Do I need a contingent beneficiary on every policy?

For a coverage review, primary and contingent beneficiaries should be coordinated with the estate plan, and state or federal spousal rules may limit some changes. Review the policy terms and the latest illustration or benefit summary together, then ask a licensed professional to put any relevant guarantee, exclusion, surrender limit, or beneficiary provision in writing. The beneficiary designation on file generally controls who receives life insurance proceeds, so review the policy directly after divorce, marriage, births, deaths, or other major family changes.