PART ONE: EVOLUTION OF LIFE INSURANCE. THE ERA OF INDEXED PRODUCTS IS HERE.

"In an article released in October 2022 @ Forbes, the Business Development Council declared that the Universal Life was the new 401(k)."

Index Universal Life is Life Insurance you don’t have to die to use!

Acts like Whole Life InsuranceHas $ Cash Value AccountHas $ Disability IncomeHas?$ Tax-Free Retirement Income, for life!Has?Tax-Free, Worry-Free Retirement

Before investing in a Indexed Universal Life Insurance (IUL), consider whether? IUL fits your income needs objectives, risks, charges, and expenses. Please call for a free consultation and information on the benefits of diversifying your financial assets into a Indexed Universal Life policy.

Advantages and Disadvantage of Indexed Universal Life Insurance

Higher Return Potential

A significant advantage of IUL insurance is the potential for gains in the cash value that can potentially be higher than those on other types of life insurance, such as traditional universal life or?whole life insurance?policies.

Policyholders also get the benefit of a crediting floor, which is typically 0% or 1%. Having this means the existing cash value is protected from losses in a poorly performing market.2?“If the index generates a?negative return, the client does not participate in a negative crediting rate,” Niefeld said. In other words, the account will not lose its original cash value.

Tax Advantages on Capital Gains

The cash value accumulates tax deferred, and the?death benefit?is tax-free for?beneficiaries. Loans made against the policy are also tax-free in many cases. Premiums are paid with after-tax dollars, so partial and full withdrawals (up to the amount paid in premiums) are also tax-free.3

Death Benefit

IUL insurance, like other types of?life insurance, can provide a death benefit for your loved ones. This money can be used to:

• Use for funeral expenses
• Cover outstanding debts such as a?mortgage?or co-signed student loans
• Fund college costs for children
• Pay for everyday living expenses

This death benefit can be passed on to your beneficiaries tax-free.

No Social Security Impact

Social Security benefits?may be an important source of income in retirement. You can begin taking Social Security as early as age 62 or defer benefits up to age 70. Taking benefits ahead of your?full retirement age?can shrink your benefit amount, as can working while receiving benefits. You’re only allowed to earn so much per year prior to reaching full retirement age before your benefits are reduced.

Cash value accumulation from an IUL insurance policy wouldn’t count toward the earnings thresholds, nor would any loan amounts that you borrow. So, you could take a loan against your policy to supplement Social Security benefits without detracting from your benefit amount.

Other Perks

A variety of?riders, or additional provisions, can make the policy more attractive and more valuable, including guaranteed premiums,?guaranteed death benefits, and provisions for?long-term care?and critical illness.

Disadvantages of Indexed Universal Life Insurance

There are several potential drawbacks associated with IUL insurance policies. For instance, someone who establishes the policy over a time when the market is performing poorly could end up with high premium payments that don’t contribute at all to the?cash value. The policy could then potentially lapse if the premium payments aren’t made on time later in life, which could negate the point of life insurance altogether.

We've highlighted some of the potential downsides below.

Limited Gains

Increases in the cash value are limited by the insurer. Insurance companies often set maximum participation rates of less than 100%. In addition,?returns on equity (ROE)?indexes are often capped at certain amounts during good years. These restrictions can limit the actual rate of return that’s credited toward your account each year, regardless of how well the policy’s underlying index performs.

In that case, you may be better off investing in the market directly or considering a variable universal life insurance policy instead. But it’s important to consider your personal?risk tolerance?and investment goals to ensure that either one aligns with your overall strategy.

The insurer makes money by keeping a portion of the gains, including anything above the cap.

The crediting rate cap may limit gains in a?bull market. If the investor’s money is tied up in an insurance policy, it can potentially?underperform?other investments. Depending on how the market performs, the insured may realize no gains at all.

No Guarantees for Returns

The potential for a greater rate of return is one advantage to IUL insurance policies compared to other life insurance policies. However, larger returns are not guaranteed. Returns can in fact be lower than returns on other products, depending on how the market performs. Policyholders have to accept that risk for potentially higher returns.

Costs and fees associated with an indexed universal life insurance policy can also affect profits.

As with any product tied to equities, IUL does include risks. IUL insurance carries greater risk than standard universal life insurance, but less risk than?variable life insurance?policies (which do actually invest in stocks and bonds).?Also, depending on the policy, the?premiums?could potentially rise if the measuring index performs consistently below the anticipated rate.

Taxes

In the event of death with outstanding loans against the policy, the outstanding loan funds may be subject to regular?income tax.?In the event of policy cancellation, gains become taxable as income. Losses are not deductible.

Fees and Costs

Fees are typically front-loaded and built into complex crediting rate calculations, which may confuse some investors. Fees can be high. Costs vary from one insurer to the next and depend on the age and health of the insured.

These fees can include:

• Premium Expense Charge: This is usually deducted from the premium before it is applied to the cash value
• Administrative Expenses: This is normally deducted monthly from the cash value of the policy
• Insurance Costs: These are additional deductions taken from the policy to cover the death benefit, supplemental benefits, and riders
• Fees and Commissions: Some policies charge up-front or annual fees for setting up or managing the account.
• Surrender Charge: This is the amount forfeited if the policy is canceled or if loans or withdrawals are made. In some cases, taking a partial withdrawal will also permanently reduce the death benefit.

Canceling or surrendering a policy can lead to more costs. In that case, the?cash surrender value?may be less than the cumulative premiums paid.

Indexed Universal Life (IUL) Insurance Pros and Cons

Pros

• Provide higher returns than other life insurance policies
• Allows tax-free capital gains
• IUL does not reduce Social Security benefits
• Policies can be designed around your risk appetite

Cons

• Returns capped at a certain level
• No guaranteed returns
• IUL may have higher fees than other policies

Indexed Universal Life Insurance vs. Other Life Insurance Policies

Unlike other types of life insurance, the value of an IUL insurance policy is tied to an index tied to the stock market. This means that the returns may vary, depending on the performance of the underlying index.

There are many other types of life insurance policies, explained below.

• Term life insurance?offers a fixed benefit if the policyholder dies within a set period of time, usually 10 to 30 years. This is one of the most affordable types of life insurance, as well as the simplest, though there’s no cash value accumulation.1?
• Whole life insurance?is more permanent and the policy lasts for the entire life of the policyholder as long as premiums are paid. The policy gains value according to a fixed schedule, and there are fewer fees than an IUL insurance policy. However, they do not come with the flexibility of adjusting premiums.
• Variable life insurance?comes with even more flexibility than IUL insurance, meaning that it is also more complicated. A variable policy’s cash value may depend on the performance of specific stocks or other securities, and your premium can also change. For this reason, variable life insurance is considered riskier than other life insurance policies.

Is Indexed Universal Life Insurance Right for You?

Now that you know the basics of indexed universal life insurance, you're probably wondering whether it's the right choice for you. If you're mulling over this kind of policy, it's a good idea to take the following into consideration:

• Flexibility:?Enrolling for an IUL provides you with some degree of flexibility. Many insurance companies allow you to pay premiums when your financial situation permits it and you have available free?cash flow.
• Consistent Coverage:?An IUL policy can provide you with the same type of coverage protection that a?permanent life insurance?policy does.
• Cash Value and Growth:?Remember, this kind of insurance remains intact throughout your entire life just like other permanent life insurance policies. It also allows you to build cash value as you get older through a?stock market?index account. As the cash value grows, you can lower your premiums without affecting your death benefit.

Keep in mind, though, that if there's anything you're unsure of or you're on the fence about getting any type of insurance, be sure to consult a professional. This way you'll know if it's affordable and whether it fits into your financial plan.

How Much Does Indexed Universal Life Insurance Cost?

The cost of an indexed universal life policy depends on several factors. Like any insurance product, the premiums are higher as you get older. So a 50-year-old pays a higher premium than someone in their 30s. Premiums also vary based on your gender and health conditions, so if you're a smoker, you'll end up paying more. Other considerations that factor into your premiums include additional fees like commissions, expense fees, and administrative costs, which may be added to the beginning of your policy. Be sure to check with your insurance agent for the exact premiums and associated fees.

Can I Withdraw my Cash Value?

You can typically withdraw the cash value of a whole life insurance policy on a tax-free basis up to the amount of premiums you’ve paid. You can also borrow against a cash value, use a cash value toward premium payments, or cancel the policy to receive the cash value. Unlike with a traditional 401(k) or individual retirement account, you do not have to wait until you are 59? years old to use the funds.

Experian. “Can I Withdraw Money from My Life Insurance?”

Can I Sell My IUL?

You can sell your indexed universal life insurance policy and stop making premium payments. However, you will lose the death benefit named in the policy.

Is IUL Insurance Better Than a 401(k) Plan?

Indexed universal life insurance and?401(k) plans?all have their own advantages. A 401(k) has more investment options to choose from and may come with an employer match. On the other hand, an IUL comes with a death benefit and an additional cash value that the policyholder can borrow against. However, they also come with high premiums and fees, and unlike a 401(k), they can be canceled if the insured stops paying into them.

The Bottom Line

Indexed universal life insurance can help you meet your family’s needs for financial protection while also building cash value. However, these policies can be more complex compared to other types of life insurance, and they aren’t necessarily right for every investor. Talking to an experienced life insurance agent or broker can help you decide if indexed universal life insurance is a good fit for you.

Before investing, consider whether? IUL fits your income retirement objectives, risks, charges, and expenses. Please call for a "free" consultation and information on the benefits of diversifying your portfolio into an IUL while you are five to ten years from retirement.

Ways to Fund a Universal Life policy

* Redirect money in exisiting 4019K, IRAs, TSPs

*Refinance your mortgage and that money that has been freed up could be used to fund the IUL

*Take the distribution from money already in 401ks, IRAs, TSPs,etc.

*Take discretionary money remaining after your monthly expenses.? If in debt use the Wealth Accelerator and use the cashflow to fund the IUL

*For parents with children that are in junior high school or younger may consider funding the IUL to get advantages over the 529 plan.

References:?https://www.investopedia.com/ask/answers/071615/what-level-reserve-ratios-typical-insurance-company-protect-against-large-losses.asp

References:https://www.forbes.com/councils/forbesbusinessdevelopmentcouncil/2022/11/28/four-ways-indexed-universal-life-insurance-can-present-powerful-savings/

References:https://www.investopedia.com/articles/personal-finance/042115/comparing-iul-insurance-iras-and-401ks.asp