Life insurance did not exist in the United States until the first policies were written in 1759. Those policies were for men only. It wasn’t until 80 years later that women were first offered life insurance.

Since then, women continue to increase their need to insure their future income because:

  • According to a recent Pew Research survey, in 29% of today’s marriages, both spouses earn about the same amount. In 16% of marriages, the wife is the primary breadwinner1. 
  • According to a Salary.com’s report, the annual cost of replacing a stay-at-home mom now averages $184,820 in 20212.

Despite those facts, 49 percent of women own life insurance, compared to 55 percent of men according to the 2023 LIMRA study3.

When determining your insurance needs, financial considerations include:

  • Your remaining mortgage and other outstanding loans
  • Your other debts
  • Amount of income to pay family bills
  • Number of dependents
  • Your children’s college expenses

1 "In a Growing Share of U.S. Marriages, Husbands and Wives Earn About the Same." Pew Research Center, Apr. 2023.

2 “How Much Should a Stay-at-Home Mom Make.” Salary.Com, 5 May 2021. 

3 2023 Insurance Barometer Study, LIMRA and Life Happens.

 

Note: Life insurance should be purchased by individuals that have a need to provide a death benefit to protect others with insurable interests in their lives against financial loss. Life insurance is not a retirement plan, investment, or savings account. Life insurance policies’ cash values are not considered liquid.

 

Withdrawals and loans from a life insurance policy reduce the life insurance policy’s death benefit and cash value. Cash value policy loans are taxable if the policy is surrendered or terminates before the insured's death and the cash value exceeds the policy's cost basis.

 

Provided content is for overview and informational purposes only and is not intended as tax, legal, fiduciary, or investment advice.