According to experts at www.Forbes.com, permanent life insurance policies are expensive because they are intended to cover the insured for the duration of his life, as compared with less expensive term policies that tend to cover you when you are young and do not readily need the money. Forbes asserts that most people will not require insurance when they retire, as they will not have any dependents, and may rely on retirement plans, Social Security income, and assets from a deceased spouse or family member.