All of us, in different walks of life have responsibilities as an earning member, which have to be met or taken care off. We may be able to fulfill some of these during our lifetime, but what in our absence?

Insurance
In simple terminology, Insurance means a protection against the financial loss, which may arise due to an unexpected event. Life insurance means a financial protection for the nominee or the family member of the policyholder in case of his unexpected death.

Though our lives are valuable to us, they are equally valuable to those who are dependent upon us. As a responsibility, we need to ensure that our dependants maintain a similar lifestyle and standard of living even in our absence. We can assure our families some support, albeit financially even in our absence by taking a life insurance. The insurance company offering the insurance collects the periodic premiums from us and provides for the financial loss to our nominees of these premiums.

The insurance company does not run any risk, for it collects in advance by way of small premiums, the amount of a possibly big loss known to it. On the other hand, we are relieved of a certain risk by an insurance contract though we have to shell out periodic premiums for this relief.

Benefits
There are numerous benefits of a life insurance, which are as follows:

1. Savings: It promotes compulsory savings by the way of premiums, which covers the life risk of the insured. On maturity, the saving is made available to him in the form of sum assured along with the bonus. Alternately, it is provided immediately to his nominees, on his unexpected death.
    
2. Tax Benefits: It gives us tax benefits and concessions not only on the premium amount but also on the maturity and bonus. Income tax act totally exempts from paying tax on the amount received as bonus from the life insurance company. There is a separate deduction from taxable income, which is allowed to a maximum of Rs 10,000 towards the premium paid each year under u/s 80cc.
    
3. Financial security: It protects the family of the insured albeit financially in the event of unforeseen happening. On unexpected demise of the policyholder, it gives immediate support to the family members by providing the full sum assured along with accumulated bonus to the nominee.
    
4. Wealth accumulation: The periodical returns from some policies when reinvested give a substantial lump sum amount at the end of the term. Thus, life insurance can be effectively used for wealth accumulation.
    
5. Education and Marriage: The regular returns of money in case of some policies can be used to fulfill needs like education and marriage whereas the bonus can be used for a fresh start in life.
    
6. Loan facility: Some policies make the policyholder eligible to take a loan from the insurance company. In case, if the policyholder expires in the policy period after taking a loan, not only the future premiums but even the future EMIs (Equated Monthly Instalments) are waived off.
    
7. Collateral Security: The LIC policies can be pledged as a collateral security to raise funds from banks as well as financial institutions.

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