What to ask a life insurance agent
Including the two questions people almost never ask.
Life insurance is a long contract, often decades. The questions worth asking are the ones about what happens in year fifteen, not the ones about this month's premium.
These are all fair questions, and any professional should answer them without friction.
About the policy
- Is this term or permanent, and why is that right for my situation?
- Is the premium level for the entire term, or can it increase?
- What happens when the term ends?
- Is there a conversion option, and what's the deadline?
- What's excluded, and is there a waiting period?
- What happens if I miss a payment?
About permanent policies specifically
If you're being shown a permanent policy, these matter considerably.
- What is guaranteed, and what is only projected?
- What does the illustration look like using guaranteed values only?
- What happens to cash value if I stop paying in year five? Year ten?
- How do policy loans affect the death benefit?
- What are the surrender charges, and how long do they last?
About the process
- Is an exam required, or is this accelerated or simplified issue?
- How long does underwriting usually take?
- What would cause my offer to differ from this quote?
- When exactly does coverage begin?
- What's the free look period?
The two questions people skip
**"How are you compensated on this, and does it differ between the products you're showing me?"** Commission structures vary between term and permanent policies. That doesn't make anyone dishonest, but you're entitled to know what incentives sit behind a recommendation.
**"What would make this the wrong policy for me?"** Anyone who understands the product can name a scenario where it doesn't fit. An answer of "nothing" tells you you're being sold to.
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This page is general information, not advice about your specific circumstances. A licensed insurance professional can tell you what’s actually available to you.
General information only, not insurance advice. Coverage, availability, and terms vary by insurer and by state, and are subject to underwriting. Quote My Policy LLC is a licensed insurance producer. Nothing here binds coverage.