Permanent life insurance 101

Term life and permanent life are the two main types of life insurance policies. While permanent insurance lasts your entire life, term insurance lasts for a set time period that you choose when you buy a policy — say 10, 20 or 30 years.

An essential feature of most permanent life policies is a savings portion known as cash value. Cash value accumulates over time as you make regular payments toward your policy (these payments are known as premiums). You can typically borrow against your policy's cash value, which accumulates on a tax-deferred basis.¹ The cash value is different from the policy's death benefit. While the cash value is a savings that accumulates over time, the death benefit is the amount of money that your designated beneficiary will receive upon your death. If you cancel your life insurance policy, you will get the accrued cash value. However, you could be assessed a surrender charge for cancellation early in your policy, so be sure to check with your agent first.

Though all forms of permanent life insurance are designed to be kept for the remainder of your life, there are several differences among the types of policies. Consider these common forms of permanent life insurance and their unique features:

• Whole life insurance is the most common type of permanent life insurance, according to the Insurance Information Institute (III). Typically, a whole life policy's premiums and death benefit stay fixed for the duration of the policy. Whole life policies have a guaranteed rate of return, according to Life Happens. That means the cash value of a whole life policy is guaranteed to earn a minimum amount of interest. Some whole life policies also pay out dividends. You may use dividends to reduce premiums, receive them as cash or leave them to accumulate interest.
• Universal life insurance offers greater flexibility than whole life policies, says the III. For instance, universal policies may allow you to increase your death benefit² or reduce your monthly premiums once you accumulate sufficient cash value in your policy. Understand, however, that if you use up your cash value by applying it to premium payments, your policy may lapse.
• Variable universal life insurance³ policies typically include a variety of investment options that may help increase the cash value of your policy. The III advises, however, that investment losses can also reduce the policy's cash value and, subsequently, its death benefit. Variable universal life policies also offer adjustable death benefit and premiums.
• Indexed universal life insurance comes with no fixed interest rate on your cash value, which could increase the potential for greater gains or losses from your investments. On the other hand, most indexed universal life policies also include a minimum interest rate guarantee.

Permanent life insurance can be an important tool to help secure your family's financial future. Have questions about the different types of policies? Get in touch with a life insurance agent, who can help you assess the options and choose a policy that's right for you.