10 Questions to Ask Any Burial Insurance Agent Before You Buy

Serving families since 2008, I can tell you the difference between a good agent and a salesperson comes down to how they answer ten questions. Print this list. Ask every question. A good agent will love that you asked.

The ten questions

1. Are you independent, or do you work for one company?

A captive agent can only sell you their employer's product, whether or not it fits. An independent broker shops the market. Good answer: I am independent and contracted with multiple carriers.

2. How many companies did you compare for my quote?

If the answer is one, you are getting a pitch, not a comparison. I compare 25 carriers before recommending anything.

3. Is this day-one coverage, or is there a waiting period?

The single most important policy question. Some agents sell guaranteed issue with a two-year wait to people who could qualify for cheaper day-one coverage. Make them say it out loud.

4. Is the premium locked for life?

The right answer is yes, to the penny. Walk away from anything age-banded, where the price climbs every five years.

5. Will the coverage amount ever shrink?

Whole life stays level forever. Some term and accidental products quietly reduce coverage as you age.

6. Is this whole life or term?

Term can expire before you do. For final expenses, whole life is almost always the right tool. Make the agent name which one it is.

7. What happens if I miss a payment?

You want to hear about the grace period, usually 31 days, and reinstatement options. An honest agent explains how to keep the policy alive, because a lapsed policy helps nobody.

8. What exactly are you telling the carrier about my health?

You sign what the agent submits. If they fudge an answer to get you approved, your family pays for it during the contestability period. Review every health answer before you sign.

9. How are you paid?

Brokers are paid by the insurance company, not by you, and you pay the same premium with or without a broker. Any agent who dodges this question is hiding something.

10. What is your National Producer Number?

Every legitimate agent has an NPN you can verify through state insurance records. Mine is 8895251. If an agent will not give you theirs, hang up.

My answers, for the record

Independent broker. 25 carriers compared on every quote. I tell you plainly whether your policy is day-one or graded, the premiums I quote are locked for life, I only recommend whole life for final expenses, I am paid by carriers and never by you, and my NPN is 8895251. That is the standard. Hold every agent to it, including me.

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Phillip Chin
Reviewed by Phillip Chin, Licensed Insurance Agent
Phillip is a licensed final-expense specialist (NPN #8895251) who has helped hundreds of families secure affordable burial insurance. He shops 25+ A-rated carriers to find the lowest rate for each client’s age and health.
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