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[H402]History Of Life Insurance

by Sharon Taylor, Sha

Life insurance is a subject that brings on many different opinions. While some believe it is a waste of money or even considered gambling, most people understand that life insurance is primarily used to ensure that your family or beneficiary is well taken care of upon your death. Life insurance also ensures that your family will be able to take care of your burial and funeral expenses.

While there are many different types of policies as far as life insurance is concerned, term life insurance is considered to be ?pure insurance? because it builds no cash value like other policies. While some life insurance policies are used as a type of savings or retirement account, term policies are in place for a specific amount of time and only paid out in the event of death. Term life is the most practical and unselfish way to ensure no one has to worry about how to take care of you in the event of your death.

History of Life Insurance

As with most things ancient, Rome recorded one of the first life insurance policies in existence. Roman groups called Fratres (or burial clubs) came together to establish this form of security for their workers. These policies were set up by the poor to pay for the funerals of fellow club members and to help the surviving family financially.

The first insurance company in the United States was started in 1735. This South Carolina based company, called the Friendly Society, lasted until 1740. In 1759, the first life insurance company was established in Philadelphia by the Synod of the Presbyterian Church. It was started for the benefit of Presbyterian ministers' families. As with the Romans, the basic financial needs of surviving family members would be taken care of.

As far as ancient times, society has known that those who are left behind need some sort of financial security upon a loved one's death. Undoubtedly, it seems that even in ancient times, burial and funeral expenses alone were enough to wipe away a family's savings. In the case of a family being impoverished, a proper burial might even be out of the question.

While no one likes to think of death and dying, term life insurance is something that is very much needed. The trauma of losing a loved one is obviously emotionally and mentally draining and at least a life insurance policy allows the added financial burden to be eliminated. Choosing the right policy to accommodate your needs is the key to planning a secure future for your family.

Most Practical Choice

If you are looking for a simple way to look after your family after your passing, term life insurance seems to be the most practical way to go. With even a minimal policy, you can ensure that your family will be able to pay for burial and funeral expenses. If you have children, hopefully your policy will enable them to attend college or perhaps your family's house can be paid off.

With the advent of the Internet, it is easy to study the various types of term life insurance available online as well as the requirements that each carrier might have. You can obtain fast quotes online as well. Some term life insurance companies even offer ?no medical exam? policies or ?cheap? policies that are affordable. Terms usually run in 10-year periods ? 10, 20 or 30-year policies are the norm.

Life insurance offers every consumer a way to take care of loved ones for years to come, even if he or she won't be around to put food on the table. The basic idea of life insurance is that during an insured person's lifetime, he or she makes monthly payments to an insurance company. When the insured person passes away, the beneficiaries of his or her policy, usually immediate family members, make a claim and the insurance company writes them a check for the value of the policy. In many cases, the amount the beneficiaries receive is higher than the amount of money the customer put into the policy.

There are two basic kinds of life insurance. The first, called term life insurance, is bought for a discrete period of time at a fixed premium. It includes nothing above or beyond a basic death benefit. This is an increasingly popular form of life insurance. The second kind of policy, known as a whole life insurance policy, is a bit more complicated. A customer contributes to his or her whole life insurance policy on a monthly basis for the duration of his or her life. The premiums fluctuate over time, and tend to follow a gentle upward curve as the customer ages. In addition to including a basic death benefit, whole life insurance includes an investment component that is meant to help the customer grow his or her wealth. This makes whole life insurance substantially more expensive than term life insurance, but many people argue the increased fees are worth it because you get more for your money.

How much life insurance you need has quite a bit to do with how much you can afford to spend on a life insurance premium each month; but it has equally as much to do with how much coverage your family's lifestyle and situation requires you to have. It is a good idea to try to provide your beneficiaries with a policy that will offer them enough to cover your funeral expenses and to continue to meet their living expenses for as long as possible without facing financial hardships. There are multiple worksheets available online that can help you make an educated estimate as to how much coverage you should aim for, but it is crucial that you discuss your situation with an experienced and trustworthy professional before you make any firm decisions about what kind of life insurance policy to purchase.

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About Author

Both Sharon Taylor & Gray Rollins are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.

Sharon Taylor has sinced written about articles on various topics from Dental Practice, Finances and Family Concerns. Sharon Taylor writes life insurance and other financial management articles for , a leading Internet resource for free life insurance rates, quotes and in. Sharon Taylor's top article generates over 33100 views. to your Favourites.

Gray Rollins has sinced written about articles on various topics from Property Investment, Guide Guitar and insurance agents. Gray Rollins is a featured writer for USAInsuranceCenter.com. To learn more about and. Gray Rollins's top article generates over 368000 views. to your Favourites.