What is the role of a will, and how does it relate to life insurance?

Alright, picture this: your “Will” is basically the script you leave behind so everyone knows who gets your antique rock collection and who’s on the hook for feeding your goldfish. It’s that all-important document spelling out your last wishes—like a final directive from beyond the grave.

Think of life insurance as the “instant gratification” portion of your estate plan. Instead of your loved ones waiting for the will to wind through probate (a long, fancy word for legal red tape), life insurance can pay out pretty quickly, typically tax-free—to whoever you’ve named as beneficiary.

This means your family can avoid financial whiplash from your sudden exit.

Your will directs how your stuff is divided, while your life insurance can swoop in like a superhero to cover immediate expenses (like funeral costs, mortgages, or that wake with the chocolate fountain you always dreamed about). Even better? Life insurance often skips probate if you’ve named a beneficiary (yay for bypassing bureaucratic hoopla!).

• Will = The Master Plan. It’s for stuff like property, guardianship for kids, and your grandmother’s exotic hat collection.

• Life Insurance = Swift relief for the people you loved enough to stick with them even after you’ve made your grand exit.

In other words, your will handles the who-gets-what, and your life insurance keeps the lights on until they’ve figured it all out.