Steve Jobs once said, “You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future.”
As children, one of the favorite activities was completing “connect the dots” pictures. There was an image hidden on the page, and to make it pop out, a line had to be drawn connecting point A to B to C, etc.
It’s interesting that something so easy and fun to do as a child is something often avoided as adults. This doesn’t refer to connecting dots on a piece of paper but rather connecting the dots in our lives. Moving from point A to point B without planning for it is common. In life’s normal progression, perhaps with some variation, people receive an education, enter the working world, fall in love, marry, have children, put them through college, retire, and then die. Planning for some of these life events is common, but there is often reluctance to think about the end of life. This is not unusual, as the focus is on enjoying life rather than contemplating what happens after. However, no one gets out of life alive (unless planning to be cryogenically frozen, which is a discussion for another day). Preparing for this inevitability is crucial, even though it means no longer being here. It’s important to consider those who will be left behind and whether they will be able to continue connecting the dots in their lives.
Many people say they don’t have life insurance because they cannot afford it right now. They are too busy connecting other dots in their life: buying a home, having a new baby, putting kids through college. The list goes on and on. However, life insurance is only expensive when it’s not needed. It becomes priceless when it is needed. By the time this realization occurs, it may be too late to finish connecting the dots.
When the Unexpected Happens
Some may still be unconvinced, thinking it won’t happen to them and that they will live a long, long time. While this is hoped to be true, there is no certainty. Life blindsides people every day.
For example, a healthy 43-year-old mother of four went to bed one night and never woke up.
The difference in this situation compared to many others is that life insurance was in place. While it doesn’t mend a broken heart, it can help ease the financial burden and give loved ones the time to grieve without worrying about how to pay the bills.
Statistics on Life Insurance Importance:
- Financial Safety Net: Life insurance provides many American families with an important financial safety net. In 2024, U.S. life insurance premiums grew to $179.97 billion.[1]
- Coverage Gap: Despite the growth, there is a significant $25 trillion mortality protection gap over American families.[2]
- Ownership: 30% of surveyed Americans recognize they need life insurance but don’t have any.[3]
- Perceived Insufficient Coverage: 22% of life insurance owners believe they do not have adequate coverage.[4]
- Income and Insurance Needs: Among those earning $50,000 to $149,999 annually, 39% report a need for more life insurance.[5]
Connecting the dots in life is essential to ensure a complete picture emerges.
To learn more about the types of life insurance, click here. Life Insurance | National Life Group
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[1] Insurance and Estates Life Insurance Statistics: 25 Key Insights for 2025
[2] LIMRA Life Insurance Statistics: 25 Key Insights for 2025
[3] LIMRA How Many People Are Left Uninsured Life Insurance June 15, 2025
[4] CSG Actuarial Life Insurance Facts and Statistics 2025
[5] Source 2023 Insurance Barometer Study 2023