Life insurance and living benefits aren't a set-it-and-forget-it purchase. The right coverage at 28, single and renting looks nothing like the right coverage at 38 with a mortgage and two kids. A few specific moments are worth treating as a trigger to actually look again.
1. A new mortgage or major debt
Taking on a mortgage — or any large debt — changes what your family would need to cover if your income disappeared. This is usually the single biggest jump in coverage need most people experience.
2. A new child, or your youngest becomes independent
Both directions matter here. A new dependent usually means more coverage is worth considering. On the other end, once kids are financially independent, some of that original need may no longer apply — which can be a moment to redirect coverage toward estate planning instead of income replacement.
3. A new job, or leaving one
If your group benefits changed — better, worse, or gone entirely — it's worth checking what that actually means for your total coverage, not just assuming the new plan matches the old one.
4. Starting or growing a business
Business owners often need coverage the personal side of the household doesn't: key-person insurance, buy-sell agreement funding, or coverage tied to a business loan. None of that shows up automatically in a personal policy.
5. A change in health
This one runs backwards from the others: the smart move is reviewing coverage before a health change, while you're still easily insurable, not after. If you've been putting off getting coverage "until things settle down," your current health is the best it's likely to be for qualifying.
None of these need to be a big production
A review doesn't mean starting over — often it's a short conversation to confirm what you have still fits, or a small adjustment if it doesn't. If any of the five above apply to you right now, that's a reasonable moment to have that conversation.