Cash Value Life Insurance Basics, Calculator, And Quotes (2024) (2024)

Cash Value Life Insurance Calculator

Before buying a cash value life insurance policy, use a calculator to compare the costs and benefits of various options. This calculator will consider your age, health, and the amount of coverage you want to give you an idea of the premiums and the policy’s value over time. It also allows you to compare different types of life insurance, like universal life and whole life, side by side. This comparison helps you see the strengths and weaknesses of each option, aiding you in choosing the best policy for your needs.

What is Cash Value Life Insurance?

Life insurance that builds cash value, in its essence, is a policy that does more than promise a death benefit. It also builds a cash value over time, creating a financial reservoir that you can tap into during your lifetime. This dual functionality – providing a death benefit while simultaneously acting as a savings or investment vehicle and building wealth – sets it apart from its term insurance counterpart.

Which Types of Cash Value Life Insurance Are Available?

Navigating through the various types of cash-value life insurance can be intricate. The primary ones include:

Whole Life Insurance Cash Value: Whole life insurance offers fixed premiums and a guaranteed cash value accumulation.
Universal Life Insurance Cash Value: Universal life insurance provides more flexibility in premium payments and investment options.
Variable Life Insurance Cash Value: Variable life insurance allows you to invest your cash value in various investment options, with returns subject to market performance.
Indexed Universal Life Insurance Cash Value: Indexed universal life insurance ties your cash value’s growth to a market index, balancing risk and reward.

Why Opt for Cash Value Life Insurance?

The “why” behind choosing a life insurance policy with cash value often boils down to two pivotal aspects: financial security and investment opportunity. Not only does it ensure that your beneficiaries are financially protected in the event of your demise, but the policy also serves as a financial tool that can be utilized during your lifetime. The cash value can be borrowed to fund significant life events, such as purchasing a home or funding education, providing a financial safety net when needed.

How Does Cash Value Life Insurance Work?

Understanding how cash value life insurance works is pivotal in leveraging its benefits optimally. Your premium payments are bifurcated into two main parts:

Premium Allocation: When you pay premiums for a cash-value life insurance policy, a portion covers the actual insurance (death benefit) cost, and the rest is allocated to a cash-value account.
Interest Accumulation: The cash value portion earns interest over time, and the interest accrued is tax-deferred, meaning you don’t pay taxes on the gains while accumulating.
Risk Mitigation for Insurer: As the cash value accumulates, the insurance company experiences diminished risk since the amassed value counterbalances a portion of the insurer’s liability. For instance, if a policy has a $25,000 death benefit and an accumulated cash value of $5,000, the insurer’s absolute liability cost is $20,000.

How To Calculate the Cash Value Of a Life Insurance Policy

To calculate the cash value of a life insurance policy:

Start with the initial amount of the policy.
Add premiums paid: Sum the premiums you’ve paid over the policy’s life, excluding the cost of insurance and other fees.
Subtract the cost of insurance and fees: Deduct the cost of insurance and administrative fees from the total.
Add interest or investment gains: Depending on the policy type, add interest earned or investment gains.
Adjust for any withdrawals or loans: If you’ve made any withdrawals or taken loans against the policy, subtract these amounts.

The result is the current cash value of the policy. This calculation can vary based on policy type and terms, so checking with the insurance provider for precise figures is advisable.

How Much Can You Cash Out?

The amount you can cash out is typically up to the total cash value amount accumulated in the policy. However, it’s crucial to note that withdrawing the cash value will reduce the death benefit. For example, if your policy has a $100,000 death benefit and you withdraw $20,000 from the cash value, the death benefit may be reduced to $80,000.

When Can You Start Cashing It Out?

You can start cashing out the cash value once it has accumulated a significant amount, which usually takes several years. Policies often have a waiting period of two to five years before cash values begin accruing to a substantial level. Additionally, some policies might have stipulations or penalties for withdrawing cash value within a specific timeframe after policy inception.

Do You Have to Pay It Back?

You are not required to pay back withdrawals, but it’s a different scenario with loans against your policy’s cash value:

Withdrawals: Amounts withdrawn are not expected to be paid back. However, withdrawals will reduce both the cash value and the death benefit. The excess is taxable if you withdraw more than your basis (the total premiums paid).
Loans: If you take a loan against the cash value, you must pay it back with interest. If you don’t, the loan amount plus any accrued interest will be deducted from the death benefit when you pass away, reducing the amount your beneficiaries will receive.

Additional Insights

Policy Surrender: If you surrender the policy (i.e., cancel it), you may receive the cash value minus surrender charges. However, surrendering a policy in the early years might result in receiving less than the premiums paid.
Premium Payments: In some cases, if the cash value is substantial, you can use it to pay the policy premiums, effectively keeping the policy in force without out-of-pocket payments.
Tax Implications: Withdrawals up to the basis are not taxable, but loans and withdrawals beyond that amount may have tax implications

In Conclusion

Cash value life insurance is a multifaceted financial tool, offering the dual benefit of a death payout and a cash accumulation component. By understanding the what, which, why, when, and how of cash value life insurance and adopting best practices, you can strategically navigate its avenues, ensuring a robust financial future for yourself and your loved ones. Use our cash value life insurance policy calculator as much as you want, and contact us for a quote when you’re ready to buy.

Cash Value Life Insurance Quotes

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the cash value of life insurance?

The life insurance cash value refers to the money you can receive if you surrender the policy before death or its maturity. It’s a feature of specific life insurance policies, such as whole or universal life. It accumulates over time based on a portion of your premium payments and interest or investment returns, depending on the policy’s terms.

What types of life insurance build cash value?

Cash value is a standard variable, whole, and universal life insurance feature. Term life insurance does not have cash value.

Who offers the best life insurance with cash value?

North American Indexed Universal Life Insurance offers the best life insurance with cash value due to growth ability and the company’s A+ (Superior) rating with A.M. Best.

What is the cash value of a $10,000 life insurance policy?

The cash value of a $10,000 life insurance policy depends on the type of policy and the insurer. Whole-life policies generally have a higher cash value than term-life policies, and older policies tend to have a higher cash value than newer policies.

Can I withdraw my cash value from life insurance?

Yes, you can withdraw your cash value from a life insurance policy. However, withdrawals may reduce the death benefit, potentially lead to policy lapse if not managed correctly, and could have tax implications if the amount withdrawn exceeds the total premiums you’ve paid into the policy. Always consult with a financial advisor before making such decisions.

How long does it take to build cash value on life insurance?

A life insurance policy typically takes 10 to 15 years to build substantial cash value. This is because, in the early years, a more significant portion of your premiums goes towards the insurance company’s costs and the death benefit, with a smaller portion allocated to the cash value. Over time, the portion directed to cash value increases. The exact timing can vary based on the policy’s terms.

Which type of life insurance policy generates immediate cash value?

Whole life insurance is the type of life insurance policy that generates immediate cash value. With whole life insurance, a portion of each premium payment goes towards building cash value over time. The policyholder can access this cash value through loans or withdrawals, providing immediate financial flexibility and security.

What is the cash value of a life insurance policy?

The cash value of a life insurance policy is the amount the policyholder can access while alive, different from the death benefit. It accumulates over time in certain types of policies like whole life insurance.

Which type is considered a high cash-value life insurance policy?

Whole life insurance is often considered a high cash-value policy due to its lifelong coverage and guaranteed growth.