Guide
Term vs. permanent life insurance
What each kind is for, what it costs, and why most families start with term.
Term life provides a set death benefit if you die during a set period, usually 10, 15, 20, 25 or 30 years, with a level premium. When the term ends, coverage stops or renews at a much higher annual rate. It is the least expensive way to buy a large benefit for the years a family needs it most.
Permanent life (whole life, universal life and their variants) is structured to stay in force for your lifetime and builds a cash value inside the policy. Premiums are considerably higher for the same death benefit, and the cash value grows slowly in early years. It suits people with lifelong needs: a dependent who will always need support, estate liquidity, or a business succession plan.
How to choose
Many carriers let you convert term to permanent without new medical underwriting during a conversion window; the quote tool shows each carrier's conversion terms. Start from the need, not the product. If the need has an end date, a mortgage that will be paid off, children who will be independent, term coverage matches it cleanly. If the need never ends, a permanent policy or a term policy with a conversion option may fit.
What people in Pacifica often do
Susman Insurance Agency can discuss permanent options if a lifelong need is part of your picture. A common approach is a 20- or 30-year term policy sized to the household's real obligations, reviewed when circumstances change. It keeps the premium low enough to buy an adequate amount now, which is what matters most.