We've all had to make those intimidating purchases. You know, those purchases that make you feel like you're signing away your life in blood. And all those people standing around telling you to sign here . . . and here . . . and there. You pause because you want to read all the fine print, but they just push you through it. I know, I know . . . we're supposed to read everything we sign. But they are the professionals, right? I'm talking about the ones standing over your shoulder and pushing you though the closing of your first home or having you sign that paper work for that first new car purchase. We trust these people to give us good advice and to help us. And it just leaves a nasty taste in your mouth once you find out they just pulled a fast one on you.

This can happen to all of us with all sorts of important items that we need to purchase. We often depend on professionals to help us pick out that first car or to guide us with that first investment. We depend on professionals to explain the terms of a loan or mortgage agreement. And we trust that real estate agent to help us pick out our dream home and steer us away from a money pit. If you're lucky, someone will tell you about the "gotchas" you might encounter before you have to learn the hard way. Hopefully the professional you're counting on will tell you about the fine print. But don't be fooled . . . that "professional" might just keep his mouth shut.

One might not think it, but insurance is another one of those big purchase we all need to make. A lot of people skip this one, though, because it's too pricey. Sometimes people bolt once they hear an insurance quote. This is bad; especially when the policy quote is for life insurance. Life insurance is a very important purchase that shouldn't be neglected. Your family needs the protection. But, you purse is too lean to afford the quote. But, here is something you may not have known . . . that quote may have been for whole life insurance. So, did that agent tell you about the secret advantages of term life insurance? Or, did he keep his lips sealed?

Term life insurance empowers you. You can choose any of your beneficiaries and you have a variety of policies to choose from. You can have a policy with a term of five, ten, or thirty years. It's all up to you. And best of all, term life insurance is affordable. Price makes so many people avoid getting life insurance. But for a little as $8 a month, you can potentially get a policy that is right for you. Need enough to pay off that house, or do you need to leave behind a million for your family? That's a hidden advantage many agents might not share with you.

Yeah, we all want to live forever. But, let's face it, we need to think long and hard about what can happen to our loved ones when we pass on. We love them and we want them to be taken care of after we pass on. We want to leave that protection as a gift to them. Besides, you want them to remember you after you're gone. They won't have time to reflect on you in a proper way if the mortgage comes crashing down on them with a foreclosure following closely behind. A term life policy can protect them against all of that.

Now, some people assert that the cons to a term life policy are poor benefits. And due to the lack of quality, whole life insurance comes out cheaper in the long run. Not quite true. Term life insurance has quality benefits. Less expensive isn't always a sign of poor quality. The fact is, term life is plain to understand and costs less. Maybe your agent doesn't want you to know that. That might be why they offered you a whole life policy instead.

See, a term life insurance policy of $200,000 can cost a "30 something" about 30 bucks a month. But, for that same fee, a whole life policy will only provide $30,000 of protection. That's a difference of $170,000 in your policy! Did the agent tell you that? This price difference comes from the fact that whole life insurance policies claim to build cash value by investing your premiums in the markets. Sure, you can "borrow" against any value the markets give your policy. But, what if the companies investments bomb? Can you afford to risk the future protection for your family in such a way?

Good thing that term life insurance is an affordable choice for almost anyone. Don't neglect protecting your family once you've concluded you can't afford whole life insurance. Remember, always shop around to find the best plan. Not every term life policy is perfect, either. So, do your research. That way, the so-called professionals can't steal from you so easily. You'll also discover that a good term life insurance policy can easily fit your budget while preserving your most important assets for your family.