With men typically being the main bread winner in a family the need for men with dependants to protect their family\'s financial future with life insurance such as family income benefit has been highlighted by new research stating that men are almost 40 per cent more likely than women to die from cancer.

According to a report by the National Cancer Intelligence Network (NCIN), Cancer Research UK and the Men\'s Health Forum, men are also 16 per cent more likely to develop the disease in the first place.

When breast cancer and sex-specific melanomas are taken out of the picture, the chances of men dying from the disease compared to women jump to 70 per cent, with the likelihood of developing the illness rising 60 per cent.

According to the experts, the high differences may be down to \"stereotypical male behaviour\" such as down-playing \"important early symptoms and having an unhealthy lifestyle\".

\"Men have a reputation for having a \'stiff upper lip\' and not being as health-conscious as women,\" explained Professor David Forman of the NCIN.

They are also likely to risk their health and finances by ignoring insurance such as income protection or critical illness cover, according to recent research from Friends Provident. Some 71 per cent do not have life insurance and 81 per cent do not even have a will, the research showed.

One type of insurance to consider is family income benefit. Family income benefit insurance is a form of term life insurance that pays out a regular monthly tax free income instead of a lump sum. This type of cover allows parents to adequately provide an income to replace their own if they were to die within the policies term.

Family income benefit is particularly attractive to parents who like to know their families have a regular monthly income rather than having to worry about complex investments to make the most of a lump sum payout.

Where can I find out more about protecting my family?
There are many online life insurance and protection websites that provide detailed information on the different protections available for family protection. Once you have read up on the different options you have many will have online quotation systems that will allow you to obtain instant quotes on the different protection options. Once you have an idea of the costs for the different options you can prioritise which ones you need and which once you would like if you can fit the monthly cost into your budget.

If you would prefer you can just go to an independent financial advisor, there are many online financial advisors these days you other fee free financial advice. They will take the time to complete a detailed analysis of your financial situation, known as a fact finding, and come back with a detailed proposal for you families financial protection. It is important to remember that you do not need to take their recommendation and you can use their advice to shop around and see if you can get the same cover at a cheaper premium.