Purchasing life insurance is a complex process no matter how you seek out quotes. Because there is a lot of information involved and a lot of decisions to make, there is no right answer for where to find quotes. What matters is throughout the process, you get all of the information you need to make an informed decision based on your lifestyle.
Getting an online quote is easy
The big question is how much life insurance do you need. Jeff Rose, is a certified financial planner offers a some good info in a post he did. As he points out there are some general rules of thumb you can follow based on your age. Or you can get more specific my summing up all your expenses and potential income needed for your surviving spouse. Doing the latter calculation can be a real eye opener of how short you might be on your life insurance coverage. I know it was for me.
Getting Quotes Online
The Internet does provide a good resource for locating life insurance agents whom you may not otherwise have found searching through the phone book. The drawback is, since you have to enter personal information into the online forms, some people may not feel secure enough in the process. The accuracy of the online life insurance quotes will depend on the information you provide to the company.
You should always research several insurance companies to gather pricing and policy information. Going with the first company you find can be detrimental because you are not exploring your options. It can take time to fill out the various online contact forms for quotes but it also takes time to gather the same information by phone.
Reading the Fine Print
Because every individual has different requirements for their life insurance needs, you must commit to reading all of the information contained in the terms and conditions of the insurance agency. There are many components to a policy and many kinds of pricing for each type of policy. By exploring this information online, you’ll need to be sure to thoroughly read through all content, including the tiny fine print that often contains the most information.
Stick With Reputation
Because the Internet has provided an outlet for anyone to sell anything, it is in your best interest to research the companies from where you are interested in getting quotes before submitting anything personal. A simple Google search for ‘life insurance quotes’ will bring up thousands of search results. You can take the additional step and search out the specifics on the companies you find. Check with the Better Business Bureau to determine if any complaints have been filed against the company. Primarily you want to ensure you are dealing with a reputable company who is not out to simply take your money in a con scheme.
Spam Prevention
Some online insurance quote sites offer to find the best rates for you from a number of companies. While some of these sites can be effective, it can also be the start of a ton of junk emails after you have entered your information. A better idea would be to find the names of several insurance companies and go directly to their website for a quote. Contacting a company directly for quotes on insurance policies will also offer you better accuracy in your quote.
Low Price is Not Always Best
When seeking life insurance quotes online remember that not all policies are created the same for all people and price should not be the only factor in your decision. In most cases, you get what you pay for a cheap, ineffective insurance is not what you want to obtain. Study the different policies and speak with an agent if you have any questions or concerns before you commit to any policy or insurance company.