{"id":40378,"date":"2022-12-22T14:19:00","date_gmt":"2022-12-22T14:19:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/businessyield.com\/?p=40378"},"modified":"2023-03-08T20:36:03","modified_gmt":"2023-03-08T20:36:03","slug":"whole-vs-term-life-insurance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/businessyield.com\/insurance\/whole-vs-term-life-insurance\/","title":{"rendered":"WHOLE VS TERM LIFE INSURANCE: Which is Better?","gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"text"}]},"content":{"rendered":"

If you are deliberate about living and your loved ones\u2019 well-being, then life insurance is one trigger you will have to pull. Deciding on the type of life insurance you\u2019d be buying, however, is a bit tricky. There are a whole lot of options. However, whole vs term life insurance is the first one you will likely consider. So which of these two is most suitable for you? You will have to define your policy needs to correctly answer this question. If your life insurance need is temporary, you will go for a term policy, but if it\u2019s indefinite, you should opt for a whole policy. If you are wondering about the difference between whole vs term life insurance, its cost, how cash value influences your policy, or how to determine a policy plan using a calculator, keep reading.<\/p>\n

Whole vs Term Life Insurance: What Is Term Life Insurance and How Does It Work?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Term life insurance is not just relatively cheap, but also very flexible. It is perhaps one of the most common life insurance policies available in the States today. Every insurance company out there offers term life insurance. It is a type of life insurance policy that provides coverage for a certain period, which is usually a specified number of years. With this, you will get a guaranteed constant premium for a set length of time. The specified number of years depends on the policyholder, so you can have a term policy of 10, 15, 25, or 40 or more years. Additionally, the policy simply ends after the term expires or is paid out.<\/p>\n

Both your death benefits and your insurance premiums are guaranteed to remain the same for the duration of your policy. Anyone who holds a term life insurance policy can easily renew it when the term expires. Unfortunately, this is usually at a higher rate, and the rate increases every year. That is why you need to be careful when choosing a term life plan.<\/p>\n

How Does It Work?<\/span><\/h3>\n

A policyholder simply buys term life insurance according to the number of years he wants and the premium payment agreement. If the policyholder dies before the term expires, then his beneficiaries will get the policy payment. If he outlives the term and desires to renew, he will have to do that at a new premium rate. Unfortunately, the rate keeps increasing as you renew your plan.<\/p>\n

Term Life Insurance Examples<\/span><\/h3>\n

A man named Smith Smart was diagnosed with leukemia. According to the doctor\u2019s report, he has only about 15 years or less to live. He opted to buy a 15-year term life insurance policy, thinking he would be dead before the 15 years elapsed. If he dies within the 15-year term, his beneficiary will receive the coverage payment. If he outlives it and wants to renew the policy, it will be at a new premium.<\/p>\n

Another typical example is a young father taking out a 25-year term plan. His initial plan is that at the time the term expires, his son would no longer be dependent on him for financial support.<\/p>\n

From the above examples, we can deduce two different reasons why people choose term life insurance over other life insurance policy coverage. However, both have one thing in common, \u201ca policyholder must decide on the policy\u2019s length and the coverage amount.\u201d<\/p>\n

Types of Term Life Insurance<\/span><\/h3>\n

The following are the types of term life insurance available within the States;<\/p>\n

#1. Term Level<\/span><\/h4>\n

If you are a policyholder who wishes to go with the term level, it is only right that you know what it is and how it works. Term life insurance is one of the most common types of term life insurance. With this, you will have a constant premium payment<\/a> commitment till the end of the term. It has a key distinguishing feature: the shorter the term duration, the lower your premium payment. The longer the term, the higher your premium payment. Your premiums will also increase on renewal.<\/p>\n

#2. Convertible Term Plans<\/span><\/h4>\n

A convertible term insurance plan can be converted into another type of insurance plan, such as whole life or endowment plan, at a later date. This is most suitable, especially when you foresee an increased income in the future.<\/p>\n

#3. Annual Renewable Term<\/span><\/h4>\n

Buying annual renewable term life insurance means you will have to renew the premium annually. Unfortunately, it is always at an increasing rate.<\/p>\n

#4. Decreasing Term<\/span><\/h4>\n

Anyone who chooses this will get a lower premium over time. This is based on the belief that your liability increases as you advance. The death benefit reduces during a declining term policy, but the premiums remain constant.<\/p>\n

#5. Return of Premium Term Life<\/span><\/h4>\n

Policyholders who settle for this will be getting back their premium once they outlive their term. This sort of term life insurance is significantly more expensive than other types of term life insurance.<\/p>\n

Whole vs. Term Life Insurance: What Is Whole Life Insurance and How Does It Work?<\/span><\/h3>\n

Whole life means it\u2019s permanent and this lasts for as long as your payment. This life insurance is much more expensive than term life insurance. The policy is designed to last a lifetime. A lifetime here means as long as you keep up with premium payments.<\/p>\n

It has key notable features, and these are stable premiums, death payouts, and the capacity to accumulate cash value. Whole life insurance builds cash value over time and can even provide dividends that can be re-invested to raise the death payout. As a policyholder<\/a>, you may be eligible for payouts based on the company\u2019s financial performance. The most interesting thing about whole life insurance is that its premiums are guaranteed to stay the same for the rest of your life (or rather as long as you keep up with payments), and the cash value account grows at a constant rate. Moreover, you can opt to take out the cash value as a loan if you do not want to re-invest it.<\/p>\n

Key Features of Whole Life Insurance<\/span><\/h3>\n

Although people consider whole life insurance as a lifetime policy, it has the following feature<\/p>\n

#1. Cash Value Life<\/span><\/h4>\n

A cash value life insurance policy is any permanent whole life insurance policy that is inclusive of cash value life. With the cash value policy, a portion of your premium goes toward establishing a cash reserve that you can access throughout your life.<\/p>\n

#2. Payout<\/h4>\n

Upon the death of a policyholder, the beneficiary can get up to $100,000 in face value or more for someone who held a cash value life insurance policy and about $35,000 for someone who held a final expense life insurance. This figure does vary under certain conditions.<\/p>\n

Whole vs Term Life Insurance: Key Difference<\/span><\/h3>\n

The following are the key difference between term vs whole insurance.<\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
KEY TERMS<\/strong><\/td>\nTERM LIFE INSURANCE<\/strong><\/td>\nWHOLE LIFE INSURANCE<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Duration<\/td>\nA specified number of years within which a policyholder must not default premium payment.<\/td>\nA lifetime and as long as there isn\u2019t a default on premium payment.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Premium Rates<\/td>\nChanges after terms expire.<\/td>\nRemain the same.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Premium Cost<\/td>\nLower than all permanent life insurance.<\/td>\nQuiet expensive and depends on the amount of payout you want.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Medical Test<\/td>\nDepends on the insurance provider but generally, it doesn\u2019t require one<\/td>\nIt requires a medical test.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Face Value<\/td>\nPayment is certain so long as you meet up with premium payment.<\/td>\nGuaranteed payout.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Cash Value<\/td>\nDoes not include cash value<\/td>\nIncludes cash value<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Dividend<\/td>\nDoes not earn dividend<\/td>\nEarns dividend on cash value<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>
Businessyield Consult<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Whole vs Term Life Insurance: Key Similarities<\/span><\/h3>\n

The following are the key similarities between term vs whole life insurance<\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
TERMS<\/strong><\/td>\nSIMILARITIES<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Life Insurance Policy<\/td>\nBoth are types of life insurance<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Premium<\/td>\nBoth require premium payment<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Payout<\/td>\nBoth payout face value<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>
Businessyield<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Which Is the Right Life Insurance for You?<\/h2>\n

Both are great insurance options and offer flexible benefits to their holders. However, the following will help you choose a policy that is the best ideal for your circumstances.<\/p>\n

Term life insurance is ideal for you based on;<\/h3>\n