VUL is a type of life insurance designed to provide both death benefit protection and the potential for cash value accumulation. The cash values can be accessed through loans or withdrawals, providing flexibility and financial security. While VUL policies come with higher premiums than traditional policies, they offer greater potential rewards and features.
To understand how VULs work, it is important to know four key components: death benefit, cash value component, premium payments, and investment choices.
The death benefit of a VUL policy will be paid out upon the death of the insured individual. The payout typically consists of the investment's current value plus any additional money that has been accumulated within the lifetime of the policy-facing interest rate charges.
The cash value component allows you to use your accumulated funds for things like loan repayments or other daily expenses. When a withdrawal is made from the cash value component of a VUL policy, it can either be used in part or in full to pay off some of your premiums due at any time. In addition, you may take out loans against your policy subject to certain terms and conditions set by your insurance provider.
Premium payments are determined based on individual circumstances such as age, health history, and lifestyle factors. They can also fluctuate depending on market performance and investment success within the account holding period. Premium payments are usually flexible, which allows decisions around future contributions to be adjusted if needed.
Lastly, investments are chosen based on personal risk appetite. There are hundreds of options available so you should do your due diligence before making any decisions related to investing within your VUL policy. You should consider all fees associated with each choice as well as potential returns on invested capital over time so that you get an accurate understanding of what you're signing up for when purchasing a VUL product.