What is the primary purpose of life insurance?

The primary purpose of life insurance is to provide financial protection to beneficiaries upon the insured's death. Life insurance policies are designed to pay out a death benefit, which supports loved ones financially after the insured person passes away. This benefit can cover various expenses, such as mortgage payments, living costs, and education for children, helping to ensure that the insured's family can maintain their standard of living in the absence of the policyholder's income.

While life insurance can have features that may offer investment benefits, such as cash value accumulation in whole or universal life policies, these are secondary to its core function of providing a safety net for beneficiaries. Medical expense coverage is typically associated with health insurance, not life insurance, and tax advantages, while relevant, are also not the primary reason individuals purchase life insurance. Hence, the focus remains on the essential financial security it offers in the event of an untimely death.