Indexed Universal Life (IUL) is a type of life insurance that combines lifelong coverage with a chance to grow your money. It offers a high payout if the policyholder passes away, but it also has a unique investment feature. Part of the premium goes into accounts linked to major market indexes, like the S&P 500, giving it the potential to grow more than traditional policies.
IULs were first introduced in the U.S. in 1997 but didn’t become popular until after the financial crisis, when investors started looking for safer options. IULs are attractive because they can provide steady growth with both minimum and maximum limits, giving some protection during market dips. They’re popular in places like Bermuda, Singapore, and the U.S. While Bermuda policies are usually held in trusts for privacy, Singapore’s IULs are generally owned individually but can be put into a trust if needed.
All life insurance policies have a Cost of Insurance—an amount that covers the risk taken on by the insurance company. This cost varies based on factors like the policyholder’s age and health and is included in the premium.
For IUL, a main risk is policy lapse. This can happen if the policyholder withdraws too much cash or if the market performs poorly, which reduces the policy’s cash value. If there’s not enough value in the policy to cover the insurance cost, the policy could lapse. However, IUL lowers this risk by investing premiums monthly, so market drops don’t impact the entire investment at once.
The insurance company will also alert the policyholder if extra funds are needed to keep the policy active, helping them avoid a lapse.
| Comparison Feature | Indexed Universal Life Insurance (IUL) | Whole Life Insurance | Term Life Insurance |
| Projected Cash Value and Flexibility in Partial Withdrawals | IUL accumulates cash value that is linked to the performance of market indices. Policyholders can benefit from market gains without exposure to market losses. Additionally, IUL provides flexible partial withdrawals that do not affect the death benefit. | The cash value of Whole Life Insurance depends on the insurer’s dividend performance, generally following a conservative investment approach. It does not allow for flexible partial withdrawals. There is only partial surrende option, reducing the total death benefit. | Term Life Insurance does not accumulate cash value and does not offer withdrawal flexibility. |
| Critical Illness Coverage | IUL does not include or allow for additional critical illness riders; it only provides death benefit coverage. | Whole Life and Term Life Insurance can be supplemented with critical illness riders, providing coverage for early, intermediate, and advanced stages of critical illness. | |
| Premiums | IUL generally has higher premiums but offers lifetime coverage. | Whole Life Insurance premiums vary based on insurer’s dividend performance and coverage amount. | Term Life Insurance premiums are relatively lower but only provide coverage up to a specified age (e.g., 65, 70, or 75), with no coverage thereafter. |
| Purpose | IUL is often used as part of estate planning and as a tool for building cash value over time. | Whole Life Insurance primarily offers income protection during one’s working years, covering death or critical illness risks. | Term Life Insurance primarily provides financial protection during key income-earning years (typically ages 40-65), addressing risks from accidents or critical illness to secure family income. |
If you’re interested in a Singapore IUL, feel free to reach out to me on WhatsApp at +65 86802340 or WeChat at lidwinabq for a
personalized quote.
A Story of Legacy Planning: “Why did my wealth end up with the two men I despised the most?”
A successful woman with a daughter went through a painful divorce after her husband had an affair. She raised her daughter alone, giving her a $2 million dowry on her wedding day. Sadly, her daughter’s marriage soon soured, and her son-in-law also cheated.
Then tragedy struck: her daughter, heartbroken, died in a car accident. She hadn’t made a will, and according to intestate succession laws, her estate was split equally between her husband, mother, and father.
So, the mother’s initial $2 million dowry shrank to $500,000, with $1.5 million going to the two men she despised most—her ex-husband and son-in-law.
Had she purchased IUL, her wealth would have been protected from going to those she wished to exclude.
Important: The information and opinions in this article are for general information purposes only. They should not be relied on as professional financial advice. Readers should seek independent financial advice that is customised to their specific financial objectives, situations & needs. This advertisement or publication has not been reviewed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore.
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