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Life Insurance Guide
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You've worked hard to build a life you enjoy with the people you love, now it's time to protect it all. You won't have to wonder how much or what type of life insurance you need, we make it easy.
Get insuranceSince everyone's situation and goals are different, our policies are designed differently, too. Depending on what you need, our life insurance can simply be your safety net from the unexpected, or it can be the foundation of a smart financial plan, giving you more financial flexibility for the things that are important during your life like paying for college, growing your business, and having more income in retirement.
At Northwestern Mutual, our advisors base their recommendations on your priorities and what you can afford—so you get only the insurance you need, and nothing you don't.
Get startedLife insurance is simple. You make reoccurring payments (your premium), and we pay a set amount of money, tax-free, to whoever you choose (your beneficiaries), including your favorite charities if you want, when you pass away.
There are many factors that can affect the cost of an insurance policy. That's why we value working with you to fully understand your situation, needs, and budget, to recommend the best options for you. In general, what you pay monthly (or yearly) will depend on things like the type and amount of life insurance you get, your age, health, and if you decide to add any riders that might make sense for your situation and goals.
Connect with an advisorBe protected your entire life2 and build cash value that's guaranteed to grow no matter which way the markets go. Use it for anything like helping to pay for your kids' college, upgrading your home, expanding your business, or as additional retirement income.3
Have coverage that lasts your whole life2 and gives you more flexibility now and down the road—letting you change your payment amount (premiums) and schedule4 to fit your life and budget, while still giving you benefits you can use throughout your life.
You'll get lifelong protection with variable universal life, plus you get to choose how you want your policy's cash value to be invested in the markets5 so you can have the chance to boost its growth over time.
This is the simplest way to get started with life insurance. Term life covers you for a set amount of time such as 10, 15, or 20 years, and once that term ends, so does your policy. But if your needs change along the way, you'll have an opportunity to switch to lifelong coverage.
To compare insurance products, select any two below. | ||||
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Benefits | Whole | Universal | Variable Universal | Term |
Guaranteed payout for your loved ones* | ||||
Chance to receive a dividend (yearly payout)6 | ||||
Coverage that lasts for your entire life* | ||||
Builds cash value over time that can be used for anything3 | ||||
Choose amount and frequency of payments** | ||||
Flexibility to change coverage amount | ||||
Premiums (payments) that never increase | ||||
Choose how your cash value is invested | ||||
Has optional riders available | ||||
* Unless you cancel or stop paying your premiums.** Subject to policy minimums. Independent of the death benefit. | Learn more | Learn more | Learn more | Learn more |
No. 1 ranked insurance company for consumer experience
Best life insurance company for consumer experience, 20237
A++ financial strength rating
AAA, Aaa, and AA+—we've earned the highest financial strength ratings awarded to life insurers from all four major rating agencies.8
$8.2B in dividends expected to be paid in 2025
in dividends expected to be paid in 20256
Our advisors will help you find the right type, and amount, of life insurance for your goals and budget.
It's easy to get started—no commitment, just a conversation.