Indexed Universal Life Insurance (IUL): How It Works
Indexed universal life (IUL) insurance offers a death benefit similar to standard universal life insurance, but its cash value component works differently. The distinguishing feature of indexed universal life insurance is that some or all of its cash value is tied to the performance of a stock or bond index.
IUL insurance policies are highly complex and can come with more ups and downs than many other types of life insurance. For a savvy investor looking for a policy with flexibility, IUL could be a good fit. But if you’re simply looking for permanent coverage with guarantees, a whole life policy is a better option.
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Best life insurance companiesWhat is indexed universal life insurance (IUL)?
Indexed universal life insurance is a type of permanent coverage, which means it can last your entire life and build cash value. Unlike other types of universal life insurance, an IUL insurance policy places the cash value in sub-accounts that mirror a stock index, such as the S&P 500.
Similar to other universal life policies, IUL insurance gives policyholders the flexibility to adjust their premiums and life insurance death benefit as needed.
Indexed universal life is complicated, and requires a more hands-on approach to managing the policy. Anyone considering an IUL policy should find a life insurance agent with a Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) designation to help navigate the buying and management processes. Agents with this designation have a thorough understanding of the industry and life insurance underwriting procedures.
Pros of indexed universal life
Stock market-driven returns
. With indexed accounts, the cash value grows when the market grows, and that growth is often accumulated tax-deferred.Control.
You can increase or decrease your premium payments, depending on your need for coverage, the growth of your cash account and your financial situation. You can also increase or decrease your coverage amount, although you may need to complete a medical exam to boost the death benefit.» MORE:
Compare smart ways to invest in your futureCons of indexed universal life
Risk.
The indexes may not rise as quickly as projected. If this happens, the return on your investment could fail to meet your expectations. That could lead to owing extra money to keep your policy from lapsing. If all you want is a guaranteed payout and some cash value, a whole life insurance policy may be a better option.Effort.
You’ll need to monitor your policy closely. During periods of low returns, you may need to pay more into your account to prevent your policy from lapsing.Capped returns.
Caps and participation rates limit you from fully participating in the success of the market. Plus, they can come down over time, further limiting your returns.Fees.
IUL coverage fees can increase over time and may eat into the payments you make or the value of your cash account.How indexed universal life insurance works
Indexed universal life insurance works similarly to universal life. You pay a premium in exchange for potentially lifelong coverage and have the opportunity to build cash value over time. Part of your premium payment goes toward the cost of insurance — i.e., paying out the death benefit — and other fees. The rest is added to your cash value.
The cash value component of IUL can grow based on the performance of a stock market index, so it might rise more quickly than other life insurance options — but can also be riskier and harder to manage.
Adjustable premiums and death benefit
As with universal life, IUL insurance premiums are adjustable. If you ever decide to skip a premium payment or underpay, the cost of insurance and policy expenses are deducted from your cash value. You may also be able to adjust the death benefit amount if your needs change. However, you may be asked to complete a life insurance medical exam if you apply to increase your coverage.
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How much life insurance do I need?Cash value
The cash value in IUL insurance policies can earn interest in two ways:
A fixed interest rate.
The performance of stock and bond indexes.
You can choose to put the cash value in a fixed account, indexed account or a combination of both.
Fixed accounts
Fixed accounts grow at a fixed rate set by the insurer.
Indexed accounts
These accounts are slightly more complex. The cash value is placed in one or more sub-accounts that mirror the performance of a stock or bond index, such as the S&P 500. You can choose which accounts to invest in based on what the insurer has to offer. The insurer then pays interest to policyholders based on the performance of the index. As the index goes up, the account earns interest. If the index drops, the account earns less or nothing.
The amount you can earn is subject to “floors” and “caps” to help minimize large swings in interest payments. The floor is the lowest your account rate can go and is usually guaranteed for the life of the policy. It's often set at 0%, which means the account won’t suffer losses if the market crashes.
The cap is the highest interest rate the account can earn, so if the market is up more than the cap, you’ll get credited only for the cap amount. For example, if the cap is 10% and the index rises by 12%, you’ll earn interest of only 10%. Unlike the floor, your insurer can change the cap while the policy is in force.
Participation rate
Caps are not the only way an IUL policy can restrict interest. There's also the participation rate. This rate dictates whether the cash value that you tied to a market index can fully “participate” in the gains of that index. A participation rate below 100% will further limit the interest you can earn. For example, if the index gain is 12% and the cap is 10% (as outlined in the above example), but your participation rate is 80%, you’ll earn only 8%. The insurer can adjust the participation rate during the life of the policy.
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Understanding permanent life insuranceThe cost of indexed universal life insurance
The exact cost of your IUL policy will depend on factors such as your age, health, smoking status and coverage amount. In general, you can expect to pay more for IUL than for a universal life insurance policy but less than you would for whole life insurance.
Below are average annual premiums for a $500,000 IUL policy for non-smokers in excellent health.
Indexed universal life vs. whole life insurance
Indexed universal life vs. universal life insurance
Indexed universal life vs. term life insurance
What are IUL policy illustrations?
When you sit down to discuss IUL policy options with an agent, you’ll be shown illustrations. These are projections of the policy’s cash value growth, based on predicted interest rates, fees, payments, caps, participation rates and loans. It’s easy to see these as accurate forecasts of the future, but they are not — they’re estimates. After all, no one knows for certain how the stock and bond markets are going to perform or what adjustments the insurance company will make.
When considering an indexed universal life policy, make sure to ask how the interest rates, fees, caps, participation rates or premiums could affect your policy’s performance.
The bottom line: Is IUL right for you?
You may want to consider indexed universal life insurance if:
You want life insurance coverage that can last your whole life.
You’re willing to monitor the policy closely and accept some risk to earn more interest for your cash value.
You feel comfortable that you’ll be able to pay the policy premiums over the long term.
You’ve already put the maximum amount into other tax-advantaged investment accounts.
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Find the right life insurance policy for youCompanies that offer IUL insurance
All of the companies below offer indexed universal life and earned at least 4 stars out of 5 for overall performance. NerdWallet’s ratings are determined by our editorial team and are based on the company as a whole, not individual products. The scoring methodology takes into account consumer experience, complaint data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners and financial strength ratings.