Whole life insurance can be bought in two different ways: either through a company-sponsored plan or directly. The former option is more common and more cost-effective, but the latter is more flexible. Whole life insurance, also sometimes known as “straight life” insurance or “normal life,” differs from the traditional form of life insurance by being designed to pay out to beneficiaries upon the policy holder’s death. If a policyholder does not die during the policy term, the premiums go out at the discretion of the premium provider. If a person dies during the policy term, the compensation is paid directly to the beneficiary or beneficiaries.
Because of the significant advantages, whole life insurance has become very popular over many years. Most people prefer the whole Life Insurance Policy because they provide financial stability and long-term benefits. Compared to term life insurance policies, whole life insurance policies offer more money to beneficiaries in the event of the policy holder’s death. For example, if the policyholder has a family, each member receives the death benefit. Also, unlike term life insurance policies, people who own whole life insurance policies do not have to obtain renewal insurance every year.
Unlike other whole life insurance policies, the cash value in whole life insurance policies builds over time. If a policyholder outlives his approach, he can claim a cash value settlement. The settlement can be used to cover costs associated with the policy, such as policy administration fees. Policyholders can also borrow against the value of the payment in certain circumstances, depending on the insurance provider. Claims of these types of settlements are usually repaid with interest by the policyholder.
Most whole life insurance policies offer two options for surrender value. One option is the “cash surrender value,” which can replace the policyholder’s death benefit. The second option is the “year-round” surrender value. This option guarantees that the death benefit will continue to be available throughout the year. Both options are based on the assumption that the policyholder will never die. Some policies allow the policyholder to choose the amount of coverage he desires.
A whole life insurance policy provides coverage and is tax-deferred. A portion of the death benefit will be returned to the policyholder in exchange for paying a premium, called a surrender fee. When people purchase a whole life insurance policy, they should also buy a universal or variable universal life policy. Universal policies allow the policyholder to build cash value on a tax-deferred basis.
A factor that affects whole life insurance policy premiums is the initial premium amount. Insurance premiums will increase annually, but they start lower than traditional policies. If the insured elects to make payments to the insurance company under an agreed-upon period, these payments will be tax-deductible. Another advantage of a whole life insurance policy is that policyholders are allowed to borrow against the cash value savings component of the policy.
Another option available to policyholders is the transfer of a permanent policy to a new insured. A transfer of permanent life insurance allows the insured to convert their whole life insurance policy into a variable universal life policy. In turn, the insured can take advantage of the benefits of a variable universal life policy. Another reason why the transfer of a permanent life insurance policy to a new insured is attractive is that the insured does not lose the lifetime cash value of the policy. Transfer of a permanent policy usually requires the payment of some sort of fees.
Whole life insurance can provide financial protection for family members for many years, and a policyholder may be able to get additional benefits depending on his or her age, health, and death expectancy at the time of application. For this reason, whole life insurance has become a very popular choice among people who are planning to leave their loved ones financially protected. However, the policy holder should be aware that insurance rates will go up if the person becomes ill or if he or she gets old. Also, while a person may initially save money by having a whole life policy, he or she should be prepared for higher insurance rates when the policy matures.