Beyond lifelong protection, there are a few additional features of universal life insurance:

You can withdraw money or borrow against the policy's cash value.
Your cash value earns interest.
You have flexibility with premiums.
You can adjust the death benefit.

Withdraw money or borrow against it

When you pay your premium on a universal life insurance policy, a portion of each payment goes toward paying for the death benefit. Another portion also goes to building up the policy's cash value. Over time, after money has accumulated, you may be able to withdraw or borrow against the cash value of the policy (the available amount will vary by company)¹. The rules on how and when you can do this vary by insurance company and policy. However, it's important to know that this may reduce your death benefit, create a tax implication or even cause your policy to lapse.

Earn interest on your policy's cash value

The cash value of a universal life policy generally earns interest that's in line with current money market rates, says the Insurance Information Institute (III). Of course, it's important to note that the interest rate will fluctuate along with the market, which means the interest you receive may also go down. But, some companies offer protection against that with a minimum performance guarantee on the policy.

Flexibility with premiums

If the cash value of your account can cover the costs, you may have the ability to lower or stop paying your premiums on a universal life policy for a certain amount of time, the III says.

This can be helpful if money becomes tight and you're looking for ways to lower monthly bills. But there can be negative consequences, too, says the III. For instance, your coverage may end if you use up the account's cash value to pay for premiums.

Keep in mind that even though your premiums are flexible, you must maintain a positive cash value, otherwise your policy will lapse (meaning you no longer have coverage). Your insurer may offer a grace period -- a specified amount of time in which you have to make a payment to restore your policy to a positive cash value status before coverage lapses. Read your policy or check with your insurance provider for more information.

Adjust the policy's death benefit

The flexibility of a universal life policy also extends to the death benefit. At some point, you may want to increase the amount that's paid out upon your death. This is something some insurance companies allow, if you pass a medical exam, says the III² ³. Likewise, you might choose to reduce the death benefit, to reduce the cost of the policy. Remember that if you increase the policy's death benefit, it may increase the premium you pay.