How to use life insurance to build wealth (2024)

Life insurance can do more than protect your loved ones from financial strain when you die. It also can help you build wealth. Thoughtfully purchasing coverage gives you the ability to build wealth during your lifetime. Additionally, it can help your family build generational wealth after you pass away.

Here's a closer look at the different types of life insurance and insight into how to use life insurance to build wealth.

Types of life insurance

The two basic categories of life insurance are term and permanent.Term life insurancelasts for a predetermined number of years, then expires. Meanwhile,permanent life insurancecan last for a lifetime, no matter how long you live, as long as premiums are paid and the policy retains its value. Thrivent offers three types of permanent life insurance:whole life,universal lifeandvariable universal life.

Term life insurance can help your familybuild generational wealthif you pass away during the contract term. Term provides the most death benefit per dollar of premiums and is a great tool for clients who need to save for additional financial goals.

Permanent life insurance offers a guaranteed death benefit as long as you pay your premiums and the policy retains it's value. This can provide your loved ones with a sizable payout upon your passing. But that's not the only advantage this type of coverage offers. Permanent life insurance may give you the opportunity to earn dividends and potentially grow cash value during your lifetime.

How to leverage life insurance to build wealth

Fixed cash value life insurance can help you build wealth when you use it as a separate asset class in a diversified financial portfolio. Of the three types of permanent life insurance mentioned earlier, only whole life offers fixed cash value. The cash value of universal and variable universal life contracts can change.

For the rest of this article, we'll be focusing on whole life insurance with accumulated value (another word for cash value) that is fixed.

Unlikestocks, bonds, mutual funds and real estate,the cash value of a whole life insurance contract does not fluctuate with market changes. Instead, it increases at a guaranteed rate. The increase in value is tax-deferred, and you can borrow against your cash value without incurring taxes, though different tax rules apply if your life insurance is amodified endowment contract.

Withdraw cash value from your life insurance contract

You may be able towithdraw or borrow against your contract's cash valueduring your lifetime.These options can help reduce your overall portfolio's market risk by giving you a noncorrelated asset to tap in a volatile market.In other words, if you need money and don't want to sell stocks because the market is down, you could borrow from your contract's cash value instead.

This money can be used however you wish, such as purchasing other appreciating assets that can be left to your loved ones, beneficiaries and favorite causes upon your death. Just keep in mind that taking money out can reduce your contract's death benefit by the amount you havenot repaid.1

Distributing the life insurance death benefit

Along with helping to build wealth during your lifetime through potential cash value accumulation, life insurance can help tobuild generational wealthafter your passing thanks to the death benefit. Your insurance carrier will send the contract's death benefit proceeds directly to your named beneficiary or beneficiaries, avoiding probate. In most cases, the benefit will not be subject to income tax. However, death benefit proceeds may be subject to state and federal estate or inheritance taxes.

How cash value accumulates in whole life insurance

Cash value accumulates over time in two ways:

  • A portion of each premium you pay adds to your contract's cash value.
  • Your cash value earns a guaranteed rate of return.

Cash value accumulates slowly when you haven't had your contract for very long. More of your premium goes toward insurance than toward cash value at first. Over time, more and more of your premium goes toward cash value.

Creating a lasting legacy with life insurance

Strategically using life insurance to build your cash value and using that money to create more wealth is a great way to establish a legacy that will last long after you've passed. Thrivent'slife insurance calculatorcan help you assess your needs and help you identify the right option for your individual situation.

Talk to afinancial advisorabout whether fixed cash value life insurance could help you meet your goals. A Thrivent financial advisor can explain and illustrate your different life insurance options so you can protect those you love and help them build the wealth that will allow them to live out their values.

How to use life insurance to build wealth (2024)

FAQs

How to use life insurance to build wealth? ›

With a permanent policy, you pay into two pots: the death benefit and cash value. The former grows your death benefit with each monthly payment, but it's the latter that helps you build wealth. With the cash-value aspect, you can grow your wealth each month and build savings over the years.

How do the rich use life insurance to build wealth? ›

Life insurance is a popular way for the wealthy to maximize their after-tax estate and have more money to pass on to heirs. Life insurance can also be used as an investment tool with tax benefits when you're still alive.

How do I use life insurance to make money? ›

4 ways to use whole life insurance as an investment
  1. Withdraw or take a loan on the cash value. ...
  2. Create generational wealth. ...
  3. Collect dividends. ...
  4. Surrender the policy (but only if you no longer need it)
Sep 6, 2023

How to create generational wealth with life insurance? ›

Variable life insurance grows cash value based on the performance of market-based accounts like bonds, equities, and money market accounts. Also, you may insert your cash value into these accounts and achieve generational wealth with life insurance when the accounts do well.

How to use iul to build wealth? ›

The basics work as follows, and then we'll dive into the details. You and the bank pay for an indexed universal life policy. You pay 25% of the total premiums, and the bank pays 75%. After 15 years, the cash value builds up enough to repay the bank for its contribution and interest.

How do rich people use life insurance to avoid taxes? ›

Tax-Free Transfer of Wealth: Life insurance proceeds are generally tax-free, which makes them an ideal way to transfer wealth from one generation to the next. This can help to minimize the impact of taxes on the family's financial situation and ensure that more of the wealth is passed down to future generations.

Why do rich people use IUL? ›

Large, Tax-Free Death Benefit: The money paid to your beneficiaries is generally tax-free, allowing for the efficient transfer of a greater portion of your wealth. Tax-Deferred Growth: Your IUL policy's cash value grows tax-free, potentially increasing the amount you leave to your heirs.

How do you turn life insurance into cash? ›

How Do I Cash Out My Life Insurance Policy?
  1. Make a withdrawal. You can simply take money out of the cash value with a withdrawal. ...
  2. Take out a loan. A life insurance policy loan allows you to borrow money from your life insurance policy. ...
  3. Surrender the policy. ...
  4. Sell the policy.
Oct 10, 2023

How long does it take to build cash value on life insurance? ›

Cash value: In most cases, the cash value portion of a life insurance policy doesn't begin to accrue until 2-5 years have passed. Once cash value begins to build, it becomes available to you according to your policy's guidelines.

How to use your life insurance while alive? ›

4 Ways to Use Life Insurance While You're Alive
  1. Take a Loan or Withdrawal From Your Policy. ...
  2. Use Your Cash Value to Pay Premiums. ...
  3. Use Your Living Benefit Rider. ...
  4. Sell Your Policy. ...
  5. Tips for Buying Life Insurance.
Aug 1, 2023

What is the fastest way to create generational wealth? ›

Follow these five steps to get started on your generational wealth building journey:
  1. Step 1: Pay off Debts. Think of debt as missed opportunity. ...
  2. Step 2: Buy a House. ...
  3. Step 3: Start Long-term Investing. ...
  4. Step 4: Put an Estate Plan in Place. ...
  5. Step 5: Share Your Financial Wisdom.
Mar 19, 2024

How much money do you need to start generational wealth? ›

There isn't even an agreed-upon definition of how much it takes to have generational wealth. I mean, generational wealth is just a fancy phrase that we used to call an inheritance. If you leave $1,000 to your kids, they've technically got generational wealth!

How to use life insurance as a bank? ›

To make the infinite banking concept work for you, simply request a loan from your life insurance policy. This is accomplished by submitting a policy loan request form. Once they verify the funds available in your life insurance cash value, the insurance company sends you a check or processes it electronically.

How do millionaires build wealth using life insurance? ›

Distributing the life insurance death benefit

Along with helping to build wealth during your lifetime through potential cash value accumulation, life insurance can help to build generational wealth after your passing thanks to the death benefit .

How much money do I need to open an IUL? ›

The minimum amount you need to start an IUL life insurance policy varies between insurers and depends on your chosen coverage amount and premium payment method. Annual payments for an internationally indexed universal life policy start at around US$20,000 yearly and rise to $100,000 or more in premiums.

What is the bad side of IUL? ›

Some of the drawbacks include possible limits on annual returns and no guarantees as to the premium amounts or future market returns.

How do people with millions insure their money? ›

Millionaires don't worry about FDIC insurance. Their money is held in their name and not the name of the custodial private bank. Other millionaires have safe deposit boxes full of cash denominated in many different currencies.

What insurance companies do billionaires use? ›

Some of the best life insurance companies for wealth people include MassMutual, Prudential, and Pacific Life. These carriers provide life insurance policies with a high death benefit and will make sure that the process of receiving coverage is seamless and as easy as possible.

What is the wealth builder life insurance policy? ›

Wealth Builder Life Insurance is a comprehensive product that consists of 1 Plan with 4 Solutions to help members of the military community, their spouses, and widows/widowers over age 55 prepare for their changing need in retirement and to confidently achieve a secure financial future.

Is life insurance a good way to transfer wealth? ›

Life insurance is a great wealth transfer asset because the proceeds are inherited estate and income tax free, and can be used for goals like providing liquidity to pay for estate taxes, or transferring wealth directly to your beneficiary(ies).

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