Term Insurance covers you for a term of one or more years and pays a death benefit only if you die in that term. Term insurance generally offers the largest insurance protection for your premium dollar. It typically does not build up cash value and it may not be renewable at the end of the term or may cost considerably more to continue.

Permanent Life Insurance provides long-term financial protection. These policies include both a death benefit and, in some cases, cash savings. Because of the savings element, premiums tend to be higher. It goes by several names such as universal life, variable universal life and whole life. 

An Annuity is a contract in which an insurance company makes a series of income payments at regular intervals in return for a premium or premiums you have paid. Annuities are most often bought for future retirement income, and can pay an income that can be guaranteed to last as long as you live.