Should I get life insurance in my 20s?
If you're in your 20s, purchasing life insurance may be one of the best long-term financial decisions you can make.
Video Transcript: Should I get life insurance in my 20s?
- Video duration: 2 minutes 0 seconds
- Transcript date: April 25, 2023
Thinking about life insurance in your 20s: Elapsed time 00 minutes 00 seconds [00:00]
For most people in their 20s, thinking about life insurance isn't at the top of the priority list — but it should be.
It just might be the best time to buy life insurance. Here's why.
Reasons to get life insurance in your 20s: Elapsed time 00 minutes 12 seconds [00:12]
You're facing more responsibilities. If you're married, you'll want to have life insurance to protect your family. If you're not, it doesn't mean you won't be later. And if you don't get married, later in life there may be people close to you who you'd like to provide for financially after you die.
Life insurance for your future: Elapsed time 00 minutes 30 seconds [00:30]
Life insurance can also help protect you down the road if you:
- Get a mortgage to buy a home.
- Start your own business.
- Get student loan debt.
Life insurance protects your future: Elapsed time 00 minutes 39 seconds [00:39]
You care about your financial future.
Think of life insurance as a way to play financial defense. It helps protect you and your loved ones against the unexpected.
If you have life insurance, it's also a way to build a strong financial plan that will protect your earning ability now and into the future.
Take advantage of your youth: Elapsed time 00 minutes 57 seconds [00:57]
You want to take advantage of your youth and health.
We're often in the best shape of our lives in our 20s, which is usually why it's the easiest time to qualify for life insurance coverage.
Count the savings: Elapsed time 01 minutes 11 seconds [01:11]
Those savings multiply and translate to bigger savings over time.
The older you get; the more expensive coverage can be. And that's true even before you consider other factors like family health history, risky hobbies or dangerous working conditions.
Start when you're young: Elapsed time 01 minutes 27 seconds [01:27]
If you apply for coverage when you're young, you might be able to lock in a low insurance premium for the next 30 years with term life insurance.
Or you could start accumulating tax-deferred cash with permanent life insurance.
We offer standard life insurance policies and policies specifically designed for those just starting out.
Visit or call to learn more: Elapsed time 01 minutes 46 seconds [01:46] Description of visual information: [To learn more about buying life insurance, go to usaa.com/life. Or call a USAA licensed life agent at 800-531-LIFE (5433).
The information contained is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to substitute for obtaining professional financial advice. Please thoroughly research and seek professional advice before acting on any information you may have found in this article. This article in no way attempts to provide financial advice that relates to all personal circumstances.,
Life insurance and annuities provided by USAA Life Insurance Company, San Antonio, TX and in New York by USAA Life Insurance Company of New York, Highland Falls, NY. All insurance products are subject to state availability, issue limitations and contractual terms and conditions. Each company has sole financial responsibility for its own products. 293108] End of description.
End: Elapsed time 02 minutes, 00 seconds [02:00]
Young adults have a lot on their minds — their careers, starting a family, finishing their education, saving for a house. The list goes on. For most, thinking about life insurance isn't at the top of the priority list — but it should be.
No matter your age or whether you're married with dependents, life insurance is an important part of a strong financial plan. According to USAA advice manager Matt Lyon, your 20s just might be the best time to buy life insurance. Here's why.
Reasons to buy life insurance in your 20s
You're facing increased responsibilities.
Americans are waiting longer to get married, according to market researcher Statista.com (Opens in New Window).See note1 The median age at their first wedding is 30.6 years old for men and 28.6 years old for women. That's up from 26.7 and 25 respectively since 1998.
That's if they decide to get married at all. The number of adults ages 25 to 54 who are currently married fell from 67% in 1990 to 53% in 2019, according to the Pew Research Center (Opens in New Window).See note1
Why does that matter? "Just because you aren't married in your 20s doesn't mean you won't get married later," says Lyon. "If you do, you'll want to have life insurance to protect your family."
Even if you don't get married, Lyon adds that later in life, there may be people close to you who you'd like to provide for financially after you die. "At the same time the marriage rate was falling, the number of Americans opting to live with their partners more than doubled," he points out.
Life insurance can help with other "adult responsibilities" as well. Maybe you'd like to get a mortgage to buy a home, start your own business or pay off your student loan debt.
"Life insurance can help cover all of these obligations," says Lyon. "It's smart to get insurance in your 20s, when it's easier, instead of waiting until it's too late."
You care about your financial future.
The first step in a strong financial plan is, well, making a plan. And life insurance is a key part of that plan.
Think of life insurance as a way to manage risk. It helps protect you and your loved ones against the unexpected.
Let's say you saved and invested wisely in your 20s, but you don't have car insurance. If you get into an accident, you'll have to handle that cost on your own. "That could mean dipping into savings and investments you'd earmarked for life expenses like retirement," says Lyon.
A situation like that could have a domino effect on your financial future, depleting your savings and putting you several steps back on your financial plan. Your death could have a similar impact to your family.
If you have life insurance, the death benefit payout could help your family avoid financial hardship after you're gone.
You want to take advantage of your youth and health.
There's a reason the phrases "young and invincible" and "the prime of our life" are often used to describe our 20s.
"When we're younger, we're often in the best shape of our lives, which is usually why our 20s is the easiest life stage to qualify for life insurance coverage," says Lyon. Those savings multiply and translate to bigger savings over time.
The older you get, the more expensive coverage can be. And that's true even before you consider other risk factors like family health history, precarious hobbies or dangerous working conditions.
If you apply for coverage when you're young, you might be able to lock in a low insurance premium for the next 30 years with term life insurance. Or you could start accumulating tax-deferred cash with permanent life insurance.
How to purchase life insurance
Buying life insurance can feel intimidating. It can be a big decision with a lot of factors to consider. But if you plan ahead, you can alleviate anxiety and give yourself years of peace of mind.
USAA offers standard life insurance policies and policies specifically designed for those just starting out. To learn more about purchasing life insurance, review our online resources.