The Bad About and the Benefits of Whole Life Insurance By Gert Hough At Isnare.com Ezine Articles

A lot has been written about whole life insurance. Is it a good or bad type of insurance? It is not so easy to say that. We can now look at some of the bad about and benefits of whole life insurance.

What is whole life insurance?

Whole life insurance may also be recognized as ordinary life, straight life or permanent life insurance.

It is a life insurance policy that provides death protection for the insured person’s entire lifetime. An insurance payout is made to the contract's beneficiaries when the insured person dies.

It consists primarily of the mortality charge which is the part of your premium that pays for the life insurance coverage. The secondary part of your premium pays for an investment component which builds up a cash value that the policyholder may withdraw or borrow against. The policyholder typically pays a level premium for his whole life, although some policies may differ in this respect.

What may be bad about whole life insurance?

* Life insurance is intended to substitute a paycheck and care for a family that still relies on your income. Most people do not have life insurance after the age of 65.

* Whole life premiums are far more costly than term life insurance premiums.

* Whole life is pricey because you are paying for a life insurance policy as well as an investment.

* The rate of return on a whole life insurance policy is very low when judged against other investment opportunities.

* Whole life insurance should not be used exclusively as an investment.

* Policyholders have no input into the investment management process of a whole life policy.

* It may take at least 10 years for a whole life insurance policy to gain any real cash value.

* Insurance salespeople have a tendency to push a whole life insurance policy because it conveys a bigger commission.

* Using whole life to support college tuition for a child may be unwise.

What may be the benefits of whole life insurance?

* The policyholder often pays a level premium for a whole life policy.

* The tax benefits and cash value is an added bonus when purchasing a whole life policy.

* Most policies also offer a withdrawal clause. This allows the contract holder to terminate her coverage and receive a cash surrender value.

* Some of the money you pay into your whole life insurance policy amasses as guaranteed cash values.

* The income on the cash value of a whole life insurance policy collects tax-deferred.

* The income on the cash value of the policy can be borrowed against in the shape of a policy loan.

* Whole life policies may earn dividends which can result when actual life insurance costs turn out to be less than what was understood in determining the premiums.

* You have lifelong coverage with no future medical exams unless you make a change to your policy.

That was some of the bad about and benefits of whole life insurance policies. If you want to know more I suggest you read up about the subjerct online or ask your local life insurance company.

Published At: Isnare Free Articles Directory http://www.isnare.com
Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=307865&ca=Finances

Important Notice DISCLAIMER: All information, content, and data in this article are sole opinions and/or findings of the individual user or organization that registered and submitted this article at Isnare.com without any fee. The article is strictly for educational or entertainment purposes only and should not be used in any way, implemented or applied without consultation from a professional. We at Isnare.com do not, in anyway, contribute or include our own findings, facts and opinions in any articles presented in this site. Publishing this article does not constitute Isnare.com's support or sponsorship for this article. Isnare.com is an article publishing service. Please read our Terms of Service for more information.