Life insurance can be an issue many people prefer to avoid. After all, one's mortality is not always the most popular of topics of discussion.

The problem with avoiding the issue altogether is that life insurance can be a key factor in the financial security of those left behind after the tragic loss of a loved one, especially if that person is the primary income earner in the home.

The question for those who consider buying life insurance is rarely whether or not it is wise to buy it, but whether to purchase coverage of one's whole life, or that of a few decades.