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Compare indexed universal life insurance

Your life insurance returns are tied to the performance of an index, like the S&P 500.

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Name Product USFLI Issue age Minimum Coverage Maximum Coverage Term Lengths Medical Exam Required
Nationwide life insurance
18 - 80 years old
$250,000
$5,000,000
10, 15, 20, and 30 years
Depends on policy
Select Go to site to apply for Nationwide Life Essentials: 21-55 years, no medical exam required.
JRC Life Insurance
JRC Life Insurance
18 - 85 years old
$5,000
$50,000,000
10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40 years to lifetime/age 121
May be required
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Policygenius - Life Insurance
18 - 85 years old
$50,000
$10,000,000
10, 15, 20, 25, 30 years
Depends on provider and policy
Compare 12+ top insurers side-by-side to get the best possible deal, and shop return of premium policies online.
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Indexed universal life insurance is a hybrid life insurance policy that lasts a lifetime and makes the most of stock market wins. But it’s complex, and your earnings are limited.

What is indexed universal life insurance?

Indexed universal life insurance (IUL) is a type of permanent policy that’s tied to an equity index, such as the S&P 500. Like all permanent policies, it lasts a lifetime and part of your premium is invested to give your policy a cash value. Rather than offering a fixed rate of return, your cash value pays a return based on the performance of that index.

Your insurer will set a minimum interest rate, though, so you won’t lose money. But if the market dips, your returns might be lower.

Once you’ve built up enough cash value, you can take out loans against your own policy, or use the cash to cover your premiums. If you decide to cash in your policy, you’ll get the cash value — but your beneficiaries won’t receive a death benefit when you die.

What’s an index?

An index measures the performance of a group of investments, like stocks and bonds. For example, the S&P is a stock market index that monitors 500 of the largest companies listed on the US stock exchange. It’s a good reflection of the state of the market. With IUL, your insurer doesn’t invest your money in the market. They use the index’s interest rate to come up with a rate for your policy.

How does indexed universal life insurance work?

IUL is essentially two products in one: a life insurance policy and an investment.

When you pay your premium, a portion pays for an annual renewable term life insurance policy, plus any admin fees. The rest goes towards the cash value portion of your policy, which earns interest based on the increases in an equity index — like the S&P 500 or NASDAQ-100. Some providers will allow you to choose multiple indexes, and allocate a certain percentage to each.

Insurers assess index performance each month. If the index performs well, those “gains” will be credited back to your policy on a monthly or annual basis. Let’s say the index jumped up by 5% from January 1 to January 31. Your insurer will multiply 5% by your cash value, and add the resulting interest to your cash value.

This is where it gets complicated: The gains are based on a “cap rate” or maximum interest rate, and a “participation rate” or a percentage rate set by your insurer. So, if the gain is 5% and below the cap rate, the participation rate is 50%, and the cash value of your policy is $15,000, the insurer will add $375 to the cash value.

On the other hand, if the index dips, your insurer won’t credit any interest to your cash value.

Key features of indexed universal life insurance policies

These are the other features of IULs:

  • They offer permanent protection.
  • When you die, your beneficiaries will receive a guaranteed death benefit.
  • The premiums are flexible. You can adjust your payments to suit your situation.
  • The rates can increase over time. The older you get, the more you’ll pay.
  • You can change the death benefit. These policies give you the opportunity to increase or decrease the death benefit. The higher the death benefit, the more expensive your premiums will be.

Is IUL right for me?

For the average person, an IUL is unnecessarily complex. If you’re planning for retirement, you might be better off funnelling your savings into a 401(k) or IRA. While those accounts are subject to contribution limits and don’t have the same principal guarantees, you’ll see more money when the market is performing well.

However, if you’re a high-income earner, the tax benefits of an IUL may be worth the cost of the policy. The same goes for long-term investors who are okay with potentially low returns in less-than-stellar years.

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Advantages and disadvantages of IUL

Pros

  • Flexibility. You have the freedom to adjust your premiums and death benefit, and tap into your policy once you’ve accumulated enough cash value.
  • Account’s principal is guaranteed. Thanks to the minimum interest rate set by your insurer, you can take advantage of stock market returns without losing money.
  • Tax-deferred cash value. The cash value of your policy grows tax-deferred.
  • Unlimited contributions. Many investment vehicles have contribution limits, but IULs don’t.
  • Less risky than some other investments. If the index drops, it won’t decrease your cash value. In that way, IULs can be safer than investing in stocks. And if the market is strong, IULs can offer better returns than other types of universal life insurance policies.

Cons

  • Expensive. Premium policies are almost always more expensive than term life.
  • Hefty fees. IULs are associated with high sales and admin fees.
  • Cap on returns. To make money, your insurer sets a participation rate — which is a fancy way of saying they hold on to a portion of the gains.
  • Subject to the market. When the market’s good, an IUL can be a handy investment. But when the market’s performing poorly, your policy may pay lower returns than other permanent plans.
  • No dividends. If you’re with a mutual life insurance company, you won’t earn any dividends on their profits.

Alternatives to indexed universal life insurance

If indexed universal life insurance isn’t quite right for you, look into these permanent policies:

  • Whole life. The most basic lifelong policy, whole life insurance has a cash value component and a guaranteed death benefit. Your premiums stay the same, so you’ll know exactly how much you’ll pay each month.
  • Universal life. Like IULs, there are death benefits and flexible premiums with universal life insurance, and it becomes a cash asset over time. But the cash value portion of your policy earns a fixed rate, and isn’t tied to an index.
  • Variable life. With these policies, you’re allowed to invest the cash value into the market. This means your money is subject to the ups and downs of the market. If you opt in to variable life insurance, your insurer will give you a portfolio of stocks, bonds and mutual funds to choose from.

Bottom line

IULs are best for wealthy individuals who want to take advantage of stock market returns while building up a tax-free retirement. While there is a potential for big gains, these policies are expensive and complex, and insurers cap your returns.

Before committing to any kind of coverage, be sure to compare life insurance providers.

Frequently asked questions

What’s the difference between universal life and indexed universal life insurance?

While these policies are very similar, the cash value portion is treated differently. With standard universal life, you’ll earn a fixed rate. Your earnings from an IUL are dictated by an equity index, and by your insurer’s participation rate.

When do I need to take a medical exam?

To apply for coverage, you’ll typically need to take a medical exam or answer a health questionnaire. However, there are a handful of providers that offer IULs without medical underwriting.

I don’t fully understand the IUL policy offered by my provider. What should I do?

IULs are complicated financial products. Your insurance company should be able to connect you to an in-house financial advisor to explain the ins and outs of the policy and answer any questions you may have.

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Katia Iervasi is a lead writer and spokesperson at NerdWallet and a former editor at Finder, specializing in insurance. Her writing and analysis on life, disability and health insurance has been featured in The Washington Post, Forbes, Yahoo, Entrepreneur, Best Company and FT Advisor. She holds a BA in communication from Australia's Griffith University. See full bio

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