Sign up & start saving!
Get our weekly newsletter for the latest in money news, credit card offers + more ways to save
Finder is committed to editorial independence. While we receive compensation when you click links to partners, they do not influence our content.
How to use life insurance to pay for retirement
Tapping into your cash value can help supplement your retirement income – and it’s tax-free.
Guides
Coverage
Policy Length
Age
Permanent life insurance provides a death benefit and financial security to your loved ones when you die. However, its cash value component can be used to supplement your retirement funds.
Can I use life insurance to pay for retirement?
Yes, you can access the cash value portion of your permanent life insurance while you’re still alive, and use it to pay for retirement. While the cash value amount could be significant, depending on your policy, you’ll likely only be able to use life insurance to partially fund your retirement. You may need to draw on other sources, such as Social Security or a retirement account, to fully fund most of your retirement. Some people choose to tap into their cash value after maxing out their other retirement accounts.
How to use life insurance to pay for retirement
The main way to use life insurance to help pay for retirement is through a whole life insurance policy.
Permanent life insurance policies help pay for retirement mainly through its cash value component. The amount of cash value that you have available depends on how much your policy’s death benefit is worth and how long you’ve had the policy. The longer you have your policy, the longer amount of time your cash value has to grow.
Withdraw your cash value at any time and for any amount that you’d like. However, pulling out all your available cash value surrenders the policy, which could be an option if you don’t want to keep the life insurance policy anymore.
Your cash value is generally tax-free when you withdraw it. Taking out your cash value is considered a loan on your policy, so there will be interest on the amount that you take out. But since it’s your life insurance policy, you won’t be required to pay back this loan. If you don’t pay it back, the amount of cash value that you withdraw is deducted from your death benefit.
Can I use term life insurance to pay for retirement?
No, term life insurance doesn’t have any cash value to help fund your retirement. But it can still play a role in your retirement planning and budgeting.
If you’re still working and your spouse isn’t, then your income is an important component of your retirement budget that term life insurance can protect. Having term life insurance while you’re in retirement helps ensure that your spouse has adequate money to continue their retirement after you die.
If you have a term policy that expires at retirement age and you don’t need life insurance anymore, then letting your term policy expire also adds savings to your retirement budget. While term life insurance is considerably more affordable than permanent life insurance, letting your policy lapse can mean one less bill to pay when you’re in retirement.
Tax benefits of using life insurance to pay for retirement
There are many benefits of using life insurance to help pay for retirement, like being able to tap into the cash value of your life insurance whenever you wish. And even if you don’t use the cash value, you can also use the cash value to pay for your policy’s premiums and free up a large monthly payment in your budget.
Cash value from life insurance can be withdrawn on a tax-free basis, which has a few advantages. Your cash value isn’t taxable as income, but it can also put you in a lower tax bracket if you’re using the cash value to reduce how much you’re pulling from your IRA.
But while it’s not considered taxable income, the cash value from life insurance isn’t a perfect solution to avoiding taxes and fees. Cash value growth is based on the amount of money that you contribute to it, which is built into your premiums. The price you pay for your premiums also includes fees and commissions.
Speak with an accountant or financial advisor about the tax implications of your policy and its cash value. While pulling out cash value is almost always tax-free, there are certain instances that you may owe some tax on it, such as when you surrender the policy.
What to watch out for
The biggest factor to consider with your life insurance’s cash value is watching the amount of cash value that you actually have in your policy. Unless you’re ready to surrender or cancel your policy, you shouldn’t withdraw the entire cash value amount available to you. This can happen when you use the cash value to pay for the policy’s premiums and take out a loan.
Compare cash value life insurance policies
Alternative ways to fund your retirement
You’ll likely need other income sources to fully fund your retirement, since your life insurance cash value will be limited to the size of your policy and how long you’ve let it grow.
- Social Security. Most people rely on Social Security to fund at least part of their retirement. The amount that you receive is based on an average of how much you earned while working, which means it might not be enough to completely rely on but can provide a strong basis.
- Retirement accounts. Many people rely on some type of IRA or 401(k) to provide most of their retirement income. But these take time to build up, so plan to invest in one as early as possible to make the most of your account.
- Personal savings. While investing in a retirement account can result in a bigger return on investment, having savings stashed away can help with unexpected expenses that could come up in retirement, like medical bills.
- Part-time work. Entering retirement doesn’t have to mean an end to all work. Many retirees continue to work part time or may start their own side business to occupy their time and make some extra money.
- Plan your retirement budget. Retirement may mean scaling down on big-ticket items you no longer need. Downsize your house after the kids move out or drop to one car since you’re no longer commuting to free up money to fund your retirement.
Bottom line
Use a permanent life insurance policy’s cash value component to partially fund your retirement, though it likely won’t be enough to fully pay for retirement. You can typically withdraw most of the cash value amount on a tax-free basis, and although using the cash value reduces your death benefit, you may need your entire original death benefit amount.
If you’re beginning your retirement planning or want to compare what you currently have, compare permanent life insurance companies to see how they stack up.
More guides on Finder
-
How to apply for a Second Draw PPP loan
You only have until the end of March to get your next application in.
-
These IPOs will be hot in 2021
Private-equity companies have about $1.6 trillion of uninvested capital to put into merger and acquisition activity. This bodes well for 2021’s IPO market.
-
How to convert a 401(k) to a Roth IRA
Convert your 401(k) to a Roth IRA to make tax-free withdrawals at retirement. Learn more.
-
How to get rid of Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI)
Smart strategies that homeowners can use to get rid of Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI).
-
Permanent life insurance policyholders can now funnel more money into cash value
A new change to the tax code quietly went into effect on January 1, lowering the minimum interest rate for permanent life insurance policies.
-
401(a) vs. 401(k): How they differ
401(a) and 401(k) plans are retirement savings vehicles with tax benefits, but they have key differences.
-
What is a Roth IRA?
A Roth IRA is a retirement savings account with special tax benefits. Learn more.
-
401(k) contribution limits for 2021
Unlock the tax benefits of these retirement accounts and what to do if you maxed out.
-
How does a VIN affect car insurance?
Learn how insurance companies use identifying info from your VIN to set rates.
-
Disability insurance for business owners
Getting a policy can be complicated, but it offers protection for you and your employees.
Ask an Expert