How we are paid

One sentence

When a reader buys a policy through our licensed agents, the insurer that issues it pays our agency a commission, and the reader pays no fee to us at any point.

What the commission is tied to

The commission is a share of the premium, on a schedule each insurer sets for each product. So a policy funded with a larger premium usually pays the agency more, and two policies with the same death benefit can pay very different amounts.

The conflict, stated plainly

• A bigger target premium can mean a bigger commission, so any agent has a reason to suggest more premium than a plan needs.
• A policy built to hold cash value costs more than term life for the same death benefit, so any agent has a reason to suggest it when term would do.
• Schedules differ by insurer, so any agent has a reason to favor one insurer over another.

What we do about it

• We ask what the policy is for before we talk about any product, and we say so when term life covers the need.
• Every illustration we request is run at the insurer's illustrated rate and again at a lower rate, so you see the weaker case.
• We show the charges and the lapse age in the guaranteed column, not only the projected values.
• The data on this site is printed the same way whether or not our agents can sell the product it describes.

Who never pays us

No insurer pays to appear on this site, to rank higher in a table or to be left out of the case file. Advertisers do not buy placement. You never pay us.

Ask on the call

Ask the agent how they are paid on each illustration they show you. You can also call (305) 699-5857 with the question before you request anything.