Three Big Ways That Life Insurance Can Be a Lifeline
Life insurance not only provides a safety net for loved ones and leaves behind a lasting legacy, but the cash value can also help during financial hardship.


The importance of life insurance transcends monetary value by encapsulating emotional reassurance, legacy preservation and strategic financial planning.
While it is a crucial part of the financial planning process, it is also something that is often overlooked. According to Life Insurance Marketing Research Association (LIMRA), at least 106 million Americans, or 41% of Americans, don’t believe they have enough life insurance coverage.
Without life insurance, you may pass away with financial obligations that become the responsibility of your heirs. While there is no one-size-fits-all approach, here are three ways that life insurance can help:

Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free E-Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
1. Creating a cash safety net and providing emotional security.
By carving out a pre-determined sum of money, life insurance helps ensure that dependents are not burdened with insurmountable financial challenges when a loved one passes away. Without this safety net, families might find themselves in the worst-case scenario of grappling with financial hardships, potentially jeopardizing their future and well-being.
Additionally, the peace of mind that life insurance can provide during unpredictable moments is invaluable. For example, if the main breadwinner in a relationship suddenly passes, the family will have a source for income replacement if their financial situation takes a turn for the worse. Knowing that loved ones will be cared for, debts will be settled, and dreams will be realized can help alleviate anxiety and foster a sense of stability for all.
2. Leveraging cash value.
Having a life insurance policy also serves as a strategic financial tool, offering tax advantages and investment opportunities. Depending on the type of policy selected, individuals can leverage life insurance to accumulate cash value over time.
This cash value component provides the flexibility for policyholders to access funds for various purposes, such as supplementing retirement income, covering unexpected expenses or pursuing lifelong dreams. However, it is important to note that withdrawing funds from your policy reduces the death benefit for your heirs if it is not paid back.
Earlier in my career, I worked as a financial adviser and wrote a policy for my client that included an investment feature to create cash value growth. That cash value was eventually used by my client when their business was struggling, providing them with much-needed liquidity when financial institutions would not. The liquidity allowed them to turn their business around, with enough success that they could repay the policy loan in full.
3. Leaving a lasting legacy.
The legacy that life insurance can provide may come in many different forms, from ensuring quality education for children to leaving behind an inheritance that can support future generations.
When working with the previously mentioned client, I had to deliver a life-changing $2 million check when they unfortunately became widowed. This experience allowed me to see firsthand the lasting legacy and support that their life insurance policy provided. The death benefits from her husband’s policy gave my client the means to provide for their two young children and money to support their business needs.
This one policy served as both a cash safety net in troubled times while her husband was living and a conduit for allowing their aspirations and accomplishments to endure when he was gone.
In essence, life insurance empowers individuals to live fully, knowing that legacy will endure, and loved ones will thrive, regardless of life's unpredictable twists and turns.
Related Content
- If You’re Retired, Do You Still Need Life Insurance?
- Five Financial Changes That Happen When Your Spouse Dies
- Are You Too Young for Life Insurance?
- What Is Indexed Universal Life Insurance and How Does It Work?
- Want to Feel Better About Life Insurance? Go Digital
Profit and prosper with the best of Kiplinger's advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and much more. Delivered daily. Enter your email in the box and click Sign Me Up.

Steve Sugumele manages the distribution of Life and Long-Term Care solutions for Citi Personal Wealth Management in the U.S. His teams provide estate and insurance planning solutions, including business succession funding, wealth conservation and transfer strategies for high-net-worth individuals, business owners and professionals. He has over 25 years of experience managing teams and working with advisers and their clients in the institutional and retail spaces.
-
Dow Rips 846 Points to New All-Time High: Stock Market Today
Fed Chair Jerome Powell seems ready to cut interest rates in the fall but will still rely on incoming economic data about inflation and employment.
-
Test Out Your Retirement Before You Call It Quits
It's not easy to take a retirement back. Before you make the plunge, test the waters with these tips.
-
When You Need Capital Quickly, Think 'Ready, Set, Fund': A Financial Adviser's Strategy
Investors must be able to free up cash to meet short-term needs from time to time. This strategy will help you access capital without derailing your long-term goals.
-
I'm an Estate Planner: Moving Family Assets to a Safe Haven Abroad Could Be a Huge Headache for Your Heirs
In troubled times like these, wealthy clients may seek financial refuge outside of the U.S. But that could cause more tax and estate problems than it solves.
-
Fall Is Tax Time? Yes! Act Now to Make Needed Adjustments
Review your withholdings, contribute to tax-saving HSA and FSA accounts, manage a bonus' impact and adjust for major life events such as weddings and job changes.
-
Board Service in Retirement: The Best Time to Join a Board Is Before You Retire
Many senior executives wait until retirement to take a seat on a corporate board. But making this career move early is a win-win for you and your current organization.
-
A Financial Professional's Take on Long-Term Care Insurance: Buy or Not?
Unless you have about $6,000 burning a hole in your pocket every month, you should make a plan in case you need long-term care. Luckily, you have options.
-
How to Unearth Sustainable Investment in Mining: A Financial Professional's Guide
Mining is likely to play a critical role in the global transition to more environmentally friendly energy resources. Here's how you can balance the opportunities and the risks.
-
Don't Be a Sucker: The Truth About Guarantor and Cosigner Agreements
There are significant financial and relationship risks involved if you agree to be a cosigner or guarantor. Make sure you perform your due diligence, and know exactly what you're getting into, before agreeing to such a commitment.
-
The Hidden Risk Lurking in Most Retirement Plans: Human Behavior
What's one of the differences between a good financial adviser and a great one? The ability to use behavioral coaching to guide clients away from emotional decision-making and toward retirement success.