What is typically the primary purpose of life insurance?

The primary purpose of life insurance is to provide income replacement for beneficiaries in the event of the policyholder's death. This is crucial for ensuring that loved ones or dependents can maintain their standard of living and meet ongoing financial obligations, such as mortgage payments, education expenses, and daily living costs, following the loss of the income earner.

While life insurance can have investment components or serve as a tax shelter in certain products, those are secondary benefits and not the fundamental purpose of coverage. Debt coverage can also be a consideration, but it is typically encompassed within the broader goal of income replacement — referring to the financial support that family members would need to cover outstanding debts and continuing expenses. Therefore, income replacement stands out as the essential intent behind obtaining life insurance.