Life Insurance - Many people think that life insurance is only for people with families. While it is true that life insurance can help provide for the needs of dependents, life insurance also can be an important part of a well-thought-out estate, business succession or charitable giving plan. P permanent life insurance offers many living benefits as well, such as tax-deferred cash value accumulation. For all of these reasons, life insurance can be important for someone starting out – or for someone who's starting over.
You can use the articles on this page to learn more about the various types of life insurance that are available.
Whole Life - Whole Life insurance is also known as permanent insurance. You receive coverage for your entire life, as long as premiums (which are a set amount per period) are paid. Whole life policies accumulate cash value tax-deferred.
Term Life - Term Life policies provide coverage for a specific amount of time – such as 5 years, 10 years or 20 years. Term premiums are often less expensive than whole life premiums, but once the term of the policy is complete, coverage terminates. There is no accumulation of cash value.
Universal Life - Like Whole Life, Universal Life is a permanent insurance policy, which means that it covers you for your entire life, as long as premiums are paid. Universal life, however, offers you flexibility that enables you to change your premiums and death benefit as your needs change.
Variable Universal Life# - Variable Universal Life combines the premium and death benefit flexibility of a Universal Life policy with investment opportunities. You can allocate your premium amongst a variety of professionally managed investment divisions plus a fixed account. Assets allocated to the investment divisions are subject to market risk and may lose value. Of course, with investment opportunities comes risk along with the potential for reward.
Survivorship Life - Survivorship life insurance – available as whole life, universal life or variable universal life# – covers two people and provides payment of the proceeds when the second insured individual dies. Survivorship life insurance is often used to help meet estate planning or business continuation goals.