Characteristics of Term Life

Term life insurance is the simplest and most affordable form of life insurance. It provides pure death protection for a specified period without any savings or investment component.

What Is Term Life Insurance?

Term life insurance provides a death benefit if the insured dies during a specified term (period of time). If the insured survives the term, coverage ends and no benefit is paid.

Think of term life insurance like renting an apartment—you have protection while you pay, but you don't build equity.

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Key Characteristics

1. Pure Death Protection

Term life provides pure death protection—nothing more, nothing less.

• If the insured dies during the term → death benefit is paid
• If the insured survives the term → nothing is paid; coverage ends

There is no savings element, investment component, or cash value accumulation.

2. No Cash Value Accumulation

Unlike permanent life insurance (whole life, universal life), term insurance:

• Builds no cash value
• Has no surrender value
• Cannot be borrowed against
• Provides no living benefits (unless accelerated benefit riders are added)

3. Lowest Initial Premiums

Term life offers the lowest initial premiums of any life insurance type. This is because:

• No cash value component to fund
• Insurer pays claims only if death occurs during term
• Administrative costs are lower

Example comparison for a 35-year-old male, $500,000 coverage:

Exam Tip: Term life is often described as providing the "most coverage for the money" or "maximum protection at minimum cost."

4. Temporary Coverage

Term life provides temporary coverage—protection for a limited time period. Common terms include:

• 10 years
• 15 years
• 20 years
• 30 years

Coverage automatically expires at the end of the term unless renewed.

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When Is Term Life Appropriate?

Term life is ideal when coverage needs are temporary:

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When Term Life May NOT Be Appropriate

Term life may not be suitable when:

• Coverage is needed for the insured's entire lifetime
• The goal is to build cash value or savings
• Estate planning requires permanent death benefit
• The insured wants guaranteed lifetime coverage

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Term vs. Permanent Life Insurance

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Key Takeaways

• Term life provides pure death protection for a specified period
• Term policies have no cash value and cannot be borrowed against
• Term offers the lowest initial premiums of any life insurance type
• Coverage is temporary—it expires at the end of the term
• Term is ideal for temporary needs like income replacement and mortgage protection
• If the insured survives the term, no benefit is paid