You’ve just got married, and you’re already thinking about your other halves’ potential death.

How very Henry the VIII of you.

In all seriousness, getting married is a big deal. Of course, it is – there’s nothing quite like standing up in front of your friends and families and pledging your love to someone forever.

Life insurance used to be for the wealthy.

Many of us 'regular' folk's parents ain't never had no need for no life insurance (gone kinda deep south there for some reason)

Maybe your old man never saw the point or the old dear said it was a waste of valuable money.

Notions, like.

It's far from life insurance you were born young Seán, the car isn't even insured and that's useful.

However, these days, because it's so affordable, life insurance is no longer a luxury.

It's a necessity.

If you’re on this here blog, I can assume a couple of things:

you’ve bought or are buying a house and
you’ve either bought or are buying Mortgage Protection or Life Insurance because you have to.

I can also probably assume you’re a responsible adult – or at the very least, you’re very good at pretending, which as we all know: all the best people are.

Now, there is one thing you need to know. This one thing is either coming to you too late or just in the nick of time, depending on whether or not you now own a house.

The banks are great for mortgages, but they’re a rip off when it comes to Mortgage Protection...

I’m not going to tell you not to smoke.

I’m not your ma.

I’m also not going to tell you about the health risks, because we all already know. After all, we’ve seen the big rotten tumour on the fag packets.

I am going to tell you that smoking makes your Life Insurance premiums more expensive.

And don’t think you’re not included in this one too, holier-than-thou-vape-smokers. While your vape may smell like cotton candy or whatever notion-y flavour you’ve gone for, the insurers will charge you more too.

I'll admit I was worried when Vhi life insurance entered the market. 

Vhi has one million customers, that's roughly 990,000 more than us.

Little Lion.ie taking on the mighty Vhi is like David taking on Goliath, Cúchulainn and Geoff Capes simultaneously!

If you've decided that now's time to get life insurance for your family, congratulations!

It's a smart move and the grown-up thing to do.

But how do you choose the right amount of years for your cover?

A life insurance trust allows you to ensure your policy pays out to the right people at the right time without waiting for grant of probate.

What's grant of probate?

A big, and lengthy, pain in the ass.

So those scoundrels at Aviva, Irish Life, Royal London, New Ireland or Zurich Life have increased your premium, eh?

And you're wondering why?

Let me explain:

Life Insurance might seem like a modern invention – like a lightbulb moment that could have happened in the last century given the rise of corporate banking and massive financial companies.

It actually goes back centuries – the first Life Insurance policies were taken out in the early 18th century and the first company to offer Life Insurance was founded in London in 1706.

It was called the Amicable Society for a Perpetual Assurance Office, which is long-winded but pretty brilliant. Who wouldn’t trust an ‘Amicable Society’ with their ‘Perpetual Assurance’?

Given that was London in the 1700s, modern Life Insurance probably comes with a lot less moustache twirling and tricorn hats.

Life Insurance, as a business, has been developing for centuries – so the vast majority of people can usually get some cover. Here’s what you need to know if you think you’re ‘uninsurable’.

We very recently ran a survey about Life Insurance and one thing came to light that I want to tackle: a lot of people don’t trust the insurers to pay out.

And I get it: insurers can be tricky fellas, with watertight terms and conditions, complicated underwriting and confusing jargon. We all know someone who made a health claim that fell through or whose car insurance is sky high.

But here’s the thing: Life Insurance is a little different. Read my blog for more.