You need life insurance if some person would experience a significant financial loss in the event of your death. A common example of this is the family breadwinner whose income totally or partially supports a family. The death of that person would result in loss of income and financial harm for the remaining family members. Other reasons are to put your kids through school, pay the car note, mortgage, or other debts you have left behind, and pay funeral expenses. Those who might be leaving estates of $650,0000 or more (higher amounts apply in future years, See FreeAdvice.com) often need life insurance to pay for estate taxes.

Business partners are another important example. The death of one partner might obligate the other partners to buy out the heirs: the life policy can be the source of funds.