Guide
Term vs. permanent life insurance
What each kind is for, what it costs, and why most families start with term.
Term life pays a death benefit if you die within the term—usually 10, 15, 20, 25, or 30 years—for a fixed monthly payment. After the term ends, coverage stops or converts at a much higher rate. It is the lowest-cost way to buy substantial coverage for the years your family depends on you.
Permanent life (whole life, universal life, and variations) is built to last your lifetime and accumulates cash value. Premiums are much higher for the same death benefit, and the cash value grows slowly at first. It fits people with permanent needs: a dependent who will always need support, estate liquidity, or business succession.
How to choose
Start with the need, not the product. If the need has an end—a mortgage that will be paid, children who will be grown—term coverage aligns with it naturally. If the need lasts forever, permanent coverage or a term policy with conversion rights may work. Many carriers allow term-to-permanent conversion without new medical review during a conversion period; the quote tool shows each carrier's conversion options.
What people in Azusa often do
A standard approach is a 20- or 30-year term policy covering the household's actual obligations, reviewed as life changes. It keeps premiums affordable so you can buy enough coverage now, which is what counts. Susman Insurance Agency can discuss permanent options if you have lifetime needs.