Age and health
The two largest drivers of premium. Both only move one way with time.
Protection
Life insurance
The question is not how much life insurance you can buy. It is what would still have to be paid if your income stopped, and for how long.
What this actually is
Term insurance covers a set number of years for a level premium and pays a death benefit if you die during the term. It is the right tool for a mortgage, a young family or a business loan, because those obligations have an end date. Permanent insurance costs more and lasts for life, which suits estate and final-expense planning.
We size cover from obligations rather than from a rule of thumb: remaining mortgage, years of income your household would need, education costs, any business debt you personally guaranteed, and final expenses. Then we subtract what is already in place, including any group life through an employer.
For self-employed clients, group life is usually zero, which makes the individual policy the whole plan. For business owners we also look at key person cover and buy-sell funding, because a partnership without one is a problem waiting for a bad week.
What we do on this line
- A needs calculation built from your actual obligations, written down
- Term lengths compared at 10, 15, 20 and 30 years with the premium difference shown
- Fully underwritten and accelerated underwriting options, including no-exam where you qualify
- Conversion rights explained, so a term policy can become permanent later without new underwriting
- Beneficiary review, including per stirpes wording and naming a trust where that is appropriate
- Business cover: key person and buy-sell funding for partnerships
What moves the number
Price is not random. These are the levers, in the order they usually matter.
Term length
Match the term to the obligation. A 30-year term for a 12-year need is money spent on nothing.
Tobacco and nicotine
Including vaping. Carriers differ on how long you must be clear to be rated as a non-smoker.
Occupation and hobbies
Some trades and some hobbies are rated. Being upfront avoids a declined application.
How the appointment runs
- 01
Size it
Obligations minus existing cover. We write the number down together.
- 02
Shop it
The carriers on our panel, quoted at the health class we realistically expect.
- 03
Apply
Application and underwriting, with the exam arranged at your home if one is needed.
- 04
Review
Every few years, and after any birth, move, mortgage or business change.
Questions we get about life insurance
Usually not, and it stops when the job does. Group life is a useful base layer, not a plan. We count it and then size the gap.
Term for obligations with an end date, which is most people. Permanent for lifelong needs such as final expenses, estate liquidity or a special-needs dependent.
Often, at a rated premium, and carriers differ a lot on specific conditions. Telling us the real history up front is how we pick a carrier that underwrites it well.
Accelerated underwriting can be days. Fully underwritten policies with an exam commonly run four to six weeks. Your case may differ.
Often bought alongside
Critical illness and supplemental
Cash-benefit policies that pay you directly when a deductible is the least of your problems.
Read the detailSelf-employed health cover
Coverage built for 1099 income: variable earnings, quarterly taxes and no HR department to ask.
Read the detailGroup employee benefits
Small-group medical, dental and ancillary cover for teams of two to fifty.
Read the detailTwenty minutes usually settles it
Bring your prescriptions, the doctors you want to keep and a rough income number. We do the rest.
Our help is free to you. We are paid by the carrier you choose, and the premium is the same whether you use us or enrol on your own.