For more, see What are the pros and cons
of life insurance policy loans?
We will address these pros and cons within the context of this article but for brevity's sake, here are some pros and cons
of life insurance policy loans within the context of a non-direct recognition mutual company.
To be sure, the tax advantages combined with the availability
of life insurance policy loans to fund various needs and ventures presents an attractive option for policy holders.
The difference with permanent life insurance is that withdrawals are NEVER required, and thus the tax free growth may never be taxed, and even if proceeds are taken in the form
of a life insurance policy loan, these proceeds aren't taxed either.
However, in reality the tax - free treatment
of a life insurance policy loan is not actually a preference for life insurance under the tax code, but the simple recognition that ultimately a policy loan is just a personal loan between the life insurance company and the policyowner, for which the life insurance cash value is collateral.
In the preceding example, the presence
of the life insurance policy loan reduced the net cash value received when the policy was surrendered, even though it didn't impact the tax consequences of the surrender.
In point of fact, this is why any form
of life insurance policy loan is shown as a «reduction'to the death benefit of the policy.
From the tax perspective, though, the repayment
of a life insurance policy loan from the death benefit of the policy is tax - free, because the payment of a death benefit itself (by reason of the death of the insured) is tax - free in the first place.
However, the situation is far more problematic in scenarios where the balance
of the life insurance policy loan is approaching the cash value, or in the extreme actually equals the total cash value of the policy — the point at which the life insurance company will force the policy to lapse (so the insurance company can ensure full repayment before the loan collateral goes «underwater»).
In reality, though, the «tax - favored» treatment
of a life insurance policy loan is not actually unique or specific to life insurance.
Not exact matches
A
life insurance policy loan is just a
loan from the insurer in which the cash value
of your
policy is used as collateral.
Life expectancy and retirement aside, if you're purchasing a life insurance policy to protect a specific interest — such as a business loan or mortgage — you may also need to think about the potential duration of that need when considering your opti
Life expectancy and retirement aside, if you're purchasing a
life insurance policy to protect a specific interest — such as a business loan or mortgage — you may also need to think about the potential duration of that need when considering your opti
life insurance policy to protect a specific interest — such as a business
loan or mortgage — you may also need to think about the potential duration
of that need when considering your options.
Term
policies are the cheapest form
of life insurance coverage and can be tailored to the size
of your debts, such as mortgages or auto
loans.
Had the individual purchased permanent
life insurance, he or she could have access to a potentially significant source
of supplemental retirement income in the future (depending on the
policy type), while preserving the death benefit in perpetuity (note, however, that the death benefit and cash value
of a
policy is reduced in the event
of a
loan or partial surrender, and the chance
of lapsing the
policy increases).
Part
of the strategy is to work with mutual
life insurance companies that allow flexibility in borrowing from the
policy and allow the cash value to accrue regardless
of outstanding
policy loans.
Whole
Life Insurance Definition: also known as ordinary life insurance, it is a type of permanent life insurance policy that offers a guaranteed death benefit, guaranteed fixed premium, guaranteed cash value and guaranteed access to the policy's cash value through loans and withdraw
Life Insurance Definition: also known as ordinary life insurance, it is a type of permanent life insurance policy that offers a guaranteed death benefit, guaranteed fixed premium, guaranteed cash value and guaranteed access to the policy's cash value through loans and wit
Insurance Definition: also known as ordinary
life insurance, it is a type of permanent life insurance policy that offers a guaranteed death benefit, guaranteed fixed premium, guaranteed cash value and guaranteed access to the policy's cash value through loans and withdraw
life insurance, it is a type of permanent life insurance policy that offers a guaranteed death benefit, guaranteed fixed premium, guaranteed cash value and guaranteed access to the policy's cash value through loans and wit
insurance, it is a type
of permanent
life insurance policy that offers a guaranteed death benefit, guaranteed fixed premium, guaranteed cash value and guaranteed access to the policy's cash value through loans and withdraw
life insurance policy that offers a guaranteed death benefit, guaranteed fixed premium, guaranteed cash value and guaranteed access to the policy's cash value through loans and wit
insurance policy that offers a guaranteed death benefit, guaranteed fixed premium, guaranteed cash value and guaranteed access to the
policy's cash value through
loans and withdrawals.
Whether you want to get rid
of your coverage and cash out your
life insurance or simply take out a
loan, there's a variety
of ways to take advantage
of your
policy's cash value.
A
life insurance policy loan is just a
loan from the insurer in which the cash value
of your
policy is used as collateral.
401 (k)
loans or
life insurance policy loans: Using these types
of loans may help you pay off your debt, but they may create other financial issues.
It's simple to borrow against the cash value
of a permanent
life insurance policy as there are no
loan requirements or qualifications aside from the amount
of cash value you have available.
When the size
of the
loan exceeds your
policy's cash value, the
life insurance policy will lapse, meaning you lose your coverage.
To illustrate, we collected
loan interest rates for variable universal
life insurance policies from three
of the largest insurers:
Taking out a term
life insurance policy for the value
of the student
loan may be a smart way to prevent financial disaster should the worst case scenario happen.
Taking out a
life insurance policy to cover the cost
of cosigned student
loans could be a better option.
Instead
of «
loan life insurance,» why not consider a general
life insurance policy, which can provide your family a means to handle any
of your remaining debts and expenses when you pass; rather than being applied to only one specific
loan, general
life insurance can be used for any expenses your family needs.
Many families take out a
life insurance policy on the borrower so that if the unforeseen happens, they can take care
of the student
loan without causing a strain on their finances.
You can borrow against the equity in your
life insurance policy without any
of the hassles associated with getting a
loan through a fractional reserve bank.
Term
policies are the cheapest form
of life insurance coverage and can be tailored to the size
of your debts, such as mortgages or auto
loans.
Loans and partial withdrawals will decrease the death benefit and cash value
of your
life insurance policy and may be subject to
policy limitations and income tax.
The benefit
of combining the two
insurances into one
policy is you get
life insurance death benefit coverage, help with your long - term care services, cash value growth that can be accessed via
policy loans, with full cash surrender value plus return
of premium if necessary.
It's one
of the reasons why we recommend private
loan cosigners get a
life insurance policy on the borrower.
You can take out a
loan on a
life insurance policy's cash surrender value if you're in need
of immediate funds.
Also, as permanent
insurance, the cash value account in universal
life grows tax - deferred and can be accessed by the policyholder in the form
of loans or withdrawals, subject to any applicable
policy provisions.
And don't forget that you can also access the growth
of your account tax - free, by taking a
life insurance policy loan (sometimes called a swap
loan) against your cash value.
For relatively little ($ 15ish per month) parents can take out a
life insurance policy for the balance
of the student
loans.
Homeowners»
Insurance: Required for all mortgage
loans, protects the home from damage and theft Owner's Title
Insurance: Optional
policy ensuring the title will not be subject to a claim
of ownership, lien or other encumbrance Private Mortgage
Insurance (PMI): Required by most lenders when the down payment is less than 20 % Federal Housing Administration (FHA) Mortgage
Insurance Premium: Required on all FHA
loans Mortgage
Life Insurance: Optional
policy that protects family and estate by paying off the
loan in case
of death Disability
Insurance: Optional
policy that guarantees
loan payments will be made in case
of disability
With a non-direct recognition
life insurance company, the payment
of dividends is NOT reduced or negatively impacted by outstanding
policy loans.
With a number
of ways to use the money that builds up in the cash value account, such as taking out a
life insurance loan or paying
insurance premiums, the flexibility these
policies offer make them attractive to individuals looking to build up savings while at the same time securing
insurance coverage providing leverage in the form
of a death benefit payout.
When this happens, if a cash value
life insurance policy was used to fund a key person
policy, the amount
of the cash value can be taken out in the form
of an easily accessible
life insurance policy loan, with no origination costs, tax free.
The
policy offers two types
of life insurance loans: standard (fixed) and variable.
For example, if you own a $ 500,000
life insurance policy and your parents co-signed on a mortgage
loan worth $ 250,000, you can designate 50 %
of the death benefit to your parents until the
loan is paid off.
With a variable
life insurance policy, you can make a series
of withdrawals from the
policy's cash value, make a single large withdrawal or simply use the cash value as collateral in a
policy loan.
Luckily, there's a really easy way to get around all
of this trouble: an affordable term
life insurance policy that covers your student
loan debt if you die.
And as with a universal
life insurance policy, the funds in the IUL cash value account grows and can be accessed in the form
of partial withdrawals or
policy loans.
You've opened doors for your kid by cosigning student
loans — now protect yourself (and the rest
of the family) with a term
life insurance policy
Above, we noted the advantage that any cash that DOES accumulate within a guaranteed universal
life insurance policy, may be taken in the form
of a
loan and used for concepts such as infinite banking.
Term
life is the the right kind
of life insurance for most people, and it's kind
of policy you'll want to buy to cover a debt like student
loans.
The term «proceeds and avails», in reference to
policies of life insurance, includes death benefits, accelerated payments
of the death benefit or accelerated payment
of a special surrender value, cash surrender and
loan values, premiums waived, and dividends, whether used in reduction
of premiums or in whatever manner used or applied, except where the debtor has, after issuance
of the
policy, elected to receive the dividends in cash.
If you have an outstanding
loan on your whole
life insurance policy when you die, the death benefit that is paid out to your beneficiary (or beneficiaries) will be reduced by the unpaid amount
of..
To conclude on the amount
of life insurance policy you should buy, I will say that you should endeavour not to go below the amount that will cover your funeral expenses, repayment
of your outstanding mortgage or other
loans and your family
living expenses.