This document provides an introduction to life insurance. It discusses risk and how insurance works by transferring risk from a policyholder to an insurance company in exchange for premium payments. Risk factors like age, health, habits, etc. determine whether someone can get a policy and the cost. The document outlines the main options for life insurance - term insurance which covers a set time period at an affordable cost but does not earn cash value, and permanent insurance which offers lifetime coverage and earns cash value over time in whole life and universal life forms. The purposes of life insurance are also listed, such as providing funds to beneficiaries and paying final expenses.