Survivorship Indexed Universal Life for cash value accumulation

In a quote comparison of Survivorship Indexed Universal Life (IUL) products with cash value accumulation as the objective, Penn Mutual outperformed the competition with their “Survivor Plus IUL” plan.

A Surviviorship Indexed UL, second-to-die benefit, will tend outperform an individual Indexed UL for cash value accumulation.  The cost of insurance on two lives for one death benefit is lower than on a single life, so it makes sense for a couple to consider a survivorship product.

Here were the parameters for this case study:

Premium Amount: $250,000
Solve For:  Minimum Non-MEC *
Death Benefit Option: Increasing
Illustrative Rate assumption: 6% (all years);  S & P 500 annual point-to-point
insureds:  both mid ’50’s, both preferred non tobacco
objective: cash value accumulation, downside protection

Penn Mutual was able to solve as a “3 pay”, dividing the $250,000 premium into three annual payments, and maintain competitive cash value accumulation to a 4 pay, which is unusual.  When evaluating  a limited pay scenario, one works down from a “7 pay” non-MEC structure to see where optional cash value accumulation occurs. A 5 pay or 4 pay is most common.  Penn Mutual’s cash value accumulation was superior to the competition looking at years 5, 10, 15 and 20 and on out in 5 year increments.  PennMutual’s has a 2% floor on both its fixed and indexed account, giving their product superior downside protection.

Each case is different in age, health, premium amount and objectives, so it’s not a hard and fast conclusion that PennMutual Survivor IUL will be the superior product, but the next time a cash value accumulation case comes up Penn Mutual will be serve as a benchmark.

  •  Non-MEC =  not a Modified Endowment Contract

Survivorship Guaranteed Universal Life at 50 something

After reviewing yesterday 13 major life insurance carriers for a couple in excellent health in their early 50’s for Survivorship Guaranteed Universal Life, multimillion limited pay some companies were clear leaders for lowest premiums:

American General Life Insurance Company: “AG Secure Survivor GUL”
Pruco Life Ins. Co.  (Prudential):  “PruLife SUL Protector”
Nationwide Life and Annuity Insurance Co:  “YourLife No-Lapse Guarantee SUL II”

American General also has guaranteed cash value accumulation, and a versatile option to reduce the face amount and access that cash value while maintaining the lifetime guarantee.

The most competitive premiums are subject to age, face amount and health status.  When shopping for life insurance for estate planning a thorough search is advisable to verify which are the most competitive.  However certain carriers will tend time and again to have lowest premiums.

Sean Drummey

sean's profile picContact:
Phone: (910) 328-0447
Text: (910) 803-1427
email: spdrummey@gmail.com

New Survivorship product from American General Life

American General Life Insurance Company has introduced  “Secure Survivor GUL”.  Survivorship Insurance, also called Second-To-Die Insurance, is designed for couples for estate planning purposes. It is less expenses than individual coverage.

Key Features:

Guaranteed Universal Lifurvivor GUL”e (GUL)  guaranteed not to lapse, no lapse, with timely premium payments; guaranteed death benefit and premiums.

Guaranteed cash value accumulation

Ability to reduce the death benefit and premiums in future years.  Pro-rata partial withdrawals of cash value permitted while maintaining the age 121 lifetime guarantee.

  • For example male and femal age 64 both preferred non tobacco,  $4,000,000 policy,  $44,853 premium.  Accumulates $543,682 guaranteed cash value at age 84.   Access half the cash value $271,841 (less withdrawal fee) maintain half the death benefit $2,000,000 policy, $22,427  new guaranteed premium – guaranteed to age 121

Return of premium feature: one-time option at end of policy year 15 for return of up to a maximum of 100% of premiums paid, a no cost rider

Comments:  American General’s product has what they call optionality.  The choice to reduce the death benefit, premiums and accessing the guaranteed cash value while maintaining the lifetime guarantee, as well as the option to return premiums in year 15 are very valuable and flexible options.  The guaranteed cash value accumulation is another useful plus to this product, unlike most Guaranteed ULs which build little or no cash value making premium payments and lapse protection much less flexible over the course of the policy.