06/13/2019
Differences Between Term Life and Whole Life
Deciding whether to purchase whole life or term life insurance is a personal decision that should be based on the financial needs of your beneficiaries as well as your financial goals. Life insurance can be a very flexible and powerful financial vehicle that can meet multiple financial objectives, from providing financial security to building financial assets and leaving a legacy.
Here are some of the main features of term and whole life insurance.
Features of term life insurance
1) Provides death benefits only
2) Pays benefits only if you die while the term of the policy is in effect
3) Easiest and most affordable life insurance to buy
4) Purchased for a specific time period, such as 5, 10, 15, or 30 years, known as a “term”
5) Becomes more expensive as you age, especially after age 50
6) The term must be renewed if you want coverage to be extended beyond the term length
7) Can be used as temporary additional coverage with a permanent life insurance policy
8) Can be converted to whole life insurance
Features of whole life insurance:
1) Covers you for life
2) Provides death benefits as well as a cash value accumulation that builds during the life of the policy
3) You typically must qualify with a health examination
4) Can be purchased without a medical exam, but at a higher cost
5) Takes 12 to 15 years to build up a decent cash value
6) Can be a good choice for estate planning
7) Cash value is based on how much the return on investment is worth
8) A portion of the cash value can be withdrawn or borrowed during the life of the policy
9) Initially has more expensive premiums than term life insurance, but can potentially save you money over the life of the policy if in force for a considerable number of years