Life Insurance

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Permanent Life Insurance | Term Life Insurance

Permanent Life Insurance

There are three variations of permanent life insurance: traditional whole life, interest-sensitive whole life and universal life.

traditional whole life

• Level premiums and level death benefit
• Cost usually higher than term insurance in early policy years, lower in later years
• Portion of premium develops cash value over time that may be used for:
  • Emergency funds
  • Retirement income
  • Purchase of a paid up policy

interest-sensitive whole life

• Accumulations based on earnings credited to policy's general account
• Credits excess interest rate above guaranteed rate
• Marketed by stock companies
• Cost similar to traditional whole life policies
• Insured retains some portion of investment risk

universal life

Has features of both term and permanent insurance

• Side investment fund earns at a current interest rate
• Cash values are credited with a higher current interest rate
• Guaranteed minimum rate
• Same loan provisions as other permanent policies. Loan features include:
    o Borrowed cash values continue to receive guaranteed interest rate
    o Loans generally not taxable
• Partial surrender provision
    o Withdraw part of cash value without a repayment provision
    o Interest portion of withdrawal is taxable
    o Death benefit options
    o Pays beneficiary face amount of policy
    o Pays beneficiary policy's face amount plus accumulated values

Term Life Insurance

Term life insurance is pure insurance protection that pays a predetermined sum if the insured dies during a specified period of time. On the death of the insured, term insurance pays the face value of the policy to the named beneficiary. All premiums paid are used to cover the cost of insurance protection.

The term may be one, five, 10, 20 years or longer. But, unless renewed, the insurance coverage ends when the term of the policy expires. Since this is temporary insurance coverage it is the least expensive to acquire. A healthy 35 year old (non-smoker) can typically obtain a 20-year level-premium policy with a $250,000 face value, for between $20-$30 per month. Here are the main characteristics of term life insurance: 

• Temporary insurance protection
• Low cost
• No cash value
• Usually renewable
• Sometimes convertible to permanent life insurance

What Are The Different Types Of Permanent Life Insurance Policies?

Life Insurance - Whole or ordinary life

This is the most common type of permanent insurance policy. It offers a death benefit along with a savings account. If you pick this type of life insurance policy, you are agreeing to pay a certain amount in premiums on a regular basis for a specific death benefit. The savings element would grow based on dividends the company pays to you.

Life Insurance - Universal or adjustable life

This type of policy offers you more flexibility than whole life insurance.

You may be able to increase the death benefit, if you pass a medical examination. The savings vehicle (called a cash value account) generally earns a money market rate of interest. After money has accumulated in your account, you will also have the option of altering your premium payments – providing there is enough money in your account to cover the costs. This can be a useful feature if your economic situation has suddenly changed. However, you would need to keep in mind that if you stop or reduce your premiums and the saving accumulation gets used up, the policy might lapse and your life insurance coverage will end. You should check with your agent before deciding not to make premium payments for extended periods because you might not have enough cash value to pay the monthly charges to prevent a policy lapse.

Life Insurance - Variable life

This policy combines death protection with a savings account that you can invest in stocks, bonds and money market mutual funds. The value of your policy may grow more quickly, but you also have more risk. If your investments do not perform well, your cash value and death benefit may decrease. Some policies, however, guarantee that your death benefit will not fall below a minimum level.

Life Insurance - Variable-universal life

If you purchase this type of policy, you get the features of variable and universal life policies. You have the investment risks and rewards characteristic of variable life insurance, coupled with the ability to adjust your premiums and death benefit that is characteristic of universal life insurance.

Life Insurance - Why Should I Purchase Permanent Insurance?

A permanent life policy provides lifelong insurance protection. The policy pays a death benefit if you die tomorrow or if you live to be a hundred. There is also a savings element that will grow on a tax-deferred basis and may become substantial over time. Because of the savings element, premiums are generally higher for permanent than for term insurance. However, the premium in a permanent policy remains the same, while term can go up substantially every time you renew it.

There are a number of different types of permanent insurance policies, such as whole (ordinary) life, universal life, variable life, and variable/universal life. In a permanent policy, the cash value is different from its face value amount. The face amount is the money that will be paid at death. Cash value is the amount of money available to you. There are a number of ways that you can use this cash savings. For instance, you can take a loan against it or you can surrender the policy before you die to collect the accumulated savings.

There are unique features to a permanent policy such as:

• You can lock in premiums when you purchase the policy. By purchasing a permanent policy, the premium will not increase as you age or if your health status changes.
  
• The policy will accumulate cash savings.
  Depending on the policy, you may be able to withdraw some of the money. You also may have these options:
  
  • Use the cash value to pay premiums. If unexpected expenses occur, you can stop or reduce your premiums. The cash value in the policy can be used toward the premium payment to continue your current insurance protection – providing there is enough money accumulated.
    
  • Borrow from the insurance company using the cash value in your life insurance as collateral. Like all loans, you will ultimately need to repay the insurer with interest. Otherwise, the policy may lapse or your beneficiaries will receive a reduced death benefit. However, unlike loans from most financial institutions, the loan is not dependent on credit checks or other restrictions.

A few tips about permanent life insurance

When the contract ends, you have no further interest. But when you buy a permanent policy, it stays in force during your lifetime and accumulates a cash value from a tax-deferred savings component. So a permanent policy is term insurance plus an investment account and many buy this kind of policy because you can borrow from the cash component or surrender a part of the policy during your lifetime.

Because of the savings or investment component, permanent policies cost more than term policies. The first main issue for you to consider is the scale of the investment element. Over the last ten years, the stock market has outperformed other forms of investment. It’s only recently that the DJIA and other indicators have begun to fall. Thus, if all you want is high growth, don’t buy policies of this type. Buy term insurance and make your own investment decisions.

Insurance companies are not wealth managers with a mission to maximize your capital. They are conservative investment managers whose only mission is to provide steady growth (if possible) over time. Remember, to maintain the tax efficiencies, the policy should be in force at least fifteen years. Always think long term and, so long as the policy has the required number of years in play, the benefits pass to your beneficiaries tax free.

The different types of permanent insurance policies give you a choice on how your savings are to be invested. It’s up to you to investigate the options and to be comfortable with the decisions you make about risk. A further essential element to consider are the options to stop paying the premiums later in the policy’s life. Depending on the terms of the policy, you may be able to use the accumulated investment income to pay the premiums, or you may buy an annuity with that element. This will relieve any financial strain in maintaining instalment payments during your retirement.

Finally, look carefully at the conditions you have to meet to withdraw cash from the investment account, or borrow from the account or use it as collateral for a loan. Since there will be both a cash and surrender value, it is important to know how to use this value to pay for your children’s education or should an emergency arise. Always have a clear understanding of a policy before you buy. Never buy simply because the premium is a low or affordable cost. Get the best value for your dollars.

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