Term life insurance covers you for between 5 and 70 years. It pays out a lump sum to your loved ones if you pass away within the policy term. If you’re buying a home, you can get term life insurance to cover your mortgage. If you die before it’s paid it off, the policy pays off the remaining amount. So your family can keep their home and not have to worry about the repayments. Whole of life insurance lasts your whole life. The policy ends when you pass away, so your family get a guaranteed lump sum. This also means that the monthly premiums are more expensive. Consider whole of life insurance if you need: Peace of mind that your loved ones will get a guaranteed payout when you die To help your family from overpaying on inheritance tax Currently, if your estate is over £325,000, inheritance tax is 40% of its value (gov.uk). If you take out whole of life and write your policy into a trust, you won’t need to pay inheritance tax on it.