insurance can offset expenses your child may incur if you were to die. It is important to remember that Social Security benefits are not available once your child graduates from high school.
- To cover Social Security gaps. Social Security does not provide benefits to a surviving spouse from the time his or her youngest child leaves high school until the surviving spouse applies for retirement benefits at age 60. This period of time is called the “Blackout Period”. After your death, life insurance is an excellent way to cover expenses that arise during the Blackout Period.
- Your early death means lost income. Lost income can result in lower Social Security benefits and lower payouts from retirement and other investments. Life insurance can offset these shortfalls.
- Dependents other than children. You have an ongoing need for life insurance if you have a spouse, adult child, elderly parent or other beneficiary, such as an organization or charity, that depends on you financially.
- For emergencies, unplanned expenses & financial obligations. An empty nest usually leads to reduced monthly household expenses. However, you likely will have a mortgage, perhaps a home equity loan and other financial obligations that must be repaid if you die. These expenses may be dependent on two-incomes—one that is no longer available. Your death also may prompt unplanned expenses, such as funeral and estate taxes, which can cost thousands of dollars. Without life insurance these expenses may drain valuable savings.
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