Once you have committed to purchasing life insurance, you must then decide what is the most appropriate type of life insurance to buy. Most life insurance policies fall into one of two general categories, term life insurance and whole life insurance.
What is term life insurance?
Term life insurance provides life insurance coverage for a specified period of time, usually five, 10, 15 or 20 years. The beneficiary receives the death benefit if the insured dies while the policy is in force. No benefit is paid if the insured survives to the end of the term. Generally, premiums are level throughout the specified term.
Policies do not build up cash value. If the policy is surrendered, the policyholder does not receive any cash. When the term expires, the policyholder has various options depending on whether the policy is renewable, standard or convertible. With renewable term, the policyholder can renew coverage and take out another term policy without the formality of new applications or medical exams. With standard term, coverage ceases. The policyholder must apply again and take a medical exam if continued life insurance coverage is desired. With convertible term, the policyholder can convert the policy into another type of coverage such as Universal Life or Whole Life. In most cases, premiums will increase when renewing or converting policies.
What is whole life insurance?
Whole life insurance is a form of permanent life insurance that provides coverage for the life of the insured. Unlike term insurance, the policy will remain in force as long as the premium payments are made on time. Generally, premiums remain fixed regardless of a person’s age or health.
Whole life insurance builds cash value, providing the insured with several options. The insured can usually borrow against the cash value of a policy. The insured can also choose to pay premiums from the cash value if the cash value grows to a sufficient level, instead of paying them out-of-pocket.
Several types of whole life insurance exist, including Universal Life, Variable Life, and Variable Universal Life policies. These types of whole life coverage offer the insured variability of death benefits, premium payments, investment choices or a combination of these factors.
What are the costs associated with these types of insurance?
Term life insurance premiums consist primarily of the pure cost of life insurance coverage, with no “automatic savings” feature. Whole life premiums include both the pure cost of current coverage, plus an additional amount that is added to cash value that provides the policyholder with either savings or a pool from which to pay future premiums. Premiums on whole life insurance are initially higher than term life insurance for an equal death benefit. If a policyholder wishes to maintain life insurance coverage until death, term insurance provides cheaper coverage in the early years, but will likely be considerably more expensive in later years, and may not be available.
What does Henssler Financial suggest?
Life insurance should be purchased to cover costs, or to replace income, if the insured were to die prematurely. We generally do not believe in purchasing life insurance as an investment vehicle, as better non-insurance options are available. Our suggestion is to buy term life insurance rather than whole life insurance. As most people get older, their need for life insurance either decreases or is eliminated completely; therefore, a term life policy, which is less expensive than a whole life policy, provides life insurance coverage only for the period of time the coverage is needed. The money saved from lower premium payments can be invested, normally at a lower cost than what is incurred in an insurance product. Prices for the same coverage, and even the same type of policy, can vary significantly from company to company. It is important to shop around before deciding on a specific policy to purchase. For more information regarding this topic, please contact Henssler Financial at 770-429-9166 or experts@henssler.com.
Disclosures
This article is meant to provide valuable background information on particular investments, NOT a recommendation to buy. The investments referenced within this article may currently be traded by Henssler Financial. All material presented is compiled from sources believed to be reliable and current, but accuracy cannot be guaranteed. The contents are intended for general information purposes only. Information provided should not be the sole basis in making any decisions and is not intended to replace the advice of a qualified professional, such as a tax consultant, insurance adviser or attorney. Although this material is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information with respect to the subject matter, it may not apply in all situations. Readers are urged to consult with their adviser concerning specific situations and questions. This is not to be construed as an offer to buy or sell any financial instruments. It is not our intention to state, indicate or imply in any manner that current or past results are indicative of future profitability or expectations. As with all investments, there are associated inherent risks. Please obtain and review all financial material carefully before investing. Henssler is not licensed to offer or sell insurance products, and this overview is not to be construed as an offer to purchase any insurance products.
