Permanent coverage will also allow the child to build up a substantial amount of savings
in the cash value component of the policy over time.
Any remaining money
in the cash value account of the annuity is usually paid to your beneficiaries, which can include your children, other family members, your church, or charities.
Some life insurance policies, usually permanent types like a whole life, universal life or variable universal life insurance, can accumulate
money in a cash value account.
This advantage is exclusive to permanent life insurance policies; the
growth in the cash value of the policy is not taxed until it is withdrawn.
The cash account
in cash value life insurance, also known as permanent life insurance, such as whole life and universal life typically receives compound interest.
However, if you need both term and permanent coverage, but aren't
interested in the cash value component, you should also consider combining guaranteed universal coverage and term coverage.
Again, you won't earn much in the way of financial
gain in the cash value accumulation for the first 10 — 15 years!
Because the
funds in the cash value grow tax - deferred, they are able to increase faster, and more, than a comparable taxable account.
When evaluating employer pension options, clients often see the hundreds of thousands
in cash value for the first time.
This increases the face amount and the potential for increases
in cash value in the policy.
The policyholder can access the money
in the cash value by withdrawing money or taking a surrender value.
Keep in mind that choosing wisely can greatly increase the accumulated cash value, but poor choices can
result in the cash value being wiped out.
Over the years as you pay your monthly premium, a portion of your premium payment is
placed in the cash value account of your policy where it earns interest.
The cash value in my dividend paying whole life insurance has a guaranteed interest
rate in the cash value and it will never decline in value.
Even if the cash value drops significantly, or there is no cash value
remaining in the cash value account, the policy will remain in force.
If purchasing a permanent life insurance policy, the
savings in the cash value portion of the policy can also be used for funding future goals such as college savings.
Some financial advisors recommend taking out a term policy and investing the difference you would have
paid in a cash value policy into other investments as they tend to be more lucrative.
However, much in the way that a mortgage can be considered a liability, the owner is building
equity in a cash value policy.
Even if your investment does do well, the many fees associated with universal life insurance can make a
dent in your cash value.
This is the best bargain if you can afford because you get huge discounts and on top of that you get compounding effect
immediately in your cash value.
So, investing with whole life insurance may not be a good idea, but saving
in a cash value whole life insurance policy is a good thing to do.
This
buildup in cash value is part of the reason the premiums on a whole life policy generally remain fixed instead of escalating to match the increased risk of death as you age.
Despite this, the flexibility in death benefits, premiums and the potential growth
in cash value make this policy attractive to some.
Pros: There's a chance for a large gain
in cash value if your investment choices do well.
However, since whole life policies charge so much more premium, they also typically grow
in cash value much better than in universal life insurance.