Last updated Feb. 11, 2023 by Peter Jakes
When you start shopping for life insurance, you’ll have to make two major judgments straight away: What sort of life insurance is best for me? And how much life insurance do I require?
As you compare life insurance alternatives and rates, you’ll most likely gravitate toward a type and coverage that corresponds to how much you want to pay.
Shopping for Life Insurance
This can seem overwhelming, but deciding which type of policy you need is actually simple. There are two main policy categories we will review in this article: Universal life insurance and whole life insurance.
Term life insurance (the most popular type of life insurance) lasts for a specific amount of time. While whole life insurance (the most popular type of permanent coverage) lasts your entire life.
Once you decide between whole life and universal life coverage, you’re already halfway to the finish line. We’ll explain the differences between the two and the options available so you can choose the one that suits your investing options.
What Is Whole Life Insurance?
Whole life insurance can protect you for the rest of your life. A policy account accumulates monetary value over time by deducting a portion of your premium payment and also adding interest.
A whole life insurance policy includes
- Promises that the premium will not rise,
- The death benefit will not decrease,
- The cash value will earn a specified rate of return.
Who is it appropriate for: Whole life insurance is appropriate for people who desire lifelong coverage and are willing to pay for the policy’s guarantees.
The downside to this policy: due to its guaranteed characteristics, whole life insurance is a more expensive way to purchase life insurance. There are different whole life insurance policies. They are non-participating whole life insurance, limited payment WLI, single premium whole life insurance, etc.
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What Is Universal Life Insurance?
The Fundamentals: Because there are different types of universal life insurance, it can be difficult to grasp. Note that universal life insurance does not provide the same guarantees as whole life insurance. The former can be less expensive.
With universal life insurance, Within certain limits, you can
- Change the premium payment amounts.
- Change the death benefit amount.
- Universal Life plans frequently include a cash value component.
Who is it appropriate for: Universal life insurance is appropriate for those seeking lifelong coverage.
Some ULs are appropriate for consumers who desire to link their cash value gains to market performance (indexed and variable universal life insurance).
The downsides to this policy: If the cash value is your primary concern, not all UL plans guarantee cash value profits. Also, if you want to pay flexible premiums, you must keep track of your policy’s status. This is to ensure that the policy’s fees and charges do not deplete your cash value and cause it to expire.
You also need to understand what is and isn’t covered by a UL policy.
Types of Universal Life Insurance
Indexed universal life insurance
The most common type of UL is indexed universal life insurance. The cash value account has a fixed minimum and maximum interest rate. This is based on a stock market index like S& and P 500, chosen by the insurer.
Advantages of Indexed life insurance
cash value appreciation: The cash value account has the potential for greater gains than other permanent life insurance policies, depending on stock market success.
The disadvantage is its limit on investment.
The majority of insurers limit cash value gains. You will not lose your initial cash value. However, dedicated investing accounts will provide higher returns.
Who is it for Portfolio enhancers are the intended users of Indexed Universal life insurance?
If you’ve exhausted all of your other investment options or are searching for a relatively safe investment with guaranteed minimum values, IULs may be for you.
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Guaranteed Universal Life Insurance
Guaranteed universal life insurance is universal life insurance without the risk of market fluctuations. Your premiums remain unchanged regardless of the performance of market indexes. In this insurance, your plan’s interest rates are baked into the premiums at the time of policy purchase.
This sort of life insurance offers a “no-lapse” guarantee, which ensures coverage as long as premiums are paid.
Guaranteed universal life insurance offers permanent coverage without the market volatility of indexed or variable policies.
Con: no cash assurance
Contrary to several permanent life insurance policies, GUL does not permit premium payments from the cash value account. If you miss a premium payment, your insurance coverage will lapse.
This type of insurance is for risk-averse individuals with permanent insurance needs.
Guaranteed universal life insurance is a relatively inexpensive permanent option, similar to a term life insurance policy with a permanent term.
Variable Universal Life Insurance
The life insurance firm determines the variable interest rate for variable universal life insurance. The cash value is placed in variable-appreciation mutual funds. This type of insurance contains characteristics of both universal and variable life insurance contracts.
Advantage: Cash value increases
Depending on your investment choices, the cash value account has the potential to produce greater returns than other permanent life insurance policies.
Cons: The policyholder manages the investment portfolio, not the insurance provider. In contrast to other types of permanent insurance, you must manage your own cash value investments or work with your own financial advisor.
Best for: Do-it-yourself investors
There is a substantial potential benefit for policyholders who are willing to participate in good investments and money management.
What Type of Life Insurance is Best For You?
Term life insurance policies are usually the ideal answer for people who need affordable life insurance for a set period in their lives. Whole life insurance policies are appropriate for customers who can pay more. It is also good for people who desire life protection that will never expire.
Simplified issues and guaranteed issue life insurance are policies for people who would not be able to get covered due to age or poor health. It is also ideal for senior consumers who don’t want to burden their families with funeral fees.
You should always speak to a registered independent broker or a financial counselor to find the best insurance company and policy for you. They can help you analyze the benefits and cons of each form of coverage. You can also get the proper sort of insurance for your needs.
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Whole Life vs. Universal Life Insurance: Which Is More Suitable For Investing?
Under the investment component of insurance, you can accumulate a cash value in the policy. The following are why whole life insurance is more suitable for investing:
- You can also withdraw or borrow from the whole life insurance policy.
- Whole life insurance allows policyholders to develop money while premium payments cover insurance costs.
- These frequent premium payments also help with savings account equity growth.
- Whole life insurance provides coverage for the whole life of the insured and an option of investing from your savings.
- After the demise of a breadwinner, whole life insurance can give financial support to dependents.
- Whole life insurance is also essential for liquidating business obligations.
- You can equally use it for paying off mortgages and ensuring that family members have access to funds in the case of a major sickness, accident, or death.
- In addition, it provides the insured with adjustable premiums, tax-deferred investment opportunities, and a level or rising death benefit.
The investing components of universal life insurance are intended to safeguard the employee and his or her family. They also give employees access to professionally managed assets that can help them save for future expenses.
Why Whole Life Insurance is The Best for Investing
Whole life insurance is a combination of two products: a permanent policy that provides everlasting coverage and a savings account.
The insurer invests a portion of your premium payment in giving your coverage financial value.
This account accrues interest at a fixed rate that is guaranteed by the insurer. The cash value component appreciates tax-deferred. This implies that any interest you earn is not subject to taxation so long as the money remains in the account.
- Once your policy has accrued sufficient cash value, you can begin to borrow against it. Although you are not required to repay these loans – it is your money — your insurer will deduct any outstanding loans from your death benefit.
- You may receive dividends based on the firm’s financial performance if you purchase a mutual life insurance company policy.
- You can cash them in, use them to pay premiums, or get additional coverage to increase the face amount of your life insurance policy. If you select this option, your cash worth will also grow.
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Best Times to Take Out a Whole Life Insurance
When you want to diversify your investment portfolio
The cash value of whole life insurance grows at a predetermined rate, and returns are predictable. They are not subject to market fluctuations; therefore, you will not lose money if the market takes a turn.
This is distinct from permanent products such as variable life insurance and variable universal life insurance. The cash value of these plans rises at a variable rate, indicating that returns are not guaranteed and are subject to market conditions.
You’ve maxed out your retirement accounts.
A whole life insurance policy can supplement your tax-deferred savings. If you’re a high-net-worth individual who has already made all of the allowed contributions to tax-advantaged accounts like 401(k) plans. Also, if you have individual retirement accounts.
You can surrender your policy and get the interest that has accrued over the years if you are in the following situations:
- When your children are grown,
- Your mortgage is paid off
- You no longer require life insurance for any other reason
Your beneficiaries won’t receive a death benefit if you surrender your policy, and the rise in value may be liable to income tax.
You have a lifelong dependent, such as a child with a disability.
Anyone who is financially dependent on another person can benefit from having life insurance. You may want to consider a whole life insurance policy if you are a parent caring for a child with a disability. Regardless of when you pass away, your loved ones will have peace of mind knowing that they will receive a benefit from it.
Disadvantages of Taking Out a Life Insurance Policy
As good as taking out life insurance is, there are equally disadvantages to taking out life insurance. This is exactly where you can check out other insurance options available for you.
You can’t control your portfolio.
You don’t have to fret about investing because your insurer will do it for you if you purchase full life insurance. It is impossible for a policyholder to direct the investments made or the cash allocated to them.
Whole life insurance is a practical learning investment on the one hand. The investment managers of your insurance may not be your cup of tea if you’re an experienced investor.
The cash value is slow to grow.
For the first few years, your insurer will deduct fees, commissions, and other administrative costs from your premiums.
Ultimately, a larger portion of your premium will be applied to your cash worth. However, this takes time, so it may take 10 to 15 years (or even longer) to accumulate sufficient money to borrow against.
If you prefer an investment that yields good returns rapidly, consider other investment options. Furthermore, if you’re interested in the type of investment provided by whole life insurance, purchase a policy when you’re young. It will give you plenty of time to harvest huge rewards.
There can be tax implications if you withdraw cash from your insurance policy.
In general, you only pay taxes on the cash value if you use it. The IRS only taxes the amount that exceeds the insurance basis. This is the amount of money you’ve already paid in premiums, minus any dividends you’ve received.
If you withdraw less than the policy’s minimum, the funds are yours tax-free. Any withdrawals in excess of that amount, however, are subject to income tax.
You may also have to pay taxes if you surrender your life insurance policy or borrow against it and do not repay the loan. We recommend you speak with a tax professional to learn more about how whole life insurance can affect your tax situation.
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If you want to assess life insurance as an investment, you’ll need to grasp the financial details. It includes how it works and how much you pay to the insurance company. In addition, you’ll determine when and what kind of advantages and returns you get over time from those many years of premiums.
Whole Life insurance lasts a lifetime and contains fixed death benefits and guaranteed cash value buildup. Consequently, it has consistent, higher rates than term insurance.
Universal life insurance often provides variable premiums, an adjustable death benefit, and a savings component. These characteristics are based on risk tolerance and asset allocation. However, it may require a medical test to qualify. Taxes are postponed in both circumstances, and as an investor, you can borrow money against the cash value of the policy.
The capacity to borrow from the insurance company against the cash value is an exceptional financial benefit. People sometimes forget that having access to credit might wind up saving them a lot of money over time. Not just that, the premium benefits are often hidden.
Frequently asked questions
Q: Which type of life insurance policy combines insurance and investing?
You can use the cash value of whole life insurance policies to save or invest. However, cash value policies have the following:
- more expensive premiums,
- limited investment options,
- relatively low rates of return,
they’re not a great primary savings vehicle.
Q: What type of life insurance should you get?
The best life insurance coverage for you is determined by your financial situation and dependents. Most individuals prefer whole life insurance because it is less expensive.
However, whole life insurance makes sense for those who require everlasting coverage or want insurance with a cash value. This cash value helps with investments.
