Many consumers buy life insurance for financial security as it can provide for family or other loved ones when they die. While the death benefit is the primary purpose of life insurance, few consumers know that permanent life insurance can also help them during their lifetime, according to The Hartford. Here is a list of benefits that a life insurance policy can provide.
Preparing for retirement
According to a recent survey by the National Institute on Retirement Security, 83 percent of Americans are worried about their ability to retire, even for those who have employer sponsored qualified plans. With permanent life insurance, net premium payments support the policy and help build cash value that can later be accessed through withdrawals or policy loans to help supplement retirement income. When properly structured, there are no premature withdrawal penalties, required minimum distributions or limitations on adjusted gross income. And loans from a life insurance policy are typically not subject to income taxes.
Preparing for a chronic illness
The number of Americans with a chronic illness is expected to rise to 230 million by 2023, according to the 2008 edition of the Almanac of Chronic Disease. For an extra fee, consumers can add a policy rider to some life insurance policies which will allow the policyholder to begin drawing on their death benefit before they die, if they are certified as chronically ill by a physician due to failure of at least two activities of daily living or cognitive impairment that endangers their safety, or that of others. The condition must also require core services that are likely to continue for life. In that case, The Hartford will accelerate the death benefit and begin paying a maximum monthly benefit of 2 percent of the death benefit at the time of the claim, not to exceed the IRS 2009 daily limit of $280. Put another way, a policyholder with a death benefit of $350,000 could receive as much as $7,000 a month to use as they please. They could, for example, pay an adult child to care for them so they don’t have to go into a nursing home, to pay medical bills, or even to pay a neighbor to mow their lawn. How they spend the money they receive is up to them. They don’t need the insurance company’s approval or to submit receipts for any expenses, be they medical or personal. Receiving benefits under the rider will, of course, reduce the death benefit available to the policy’s beneficiaries.
Business planning
A 2007 survey conducted by The Hartford found that more than a quarter of business owners have not taken steps to plan their estate. Permanent life insurance cash values can have many business uses. For example, cash values can be accessed and used towards the purchase of the shares of a retiring business partner. Similarly, the cash value can be used toward the purchase of a partner’s interest in the business if the partner should become disabled. Business owners can also use life insurance to attract and retain critical talent by using a policy as part of a retirement or bonus strategy.
Charitable giving
Policyholders can use life insurance to create a lasting philanthropic legacy. For example, they can use life insurance as part of a charitable plan to give back to the community without decreasing the wealth passed to their family; to create current income tax deductions; to delay or avoid capital-gains taxes on the sale of appreciated assets; and, at the same time, to alleviate the burden of gift and estate taxes on their beneficiaries. In other words, with the help of a financial, tax or legal advisor, policyholders can give to their favorite charities while enjoying significant tax and non-tax benefits.
Paying for college
Parents or grandparents who are saving for college tuition can access the accumulated cash value of their permanent life insurance policy to help pay college expenses while also providing protection in the event of a premature death.
“It never ceases to amaze me how much life insurance can help people live a better, more fruitful life,” said Brian Murphy, executive vice president of The Hartford’s Individual Life Division. “If consumers and small business owners take the time to learn about life insurance, they are often surprised how many ways it can help them address some of life’s most pressing financial challenges and that it can even help them to realize their financial dreams.”