No group plan to fall back on
There’s no employer coverage when you work for yourself. Your own policy is the safety net.
Who we serve · Self-employed
Life insurance for the self-employed
When you work for yourself, there’s no HR department and no group plan. If your family is going to be protected, you’re the one who sets it up — and it’s simpler than most people expect.
Why it matters
What life insurance does for self-employed workers
Almost everyone needs life insurance, and self-employed people usually have none unless they buy it themselves. 1099 contractors, rideshare and delivery drivers, freelancers, consultants, and sole proprietors don’t get a group policy as part of a benefits package. If your family depends on your income — or shares a mortgage or debts with you — that income stops if you do, and there is no employer coverage to soften the landing.
A personal policy fixes that. Term coverage can replace your income for the years your family relies on it and pay off the mortgage; a smaller permanent policy can handle final expenses and leave something behind. Because you own it, it stays with you through slow months, new clients, and career changes.
Applying is usually simpler than people fear. For many simplified-issue policies at everyday coverage amounts, you answer health questions and state your income rather than sending tax returns. Larger amounts can call for more documentation, and for those, carriers often look at your income after business expenses. We’ll tell you up front what a given policy will ask for.
The case for owning your coverage
Why self-employed people build their own safety net
Replace an income only you earn
Clients pay you, not a company that keeps going without you. Coverage can replace that income for years.
Protect the mortgage and debts
A home loan, the vehicle you work from, or business debt you’ve personally guaranteed doesn’t go away. Coverage can clear it.
Simple to apply
Many policies ask health questions and stated income — not tax returns — at everyday amounts, and many can be done by phone.
Coverage that fits
Options worth comparing
Most self-employed people start with term sized to their income and mortgage, then layer in permanent coverage as the business steadies.
Term life
Affordable, level coverage to replace your income for the years your family depends on it.
Learn more →Whole life
Permanent coverage for final expenses and a legacy — with level premiums and cash value that builds over time.
Learn more →Mortgage protection
Coverage timed to your mortgage so the house isn’t riding on next month’s invoices.
Learn more →Coverage for business owners
Have employees, partners, or business loans? See key person and loan coverage.
Learn more →IUL for small business owners
Further along, with steady profit? See where indexed universal life honestly fits for owners.
Learn more →IUL for real estate agents
Commission income and no employer plan — the honest IUL picture for agents.
Learn more →Questions we hear
Self-employed workers life insurance FAQ
Can I get life insurance without proving my self-employed income?
Often, yes, at everyday coverage amounts. Many simplified-issue policies ask you to state your income on the application rather than send tax returns. Larger amounts can require documentation, and for those, carriers often look at your net income after business expenses. Requirements vary by carrier and coverage amount — we’ll tell you up front what a policy will ask for.
Are life insurance premiums tax-deductible if I’m self-employed?
Generally, no. Premiums on a personal life insurance policy that protects your family are generally not tax-deductible, even when you’re self-employed. On the other side, the death benefit is generally paid to your beneficiaries income-tax-free. Your situation may have details that matter, so please confirm with a tax professional — we’re a life insurance agency, not tax advisors.
My income goes up and down. How much coverage should I get?
Base it on what your family would need, not your best month. A common starting point is several years of your average take-home income plus the mortgage and other debts. Then choose a premium you can keep paying in a slow month — a policy that lapses doesn’t protect anyone. We’ll walk through the numbers with you.
Can I apply without a medical exam?
Often, yes. Many policies use health questions and database checks instead of an exam, and many applications can be completed by phone with an e-signature — useful when your time is your income. Larger amounts or certain health histories may call for an exam. Final approval is always subject to the carrier’s underwriting.
What happens to my policy if I go back to a W-2 job?
Nothing changes. A policy you own isn’t tied to how you earn a living, so it stays in force as long as you keep paying the premium. If a future employer offers group coverage, it simply sits on top of what you already own.
No-pressure quote
See what coverage looks like for your family
Tell us a little about yourself and we’ll reach out with honest options — no obligation, no jargon.
- Independent — we compare multiple carriers
- Plain answers, no pressure
- Coverage built around your real needs