Children- When our kids were 30 days old (earliest we could get them coverage) we opened policies. Was it a lot? No. Enough to bury them if the biggest fear in our lives would take place. If they do not need it, it grows. I believe we pay $25/month. With kids, you can hardly eat on $25 for a family of five. I realize everyone has different financial situations and $25/mo may not be possible. For those who can afford it, it is money well spent. I forget the numbers exactly. I want to say it got them $25-50k in whole life insurance. The policy NEVER goes up. Should they continue to contribute the $25/mo until they retire, the whole life pay out was an incredible amount of money. By the time my kids are 60-70yrs old and retiring, $25/mo will seem like a buck or two to us right now. Inflation will make it seem comical. I highly recommend doing this for your kids and praying you never have to cash it in. We use Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance but I am sure others are similar. I know they have won awards for decades straight though. Their company impressed us.
Jim- You and your family are in my thoughts. I thoroughly enjoyed the conversation the other night, somber as it was at times. Your unending love in a world of failed marriages is the positive example I look up to. I pray you continue to reach to find your way to a new happiness. It may be a different happiness than you shared with Syndi, but you deserve happiness. You are a good man.