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Upon retirement, it's no use for income replacement, but there are other benefits
Q: My husband and I bought life insurance in 2008. At that time, I was 44 and a non-smoker, and he was 46 but a former smoker. Each of us is insured for $250,000. The monthly premiums have been a total of $142.50 since we took out the policy—$58.90 for me, and $83.60 for him. In 2018, when my husband turns 56, his premiums will increase to $307.33 per month. This seems unreasonably high. My premiums don’t increase until I turn 64, at which point they increase to $387.60. I am the primary insured on the policy, and he is included as a spouse. We both have life insurance policies with our employers—mine is about equal to what this policy would pay and my husband’s is less, although he plans to either fully retire or semi-retire in 2018. Our home and cottage are both paid off and we have no debt. Our three children are in their 20s, out of the house and mostly self-sufficient, and we have saved about $450,000 for retirement so far. I have a DB pension plan and he has a DC plan. Our plan in 2018 is to cancel his part of the policy but keep mine until I turn 64 when my premiums increase. Does that seem reasonable? I can’t see a reason to keep his policy when the premiums will be so expensive but maybe I am missing something. Should we look into converting his work policy when he retires? Do we always need to have life insurance?
—Mary B.
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