How Prudential helps more people protect their life’s work this life insurance awareness month

People build a life with intention. They build careers, care for parents, raise children, and carry mortgages that anchor a sense of home and stability. A plan that protects this work is not a luxury. It is a core part of financial security. As September marks Life Insurance Awareness Month, the conversation is not about products, sales quotas, or fear. It is about clarity. What needs protecting, for how long, and by what mix of solutions will give your family the confidence to move forward.

Across the United States many households still feel underprepared. Surveys often show a large share of adults who say they need coverage or more of it. Confusion about how life insurance supports long term wealth and legacy is common. That confusion shows up in two ways. First, people underestimate the role of insurance in holding a family plan together during working years. Second, they overlook how certain permanent policies can complement a broader wealth strategy when the basics are already covered. The goal here is not to chase returns or buy complexity. The goal is to match protection to purpose and timeline.

Think of planning in two layers. The first layer protects income and obligations. This is the foundation during high responsibility years when dependents, loans, and housing costs are highest. The second layer strengthens resilience and legacy once the basics are in place. Families often need the first layer immediately. The second layer becomes relevant as cash flow improves and retirement saving is on track. Many people try to solve both at once and end up overpaying for features they do not need. A calmer, staged approach usually works better.

Term life sits at the heart of the first layer. It provides a large benefit for a set period at a budget friendly premium. The use case is simple. Replace income for the years your family is financially dependent and retire the debts that would otherwise stress survivors. A good term policy gives you enough coverage to meet today’s risks and a built in right to convert to permanent coverage later if your needs evolve. That conversion right matters. Health can change. Budgets can change. Careers can shift. Buying flexibility upfront avoids pressure later. Insurers continue to refine term options for everyday budgets and introduce suites that cover common time frames like 10, 15, 20, or 30 years with conversion features that preserve future choices.

Permanent life belongs to the second layer for many households. Policies such as indexed universal life and other cash value designs build a reserve that can be accessed within policy rules. The cash value is not a substitute for emergency funds or retirement accounts. It can, however, serve as a supplemental tool for specific cases when your savings base is strong and you value flexibility, long horizon planning, and certain living benefits. Indexed universal life credits interest tied to a market index subject to caps and participation terms while protecting cash value from index losses through a floor. It is a planning instrument with moving parts that requires careful funding discipline and long term thinking. It rewards patience and penalizes neglect. A well designed policy can add optionality for later life expenses, care needs, or legacy gifts. A poorly designed policy can distract from core priorities and increase cost without adding real value.

Modern product ranges try to meet families where they are. Budget friendly term options, including newer EssentialTerm style offerings, focus on simple coverage at clear prices with the freedom to switch to permanent coverage when life is more stable. Permanent choices like FlexGuard Life or Momentum IUL are built to provide cash value growth potential and living benefits that support planning for college, caregiving, or business transitions. These examples show a trend that matters. The market is moving away from one size fits all and toward flexible menus where families can start small, adjust as life changes, and avoid getting locked into a design that no longer fits.

The process of getting covered is also changing. Traditional underwriting that once relied on exams and lab work is increasingly supported by data and artificial intelligence. Accelerated underwriting programs such as PruFast Track aim to simplify applications for eligible clients by using secure data sources to make faster decisions without medical exams in many cases. For younger buyers who may hesitate because they feel unsure about underwriting, a clearer and more digital journey helps. Digital case tracking tools now let applicants follow progress in real time, which reduces uncertainty during the waiting period and lowers the chance that people abandon the process.

Access matters as much as product. Underserved communities have historically faced lower coverage rates, limited access to advice, and less trust in financial systems. Community based initiatives such as Blueprints to Black Wealth and Hispanic focused education campaigns are designed to meet people in familiar spaces, build knowledge in plain language, and connect families to resources that reflect their lived reality. This is not charity. It is a recognition that wealth building works best when protection reaches every household, not only those already engaged with the financial sector.

Turning insights into action requires a simple framework. Begin by naming what you are protecting. List incomes that support the household, essential expenses that keep life running, and the debts or obligations that could pressure survivors. Think about time. How long until your youngest child reaches financial independence. How long until the mortgage is largely repaid. How many years remain before retirement savings can sustain the household without your paycheck. That timeline points to a sensible term length. If the core risk window is 20 years, a 20 year term aligns coverage to reality. If you expect to reach financial independence earlier, a shorter term can fit. There is no prize for buying the longest term available if your needs taper sooner.

Next, estimate how much coverage closes the gap if you were not here. Old rules of thumb like ten times income can be a crude start but your family deserves more precision. Add up essential annual spending, education goals you intend to fund, and debts you want retired. Subtract current liquid savings and existing life insurance. Consider survivor Social Security benefits if applicable and whether your spouse or partner can maintain their income. The remainder is the amount that needs replacing. If your budget cannot support the ideal number right now, do not give up. Buy an amount that meaningfully reduces risk and revisit the plan when cash flow improves. Coverage that exists today is more valuable than perfect coverage that never gets purchased.

Fit premiums into your cash flow. Protection should not crowd out retirement saving or emergency reserves. A common approach is to keep total risk protection premiums within a modest slice of take home pay after you have funded employer matched retirement contributions and built a basic cash buffer. There is no universal ratio, but the logic is consistent. Protection, saving, and debt repayment must live together without constant strain. If adding coverage would destabilize your month, adjust the amount, the term length, or the type until the plan breathes.

If permanent life makes sense for your situation, treat it like a long horizon asset that requires ongoing care. Funding patterns matter. Policy charges, crediting caps, and loan provisions make a real difference over time. Use conservative assumptions and review annually. Consider riders that address specific risks such as chronic illness benefits, living access to a portion of the death benefit under defined conditions, or a waiver of premium if disability prevents work. Each rider adds cost, so match them to a real need rather than a fear. If you are uncertain whether permanent life belongs in your plan, focus on term first. You can convert later if your health remains stable and your priorities evolve.

Legacy planning is part of the conversation but it should not lead it when dependents still rely on your income. Beneficiary designations need to be accurate, coordinated with wills or trusts, and updated after major life events. For families with young children, consider how proceeds will be managed and by whom. A trust can provide clarity if you prefer staged distributions rather than a lump sum. For blended families or business owners, beneficiary design needs particular care to avoid conflicts and tax surprises. Life insurance interacts with estate and tax planning in ways that differ by state, so professional advice is helpful when situations are complex.

Technology and community outreach are improving access, yet the human part remains central. A licensed adviser or planner can translate policy choices into a coherent plan that respects your budget and priorities. Good advice does not push products you do not understand. It helps you define the problem you are solving, shows how coverage fits with saving and investing, and leaves you with a plan you can explain to a partner without jargon.

If you are starting from zero, September is a useful checkpoint. Begin with a simple step such as securing term coverage that replaces the larger of your share of income or the cost required to keep the household on track for the next decade. Use a company that provides a clear path to convert part of that coverage later if appropriate. Set a calendar reminder to review annually. Tying the review to a predictable milestone such as open enrollment, a work anniversary, or the start of school reduces procrastination. As your savings base grows, revisit whether a permanent policy adds resilience or flexibility. If not, keep building the basics and let term do its job.

Families who already have policies should still review. Coverage bought five or ten years ago may no longer fit the household’s structure, debts, or income. Children grow. Mortgages are refinanced. One partner changes roles. You may be paying for riders you no longer need or carrying too little coverage for a new liability. You may have multiple small term policies that can be consolidated more efficiently. You may also benefit from updated underwriting that reflects improved health or lifestyle. A review is not an automatic change. It is a chance to compare what you have with what you now need.

This is life insurance planning for families at its simplest. Protect income and obligations with term that matches your risk window. Preserve flexibility with a conversion option for later years. Consider permanent life only when it supports a clear purpose, cash flow allows for disciplined funding, and the basics are in excellent shape. Use technological improvements in underwriting to reduce friction, and lean on transparent tracking tools so the process feels manageable rather than mysterious. Seek advisers who lead with planning rather than products. Keep beneficiary design current so the right people are protected.

Families do not need scare tactics to take action. They need clarity, sequence, and a plan that respects both head and heart. You can start small without feeling behind. You can adjust as life changes without feeling trapped. The smartest protection plan is one you understand and can sustain. If you use this month to begin or to review, you will have turned awareness into action and action into security.