Is it better to have life insurance through my job or get my own?

Employer coverage is a fine starting point - the message isn't to cancel it, it's not to *rely* on it. Three catches most people miss: it's usually small (often 1-2x salary, when families tend to need far more); it's not portable, so if you leave, get laid off, or retire it typically ends; and replacing it later can cost more because you'll be older and any health change could raise your rate. Among people who do have coverage, about 1 in 4 rely only on an employer plan - the kind that vanishes with the job. (LIMRA) Keep the work coverage if you like it, and own a policy of your own on top, so your family's floor doesn't depend on your employment.