Definition of "Needs approach"

Personal insurance method used to analyze the amount necessary to maintain a family in its customary life-style, should the primary wage earner die. This includes such considerations as:

  1. immediate needs ("cleanup fund") expenses associated with final medical treatments and burial, inheritance taxes, estate taxes, probate costs, outstanding debt.
  2. continued income while children are still in school and depend on family support.
  3. continued income for the surviving spouse after children no longer depend on family support.
  4. continued income to pay a mortgage, education expenses, emergency expenses, and miscellaneous expenses.
  5. retirement fund for the surviving spouse.
From the sum of these expenses, subtract sources of income available to the surviving spouse (Social Security, investments, employee benefit plans such as group life insurance and pensions), to arrive at a final figure on which to base the amount of life insurance the wage earner should consider.

image of a real estate dictionary page

Have a question or comment?

We're here to help.

*** Your email address will remain confidential.
 

 

Popular Insurance Terms

Ownership of tax-free or tax-deferred investments by a child or for a child, given that these investments will not reach maturity before the child attains at least age 14. The objective is ...

Same as term Funded Pension Plan: plan in which funds are currently allocated to purchase retirement benefits. An employee is thus assured of receiving retirement payments, even if the ...

Insurance for private pleasure boats. Coverage is not standard, but is generally broken down into insurance for yachts, including sailboats; boats with inboard motors under marine ...

Termination of a contractual obligation for immediate performance. For example, under the homeowners insurance policy, if the insurer refuses to pay a claim, the insured (if not satisfied ...

To which the original investment sums build at a stipulated interest rate. ...

Automobile purchased or leased by the insured or the insured's spouse that takes the place of the insured or the insured spouse's present car as covered in the personal automobile policy ...

Actuarial procedure used to determine the annual rate of return at which annual benefits would have to be gained from the cash value life insurance policy in order to equal the annual ...

Model state law of the NAIC that stipulates that the total sum of medium grade bonds (bonds carrying a rating of 3, assigned by the Securities Valuation Office of the NAIC) and lower grade ...

Fronted program by the insured acquires a licensed insurance company to issue insurance policies. ...

Popular Insurance Questions