Living Benefits
Do you know of anyone who has needed a wheel chair, cane or crutches? You should know that you could have access and be entitled to an immediate cash payout if this ever happens to you!
Whole life policies are simply one form of whole life insurance. Universal life, fixed universal life, and flexible universal life are some other variations. Whole life lasts for the policyholder's entire lifetime, as opposed to annual term life, which is only for a specified number of years. The policy will pay a death benefit, expenses, and dividend payments in the policy's duration.
When buying whole life insurance, there are two main types available. They are called "cash-value" and "cash-surrender-value." With a cash-value policy, the death benefit and premiums are paid upfront, with no insurance claim being made after the policyholder dies. There is an additional savings component. This component is used to pay costs such as administration and mortgage insurance.
A cash-value policy allows a premium to be invested in a variety of options, including stocks, bonds, mutual funds, real estate, and even money market accounts. By paying premiums and gaining interest on the savings component, the policyholder can offset the policy's cost. This means that if a death benefit is needed, the policyholder may use the savings component to pay it off.
In contrast, a whole life insurance policy provides coverage for the policyholder's entire lifetime. The premium remains consistent throughout the policy. Policyholders may also choose to institute a death benefit, which they can borrow against in the event of a disability or death. The policyholder has the option to create an estate plan, providing a final benefit to designated beneficiaries.
There are two basic kinds of whole life insurance policies. One pays a death benefit to named beneficiaries; the other provides living benefits to named beneficiaries. In the former, the premium paid is tax-deductible while the cash-value is tax-free. The latter allows the premium payments to be deducted, thus increasing the beneficiary's amount or named beneficiaries. The benefit is limited to the amount of premium paid.
Some whole life insurance policies contain features that allow the policyholder to invest funds beyond the death benefit. These include deferred growth dividends and non-taxable interest. The dividends received are subject to U.S. capital gains tax until distributions. Non-taxable dividends are not taxable until distributions are made. Most whole life insurance policies allow the policyholder to borrow against the policy's death benefit.
Policyholders can borrow against a whole life insurance policy's cash-value when a policyholder experiences a terminal illness or early death. A policyholder can borrow by taking out a loan from either a bank or an insurance company. Policyholders may also borrow against the policy's remaining value in certain circumstances. If a policyholder receives a payout, and then sells the policy, the proceeds from the policy's sale will not be taxable unless they are exempt from income. This applies to dividends on cash-value policies.
Although whole life insurance policies have many benefits, you should remember that they can also come with several disadvantages. The most significant disadvantage is that premiums can become relatively high due to the population's rise in life expectancy. The other drawback is that premiums may not be affordable to all individuals, especially those with a poor health history.
Some additional drawbacks to whole life coverage, for example, are often co-payment requirements. There may also be a cap on the number of claims you can make within a specific time period. Policyholders need to remember that they will need to pay tax on any premiums they receive above the cap and any benefit paid out under the policy.
You can purchase universal life insurance for a variety of different prices. One of the more affordable options is the universal life policy, as it allows you to choose between a fixed and variable premium payment. Another option is to purchase a low premium term life insurance policy that will never expire. This is another way to add a cash-value savings component to your whole life insurance policy.
You might find that the out-of-pocket expenses for whole life insurance appear more daunting than they do for term life insurance. This is because the dollars you spend on term life coverage premiums are not just there to give a death benefit to your surviving beneficiaries if you die within a defined period of time. It is also money that you accumulate over time to build cash-value, which you may use as cash when retirement age rolls around. The fact is, there is considerable variation in the rates of return that all insurance companies obtain.
To get a clear picture of how much you will earn over time, Plentii has agents who want to speak to you about your living benefits! Contact us here.
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Whole life insurance policies are suitable for people who want to build cash-value on the policy while paying a minimal premium. They are the most appropriate choice for coverage when your family's future depends upon receiving a substantial amount of money during your lifetime. Some whole life insurance policies offer a special increase in premiums at the age of 75, but this is not always the case. Purchasing life insurance is an important investment and decision that should be made thoughtfully and carefully.