Why You Should Review Your Life Insurance Policy Every Year

Buying life insurance is an important first step, but it's not a one-and-done decision. Your life changes, and your coverage should change with it. An annual policy review takes less than 30 minutes and can prevent your family from being underinsured when they need protection most.

What to Review

Start with your beneficiary designations. Are they still correct? Have you gotten married, divorced, had children, or lost a family member since your last review? Outdated beneficiary designations are one of the most common problems in life insurance — and they're easily preventable with a quick annual check.

Next, review your coverage amount. Has your income changed significantly? Have you taken on new debts (mortgage, car loan, business loan)? Have you had more children? Each of these changes affects how much coverage your family needs.

When to Increase Coverage

Consider increasing your coverage when your income has increased substantially, when you've purchased a new home or refinanced, when you've had or adopted a child, when you've started a business, or when you've taken on significant new debt. These are all triggers that indicate your current coverage may no longer be sufficient.

When to Decrease Coverage

You may be able to reduce coverage (and save on premiums) when your children have become financially independent, when your mortgage is paid off or nearly so, when your savings and investments have grown significantly, or when debts have been eliminated. Reducing coverage should never be done impulsively — make sure you're truly past the need before lowering your protection.

Check Your Policy's Performance

For permanent policies (whole life, universal life), review the cash value growth, dividend performance (for participating policies), and any outstanding policy loans. Make sure your universal life policy's funding level is on track — underfunded UL policies can lapse unexpectedly. For term policies, check how many years remain in your term and start planning for what comes next before the term expires.

Review Your Health

If your health has improved since you bought your policy — you quit smoking, lost weight, or a health condition has resolved — you may qualify for lower rates. Contact your carrier or agent about a rate review or reclassification. You don't need to buy a new policy; many carriers will adjust your rate based on improved health.

Contact Your Agent

An annual call or meeting with your insurance agent is the easiest way to conduct a thorough review. Your agent can evaluate your current coverage against your needs, identify gaps, and suggest adjustments. Many agents send annual review reminders and are happy to meet in person, by phone, or by video.

Life insurance is a living part of your financial plan, not a filed-and-forgotten document. Thirty minutes once a year ensures your family's protection keeps up with your family's life. It's the simplest financial habit that makes the biggest difference.