Life insurance guides
Life insurance questions, answered.
How much you need and which kind fits. Every guide lists its sources and the date it was last reviewed.
Final expense insurance
3 guidesHow much does a funeral cost? Line by line, with your rights
The NFDA 2023 study puts the median funeral with burial at $8,300 and with cremation at $6,280. See each line item, what is left out and your FTC rights.
Updated November 2026Social Security death benefit: the $255 payment and who gets it
Social Security pays a one-time $255 when a worker dies. See who can get it, the 2-year deadline, monthly survivor benefits, and other burial help.
Updated November 2026VA burial benefits: what the VA pays and what it does not
VA burial benefits can pay up to $2,000 toward a veteran's burial, plus free burial in a national cemetery. See who qualifies, how to apply, and the gaps.
Updated November 2026
Life insurance explained
11 guidesFinal expense insurance: how burial insurance works, plain and simple
Final expense insurance (also called burial or funeral insurance) is a small whole life policy. How it works, waiting periods, costs, ages and the traps to avoid.
Updated November 2026Full life insurance: how whole life insurance works, what it costs, and who it fits
Full life insurance is whole life insurance: lifelong coverage with a level premium and cash value. How it works, how it compares to term, and what to check first.
Updated October 2026Life insurance explained: how it works and how to choose
Learn how life insurance works, the difference between term and permanent policies, what shapes your premium, and how to choose coverage that fits your family.
Updated August 2026Term life insurance for seniors: what to expect and when it makes sense
Term life insurance for seniors is possible but comes with shorter terms and higher premiums. Learn who qualifies, what drives cost, and when it makes sense.
Updated August 2026Cash value life insurance explained: how the savings piece works
Cash value life insurance explained: how the savings component of a permanent policy builds, the ways you can use it, and who it fits.
Is life insurance a good investment? How the cash value piece really works
Is life insurance a good investment? How cash value grows in a permanent policy, how it compares with other accounts, and when it fits your goals.
Term vs whole life insurance: how to choose between them
Term vs whole life insurance compared: how each works, what drives their cost, and how to decide which fits your needs and budget.
Life insurance with no medical exam explained: how it works
Life insurance with no medical exam explained: how skipping the physical works, the main types, the trade-offs, and who it fits.
Whole life insurance explained: how it works and who it fits
Whole life insurance explained: how lifelong coverage and cash value work, how it compares to term, and who it suits.
Indexed universal life insurance explained: how an IUL policy works
Indexed universal life insurance explained: how an IUL policy works, how index-linked interest with a cap and floor builds cash value, and who it fits.
Permanent life insurance explained: lifelong coverage with cash value
Permanent life insurance explained: how coverage that lasts your whole life and builds cash value works, the main types, and how it compares to term.
Types of annuities explained
2 guidesTypes of annuities explained: fixed, indexed, variable, immediate, and deferred
The different types of annuities explained side by side: fixed, indexed, RILA, variable, immediate, and deferred. Plus payout options, surrender charges, and taxes.
Updated October 2026Fixed annuity explained: how it works and who it fits
Fixed annuity explained: how guaranteed, tax-deferred growth works, how it compares to variable and indexed annuities, and who it fits.
More guides
6 guidesCritical illness insurance explained: how a lump-sum benefit works
Critical illness insurance explained: how a lump-sum cash benefit works when you are diagnosed with a covered serious illness, what it covers, and who it fits.
Life insurance for seniors: options, goals, and what to know
Life insurance for seniors explained: common goals, the term, permanent, final-expense, and no-exam options, and how underwriting changes with age.
Mortgage protection insurance explained: how it works and who it fits
Mortgage protection insurance explained: how this life insurance helps pay off your mortgage if you die, how it differs from regular term life, and who it fits.
SGLI explained: servicemembers' group life insurance coverage, costs, and options
Learn how SGLI works for active-duty servicemembers, who qualifies, how to name beneficiaries, and what coverage options exist when you separate from service.
Updated August 2026TRICARE for Life: what it covers and where life insurance still matters
TRICARE for Life wraps around Medicare for military retirees, covering most costs Medicare does not. Learn how it works and why life insurance still matters.
Updated September 2026Universal life insurance explained: flexible permanent coverage
Universal life insurance explained: how this flexible permanent policy combines lifelong coverage with cash value, how premiums can flex, and who it fits.