Contractors need life insurance because when they go contracting, they lose all their employee benefits and become responsible for their own financial affairs.
Life insurance is an essential protection insurance to ensure a contractor’s loved ones have a financial safety net should the contractor die prematurely.
When contractors leave employment they lose benefits such as death in service that might have paid off household debts like mortgages and contributed to household running costs.
Why contractors need life insurance
Contractors typically enjoy a sharp increase in their earnings and disposable income. This then generally leads to improvements in a contractor’s lifestyle and often a larger property and mortgage.
But too many contractors don’t think of adding life insurance to the shopping list of financial products they might buy with their increased income. In most contractor families, the contractor is the primary earner and the mortgage debt is based on their earnings.
In most instances, their spouse or partner, regardless of any children, is unlikely to be able to return to work and have the same earning power to make the mortgage payments. So, the number one priority is for the contractor to ensure that the mortgage is paid if they die.
Contractors may also take out life insurance if they have other dependents, such as elderly parents or siblings not able to take care of themselves. They may simply wish to pass on a paid-for property and a lump sum to their family.
In the case of separated or divorced contractors, part of the maintenance provision for the children may be to provide a home, so a contractor may be court mandated to take out life insurance until their children reach 18.
Life insurance options for contractors
Life insurance generally fulfils two aims. It is there to pay off any mortgage balance so the contractor’s family continues to have a roof over its head, and to provide additional financial support for the family’s living costs.
Contractors typically have three options:
- Relevant life cover: this is similar to the death in service benefit that employees enjoy, and pays out a lump sum based on a multiple of the contractor’s earnings. It is an option available for limited company contractors as the scheme must be run through the company
- Mortgage related life cover: a contractor would take out this cover personally, and it is tied into the mortgage, paying off the outstanding balance in the event of the contractor’s death. It can be very cost effective, as the sum insured falls as the mortgage balance decreases
- Additional lump sum and monthly family income benefits: many contractors also want their families to live a comfortable lifestyle if they die. These policies are taken out personally and can either pay out a cash lump sum or provide a regular income which can also be index linked.
The value of money decreases as the years move on, so a cash lump sum paid out now will be worth considerably less in years to come. Index linking a regular income can ensure that the contractor’s family’s standard of living does not drop.
What are the alternatives to life insurance?
Some contractors consider choosing alternative strategies to protect their families and pay off the mortgage: We do see contractors who say they will aggressively pay down their mortgage over a short period of time.
But this strategy assumes the contractor will be fit and well enough to work and make the payments for the next ‘X’ number of years. You just can’t be sure of that, and if the worst happened tomorrow, the contractor’s family would face selling their home.
Another strategy is using investment properties as a form of ‘insurance’: That’s a possible solution, but what is the contractor’s position post-retirement? They will be depending on the properties for an income and if the contractor dies and the family sells the assets they then have no income.
As well as the welcome change in income and earning potential, contractors also need to change their mindset when they go contracting. They are now responsible for the financial wellbeing of themselves and their family, not their employer.
Fortunately, there are a range of life insurance options available to ensure that whatever happens, the contractors family will be financial secure and can continue to live a comfortable lifestyle.