Whole Life Insurance as a Financial Asset
Whole life insurance can be a critical part of your overall financial strategy.
That’s because whole life insurance offers a combination of death benefit protection, cash value accumulation, guarantees and income tax advantages that differentiate it from most other types of financial products.
A whole life insurance policy can be a versatile financial asset that may help you effectively address different financial needs during various stages of your life. The policy accumulates guaranteed cash value over time which increases each year and will never decline in value due to changes in the financial markets.
The information provided is not written or intended as specific tax or legal advice and may not be relied on for purposes of avoiding any federal tax penalties. Individuals are encouraged to seek advice from their own tax or legal counsel. The decision to purchase life insurance should be based upon long-term financial goals and the need for death benefit. Life insurance is not an appropriate vehicle for short-term savings or short-term investment strategies. While the policy allows for loans, you should know that there may be little to no cash value available for loans in the policy’s early years.
1Distributions under the policy (including cash dividends and partial/full surrenders) are not subject to taxation up to the amount paid into the policy (cost basis). If the policy is a Modified Endowment Contract, policy loans and/or distributions are taxable to the extent of gain and are subject to a 10% tax penalty.
Access to cash values through borrowing or partial surrenders will reduce the policy’s cash value and death benefit, increase the chance the policy will lapse, and may result in a tax liability if the policy terminates before the death of the insured.
2You should consult with your own legal counsel to determine whether the laws in your state exempt personal and/or business assets from the claims of creditors.