Questions to Ask a Life Insurance Agent Before You Buy

You deserve straight answers before you spend a dollar on a policy. I’m a licensed life insurance agent, and my goal here is simple: give you a clear list of questions that uncover real value, expose sales fluff, and help you pick coverage that actually fits your life and budget. Copy these into your notes. Ask them on a call or in chat. A good agent welcomes them.

Start with fit and purpose

1) “What problem is this policy built to solve for me?”
A policy should match a job: income protection, mortgage payoff, final expenses, legacy, business needs. Ask your agent to connect the product to your goal in plain language.
Green flag: a short, specific answer tied to your family, debts, and timeline.

2) “Why this carrier for my profile?”
Every company views health, build, meds, nicotine, and hobbies a bit differently. You want a carrier that likes you.
Green flag: “You’re a runner on a statin with stable labs; Carrier A prices that well.”

3) “Term, permanent, or a blend—and why?”
Term gives the most coverage per dollar for a set period. Permanent lasts for life and can build cash value. Many families blend the two: big term for the high-need years, small permanent layer for lifetime needs.
Green flag: options with trade-offs laid out in dollars.

Nail down price and underwriting

4) “Is this quote assuming top health?”
Most online quotes do. Ask what health class the quote uses and what a realistic class looks like for you.
Green flag: a pre-screen with a few health questions before numbers fly around.

5) “Can I qualify without an exam, and is that my best price?”
No-exam can be fast. A quick exam can drop the price for healthy folks. Ask for both paths.
Green flag: side-by-side timelines and premiums.

6) “What would improve my rate class in the next 6–12 months?”
Quitting nicotine, stable blood pressure, weight trends, clean driving—small shifts can move a class.
Green flag: a simple plan and a reminder to revisit rates after changes.

7) “Where are the price breakpoints?”
Rates per $1,000 sometimes dip at certain face amounts.
Green flag: “At $500k your rate per thousand drops, so $500k might be only a few dollars more than $450k.”

Lock in the right length and amount

8) “How did you calculate my coverage amount?”
Ask for a breakdown: income replacement years, debts, kid funding, final expenses, minus savings and existing coverage.
Green flag: a short worksheet or bullet list you can tweak.

9) “Why this term length?”
Tie the term to your timeline: mortgage end date, years until kids finish school, years to retirement.
Green flag: a choice between two lengths with the monthly difference.

10) “Can we ladder policies?”
Example: $750k for 10 years + $500k for 20 years + $250k for 30 years. Big protection early, smaller later, cost that steps down over time.
Green flag: clear math showing how laddering compares to one large term.

Get clarity on riders and options

11) “Which riders add real value for me?”
Common picks:

• Accelerated/Living benefits: access part of the death benefit after qualifying events.
• Waiver of premium: the insurer pays your premium if you meet the disability definition.
• Child rider: low-cost kid coverage with future conversion.
• Return of premium (term): higher price now, base premiums back if you outlive the term.
  Green flag: simple scenarios with dollars, not vague promises.

12) “What are the conversion rules on this term policy?”
Conversion lets you move term coverage to a permanent plan during a window with no new medical questions.
Green flag: a long conversion window and access to strong permanent products, not a tiny menu.

13) “If my health improves, can I ask for a better rate?”
Many carriers allow reconsideration after weight loss, nicotine cessation, or better labs.
Green flag: your agent sets a reminder to revisit your class.

Understand guarantees, values, and the fine print

14) “Show me guaranteed and current columns side by side.”
For permanent plans, you need to see both. Guaranteed = worst-case built into the contract. Current = today’s crediting or assumptions.
Green flag: an illustration walk-through with the page numbers and a quick summary of what could change.

15) “What fees or loads affect cash value?”
Every contract has costs. You want them explained in plain English with line items.
Green flag: a short list: policy charge, cost of insurance, rider charges.

16) “What are the exclusions?”
Ask about the two-year contestability period, suicide clause language, high-risk activities, foreign travel, and aviation.
Green flag: direct answers with example wording from the policy.

17) “What happens if I miss a payment?”
Ask about grace period length, reinstatement rules, and how to prevent a lapse.
Green flag: auto-draft setup, text/email reminders, and a clear grace period.

Claims, service, and long-term support

18) “How are claims handled, and how fast do beneficiaries get paid?”
Ask about typical timelines, required documents, and who helps your family.
Green flag: a simple checklist you can share with your spouse or partner.

19) “Who helps me after the sale?”
Beneficiary changes, address updates, billing changes, re-shopping near term end—these matter.
Green flag: annual check-ins and a promise to pick up the phone after issue.

20) “If rates drop or my life changes, what’s our plan?”
Marriage, new baby, new mortgage, starting a business—coverage should keep up.
Green flag: a quick review schedule and a willingness to adjust.

Spot sales fluff fast

• “This policy pays for itself.” Ask for the actual pages that show cash values and funding rules.
• Only one product on the table. You deserve options with pros and cons.
• Teaser quotes with perfect health assumptions. Ask for your likely health class.
• Pressure to sign tonight. A good plan beats a rush.

What a great answer sounds like (mini script)

• “Based on your income, mortgage, and two kids under 8, I’d build $1M of term for 25–30 years and add $25k–$50k of permanent for final expenses. Carrier A prices your build and statin use well. We can try no-exam, but a short exam could save about $12 per month. Here are both options.”

Short, specific, tied to your life. That’s what you want.

How I help you compare like a pro

1) Quick pre-screen. Five to ten minutes on goals, health, build, meds, nicotine or vaping, driving, and any hobbies that matter to carriers.
2) Targeted quotes. Multiple carriers that favor your profile. No single-company box.
3) Plain-English choices. Term vs. permanent, term length, ladder options, and riders—with the monthly number for each.
4) Fast application. E-signatures. If an exam helps price, a brief visit at home or work.
5) Follow-through. I keep you posted during underwriting, explain any requests, and remove guesswork.
6) After-issue care. Check-ins, beneficiary help, conversion guidance, and support if rates shift or life changes.

Questions that save you money in one call

Use these in a single message or during a 10-minute chat:

1. “What health class did you use for my quote, and what class do you expect after underwriting?”
2. “Give me a 20- vs. 30-year term comparison tied to my mortgage end date.”
3. “Show me the price difference between no-exam and a quick exam.”
4. “If I quit nicotine for 12 months, when can we request new rates?”
5. “What conversion window do I get on this term contract?”
6. “Which riders fit my situation and what do they add per month?”
7. “If my A1C improves, can we ask for a reconsideration?”
8. “What’s the grace period, and who helps my spouse file a claim?”

Eight questions, clear answers, zero guesswork.

Ready to talk through your plan?

Send me your age, state, coverage goal (income, mortgage, kids, final expenses), monthly budget, and any health notes you want me to factor in. I’ll reply with real numbers, the trade-offs in plain English, and the fastest path to approval. No scripts. Just honest help and a policy you can keep with confidence.