Do away with whatever image of you have of life insurance agents, and think of them as a guide, someone who can walk you through a complicated set of decisions that could affect the lives of your loved ones when you're no longer there for them.

Insurance agents know which kinds of life insurance are right for a young family just starting out, which work as a savings vehicle, which could be useful in retirement planning or estate planning.

In other words, an agent can save you lots of time you'd spend researching the issue on your own. He can serve as your guide now, and help you map your insurance needs in years to come as your situation changes. He can help you find a policy you can afford, and he can prevent you from making mistakes that could be very painful for your beneficiaries after your death, such as not having the right kind or amount of insurance.

How do you select an agent to work with? Begin by asking friends, relatives and neighbors if they would recommend their life insurance agent. Most people are happy to recommend a professional whose service they have been pleased with. Compile a list of three or four agents that you'd be interested in working with, based on personal recommendations.

Ask what products they specialize in, who their typical client is, what insurers they represent, how long they have been in business, what services they offer, and any other concerns you might have. While you're getting information about their practice, get a feel for how you would get along with each person in a professional relationship. After all, you're buying life insurance for the long haul, and you will have to share intimate details about your life, finances and plans with your insurance agent. (Pick someone you are comfortable dealing with and someone who can translate insurance-speak into language you understand.

Insurance agents can earn a number of professional designations, such as Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU). Some have training in financial planning as well as insurance, and have earned designations such as Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC) or Certified Financial Planner (CFP). These advanced studies take several years to complete, and such designations are one indication the agent is serious about his job and up to date on issues in insurance and financial planning. And those who use the designation are often required to follow a code of conduct. You may want to make one of those designations a requirement for the agent you choose.

All insurance agents are licensed by the states they do business in, and an agent should be willing to provide information about that license. Check with regulators to make sure the agent has the proper licenses and has not been disciplined.

Remember, a good agent not only sells insurance; he helps guide his clients through the sometimes complex maze of choices associated with term, whole life, universal life, variable life and other life insurance options.