When buying life insurance, consider your health and if there's anything you can do to improve it

When buying life insurance, consider your health and if there's anything you can do to improve it. People with better health get better life insurance rates. If you can lose a little extra weight, reduce your cholesterol, or quit smoking, you will find that quotes for life insurance may drop significantly.

It's a good idea to review your life insurance policy each year to see if it still meets your needs. If you've had any big changes in your life such as a new child or the purchase of a home, you may have to modify your policy to reflect your new situation.

When choosing life insurance policies, make sure you understand the difference between term and permanent life insurance. Term insurance is good for a set period - once it expires - the insured does not receive benefits. Permanent insurance, while more expensive, accumulates cash value and is guaranteed to stay in force, as long as the policy payments continue.

Figure out how you are going to purchase a policy. You can buy your own policy or obtain one through your place of employment. You can also purchase a policy using a financial planner, or a local insurance agent.