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What is Indexed Universal Life Insurance (IUL)?

Choosing the right life insurance policy is essential, so it’s important to learn about all your options and consider your unique situation. One option is indexed universal life (IUL) insurance, which can give you more options with how to manage the cash value of the policy. While Aflac doesn't offer IUL insurance, we do offer whole, term, and final expense life insurance policies with coverage that can fit your needs. Read on to learn more about what indexed universal life insurance is and the pros and cons so you can decide whether this policy is right for you.

2.5 Min Read

Table of Contents

Key Takeaways

  • Indexed universal life insurance is a permanent life insurance policy with a savings component that grows based on an index.
  • While indexed universal life insurance has several advantages, such as early access to cash value and reasonable premiums, it also comes with drawbacks like the potential for small returns and index volatility.
  • While Aflac doesn't offer indexed universal life insurance, we do have term, whole, and final expense life insurance policies that can provide financial support for you and your loved ones.

What is an Indexed Universal Life Insurance Policy?

Indexed universal life insurance (IUL) is a type of permanent life insurance policy with a savings component. Unlike some traditional life insurance plans, IUL insurance allows the policyholder more input on how the cash value grows. With indexed universal life insurance, you can place part of your savings in a standard, tax-deferred, cash value account and segment another portion into an account that grows based on a chosen index.

How Does Indexed Universal Life Insurance Work?

Indexed universal life insurance works similarly to a standard universal plan with a death benefit, but it allows the policyholder to grow their cash value based on a certain equity index.1 When the policyholder passes away, the beneficiary only receives the death benefit, and the cash value goes back to the insurance company.2

When you pay a premium for indexed universal life insurance, a portion of the funds goes to the basic functioning of the plan, and the other part goes into the savings account and earns interest based on an equity index. None of this money is physically invested in the stock market, but it is used as a gauge for interest payments.1

The chosen index’s performance determines how much interest will be added to the total cash value in your indexed universal life insurance plan. This is typically reevaluated at the start of each month, but it varies depending on the company you are working with.

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Indexed Universal Life Insurance Pros and Cons

Before committing to indexed universal life insurance, here are some pros and cons to consider.

Pros of Indexed Universal Life Insurance

Some of the pros of indexed universal life insurance include:

  • Early access: You may be able to access the cash value of the plan before it expires, which may help your life insurance retirement planning.
  • Potentially more cost-effective: Indexed universal life insurance requires a degree of risk, so insurance companies tend to keep premiums cost-effective.
  • Unlimited annual contributions: You can keep contributing to your plan, which broadens your earning potential.1
  • Flexibility: The death benefit is guaranteed, and you can adjust the face amount and riders.1

Cons of Indexed Universal Life Insurance

There are also some cons of indexed universal life insurance, like:

  • Cap on earnings: You can contribute as much as you'd like to the savings portion of your IUL insurance plan, but there's a cap on earnings.1
  • Potential for small returns: In order to see substantial return on cash value, you must be willing to commit a large face value.1
  • Index volatility: If the index you choose doesn't perform well, your cash value's growth will be impacted. That said, there's usually a guaranteed minimum interest rate, so your plan's growth won't fall below a certain percentage.1

How Much Does Indexed Universal Life Insurance Cost?

The cost of indexed universal life insurance can vary based on several factors, such as the policy type, insurer, your age, and health. However, since this type of policy is more complex and has an investment component, it can often come with higher premiums than other policies like whole life or term life insurance.

Alternatives to Indexed Universal Life Insurance

If you don’t think indexed universal life insurance is right for you, here are some alternatives to consider:

Term Life Insurance

Term life insurance is a temporary policy that typically offers coverage for 10 to 30 years. Aflac offers term life policies with customizable coverage and reasonable premiums.

Whole Life Insurance

Whole life insurance is a permanent policy that can offer coverage for your entire life. Typically more straightforward than indexed universal life insurance, this policy comes with fixed premiums and a cash value component that grows tax-deferred at a fixed rate.

Final Expense Insurance

Final expense insurance is a small permanent life policy that can help your loved ones cover end-of-life expenses, such as funeral and burial costs. This type of policy comes with a lower death benefit and typically doesn’t require a medical exam.

Is Indexed Universal Life Insurance Right for Me?

When deciding whether indexed universal life insurance is right for you, it’s important to consider all your coverage options. Whole life insurance may be a better choice if you are looking for more stability and consistency. On the other hand, term life insurance may be a better fit if you only need coverage for a certain period of time. If you decide to get indexed universal life insurance, we recommend looking into the plans and reviews at the companies you are considering.

Learn More About Aflac Life Insurance

Indexed universal life insurance is a type of policy that offers more control and flexibility, along with higher cash value growth potential. While we don’t offer IUL insurance, we can provide you with more information about our whole, term, and final expense life insurance policies. We recommend exploring all your options and chatting with an Aflac agent to discover the best fit for you and your family.

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