Joretha Bothma, Head of Product Development at Momentum Life Insurance

People often celebrate love through grand gestures and symbolic gifts. But for many couples, commitment is ultimately shown in the quieter, more practical choices made to protect one another over time.

Life insurance which may include benefits such as life cover, disability, critical illness and income protection isn’t always an easy topic to raise in a relationship. Yet it forms an important part of long-term financial planning. According to Joretha Bothma, Head of Product Development, Underwriting and Claims at Momentum Life Insurance, life insurance is about continuity. “It helps ensure that financial support remains in place for those who depend on you, even when life takes an unexpected turn.”

Unlike traditional gifts that are enjoyed in the moment, life insurance is designed with the future in mind. It can help provide financial support during serious illness or disability, or ensure dependants are cared for after the loss of an income earner. Cover can also be linked to specific responsibilities, such as paying off a home loan or planning for future education costs.

Importantly, life insurance is not something that should be set once and forgotten. As lives change, so do financial needs. “It’s not a one-size-fits-all or once-off decision,” says Bothma. “That’s why guidance from a trusted financial adviser matters. As circumstances shift for example, when starting a family cover should be reviewed to make sure it’s still appropriate.”

At its heart, life insurance is about having the right protection at the right time. Regular check-ins with a financial adviser can help ensure cover keeps pace with changing priorities, responsibilities and stages of life.

Life insurance also plays a crucial role during times of loss, serious illness or disability, when emotional strain is often accompanied by financial pressure. “A life insurance payout can help cover immediate expenses and ongoing commitments,” Bothma explains, “giving families breathing room to focus on what matters most, without the added stress of financial uncertainty.”

Different types of benefits are designed to meet different needs. Some provide broad financial support for loved ones, while others are tailored to challenges that arise from illness, impairment or disability. “These benefits are there to ease financial strain during an already difficult time,” says Bothma, “and to provide a sense of certainty when everything else feels uncertain.”

She encourages couples to see life insurance as a shared conversation rather than a technical product choice. “Speaking to a financial adviser can help couples better understand their responsibilities to each other and ensure their financial planning reflects the life they’re building together.”

As this Month invites reflection on love and partnership, it also offers a moment to consider how care is shown beyond flowers and cards. Financial protection may not be romantic in the traditional sense, but it remains one of the most enduring ways to look after the people you love.

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