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There are several considerations and benefits to choosing a whole
life insurance policy over other different types of life insurance
policies. With so many options in the insurance marketplace, it is
certainly confusing to choose the best insurance plan for you. However,
here are a few advantages of whole life insurance plans to help you
decide why this might be the right one for you.
Benefits of Whole Life Insurance
•
Lifelong Insurance Coverage: The term whole life insurance is no
misnomer! As the name implies, whole life insurance plans are designed
to provide insurance coverage for your whole life, unlike term insurance
policies, which only offer coverage for a specified period of time.
•
Fixed Insurance Premiums: Premiums for other types of insurance
policies generally increase over time to reflect the rising cost of
protecting older policyholders. But for whole-life insurance policies,
insurers average the entire cost so that you pay a predictable and level
premium throughout your time. Having a fixed insurance premium can be
easier for people to plan around the budget.
• Cash Value: One of
the distinguishing features of a whole life insurance policy is "cash
value". It means that the insurance premiums you pay towards your plan
accumulate in a cash balance that you can use even when you are still
alive! If you do decide to discontinue paying your premiums, your
insurance plan may still be worth something to you. This, however,
depends on how much cash has accumulated. On the contrary, term
insurance premiums (pure insurance policies) only pay out upon a death.
•
Encourages Savings: For those who require additional encouragement,
paying a compulsory policy premium forces them to set aside cash that
can be used at a later date.
• Flexible Money Options: The accrual
nature of your whole life insurance plans will offer you several
flexible options in the future - should you decide to discontinue paying
premiums. There may be a waiting period before you can borrow against
your cash value. You can also opt to stop paying new premiums, and
stretch your accumulated cash value and existing premiums towards a
reduced benefit protection.
• Possible Dividends: If you have a
participating whole life insurance policy, you can receive dividends
from your company. However, they're not guaranteed and are only paid out
when your agency has excess investment earnings, favorable mortality
statistics, or savings on expenses. You can choose how you want the
dividends to be used: reduce your premium payments, paid out in cash,
accumulate interest, or pay for paid up Additional insurance.
•
Tax Deferrals: There are added tax benefits of whole insurance policies.
The growth of interest in whole life policy is tax-deferred! In
addition, if you have a basic participating policy, any dividends you
receive will be considered a return of premium. They will not be taxed
for until your total dividends exceed your total premiums.
•
Certain Death Benefit: Policy holders are usually guaranteed a death
benefit no matter when the holder dies, so long as the plan is active.
This assumes the plan wasn't surrendered, and that premiums were
continued. In comparison, under term insurance policies, beneficiaries
only receive a benefit if the policy holder passes away within the
period covered.