Two main families exist: term life (pure protection for a fixed period — 10/20/30 years — cheap and simple) and permanent life (whole, universal, variable — protection plus cash-value investment, expensive and complex). For most households, term is enough; the cash-value component is rarely the best investment vehicle.
Coverage should equal 10–15× annual income for a primary earner with dependents, scaled down as savings grow and dependents become independent. Single individuals without dependents usually need little or none.
Beispiel
A 35-year-old non-smoker buys CHF 1m of 20-year term life insurance for about CHF 35/month — enough to cover the mortgage and children's expenses if they die early.