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Term Life vs Whole Life
Written by Aaron Wilkens   

Term Life Insurance VS Whole Life Insurance

Whole Life InsuranceUnderstanding the difference between term vs permanent life insurance is essential when you are considering the purchase of this insurance.   Both products offer life insurance, but have different structures.   Knowing which type of life insurance is right for you is important.  You can work with your insurance provider to learn more about specifics and how they relate to your situation.  First, consider the difference between term life insurance and permanent life insurance.

Life insurance provides benefits to those you name as beneficiaries at the time of your death, assuming that the policy is still in place when you die.  It will provide your children, for example, with the income they need to maintain the quality of life that they are used to living and it allows them to have access to funds that will allow them to go to school or accomplish other goals they would not be able to do without these funds.

Term life insurance provides you with a payout like this for your beneficiaries.  You make annual premium payments on the policy.  Should something happen to you during the covered time, the insurance provider pays the face value of the policy to the beneficiary.  The difference between term and whole life is what is adding up over time.  With whole life insurance, you will have the same basic payout at death to your beneficiaries according to the face value.  In addition, though, the policy builds a cash value over time.  In short, it works as a savings plan that pays out if you die during the policy period.  You can borrow from whole life insurance policies and even withdraw cash from it.

Whole life insurance is unique in that a portion of your premium is placed in a cash value account.  The rest of your annual premium is put towards the policy.  The company pays dividends to you which is what makes the cash value of the policy grow, year after year.  

It is also important to consider the amount of insurance protection you will get with whole life insurance.  Because not all of your premium payment is being put towards the policy itself, there may not be a lot left over to buy insurance protection.  Upon a closer look, you are actually paying more for this policy to get the same benefits of a term life insurance policy because much of your money is diverted to the building of cash value.  Many find that the paying of a higher premium is not worth the value of purchasing whole life insurance instead of term life insurance policies.

What you must consider when purchasing any type of insurance, including a 30 year term life policy, whole life insurance or others is the way that it suits your lifestyle needs.  Many people find that there are some advantages to whole life insurance and therefore want to take advantage of them.  That is a good choice in some situations.  As you compare the options that you have with this type of insurance product, insure that you have a solid foundation of knowledge about how each of these products will effect your personal situation.

Compare your options in term vs permanent life insurance and term vs whole life insurance.  Look at the benefits of all types to your personal life.  A good place to gather this information is through the help of a trusted insurance agent.  Even then you will want to compare what one company can offer compared to others.  Doing so will help to insure you get the best product available to you.  Life insurance itself is an important part of caring for your family and a must to have.
 
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