Opinions on Whole Life Insurance as an Investment Tool

April 8, 2008 by Be Safe Insure
Filed under Whole Life Insurance

By Elizabeth Newberry

Yes, it costs more, but whole life insurance packs a few perks that term life insurance doesn’t. The perk most people are interested in is the fact that whole life insurance usually offers fixed premiums; since it covers you for life, you could have fixed premiums for life.

Term life insurance doesn’t cover you for life, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing; however, you could end up paying higher premiums upon renewal. Opinions vary from person to person as to whether fixed premiums are enough to make whole life insurance the better life insurance.

The perk that tends to form stronger opinions, however, is the investment component that comes ith whole life insurance policies. Whole life insurance policies come with an investment component, often referred to as “forced savings,” which is money your policy accumulates based on dividends the life insurance company pays you, and life insurance companies that sell whole life insurance policies label the investment component as an excellent way to save money.

However, opinions on whether or not the investment component of a whole life insurance policy is worth the extra price – or even effective, for that matter – range from one end of the spectrum to the other.

If you’re considering purchasing a life insurance policy, but aren’t yet sure if you want to purchase term or whole, don’t base your decision solely on the perks offered. Sure, a whole life insurance policy allows you to save money, but so does a bank.

The decision-making process doesn’t have to be complicated. If you want life insurance for life, look into whole life insurance; if you want life insurance for a certain period of time, look into term life insurance. Look at the perks of each policy only after you have a handle on the basics of each policy. You’re less likely to be swayed by the perks once you know which policy will better meet your needs.