Life insurance, in plain English.
Term, whole, or universal — the differences matter. Chris breaks it down so you can decide what actually fits your family. No pressure, no jargon.
Three types of life insurance
There are three main types, and the right one depends on where you are in life. Chris walks through the differences with you — the summary below is general information, not a recommendation.
The three types
Term vs. Whole vs. Universal
| Term Life | Whole Life | Universal Life | |
|---|---|---|---|
| How it works | Covers you for a set period: 10, 20, or 30 years. Pays out if you die during the term. | Covers you for your entire life. Builds cash value. | Permanent coverage with flexible premiums and a cash value component tied to interest rates. |
| Cash value | None. Pure death benefit. | Yes — builds cash value. | Yes — grows based on current interest rates. Can adjust premiums and death benefit. |
| Expires? | Yes — at the end of the term. | No — covers you for life as long as premiums are paid. | No — but can lapse if cash value drops too low. |
Common questions
Things people ask about life insurance.
What happens if I outlive my term policy?
The policy simply ends. Ask Chris about your options before it ends. The ideal outcome is that you outlive your term — it means you're still here.