There are many choices when it comes to taking out life insurance; one option you may want to investigate is endowment life insurance. This type of plan is slightly special in what it offers. Whereas normal life insurance plans only offer death benefit, this plan will pay money out whether you pass away or not.
An endowment life insurance policy bears comparison to a term life insurance plan. Both of these policy kinds are active for a certain period of time, normally between 10 and 30 years. Whereas a term insurance plan only pays out should you die during that period, an endowment policy will pay out whether you live or die. Once the policy is due to end, the insurer will pay out a lump sum for you to use if you are still living. No further payments are received from a term insurance policy after the death benefit has been paid.
An endowment life insurance policy can also be cashed in early. Choosing to do this will mean that you receive less than you would if you let it run, but you are guaranteed some of the funds to be able to use them whilst still living. For example, if you cash in a policy in the fifteenth year and it is a twenty year policy, you will receive approximately 50% of the amount you would have got once the policy ended. The amount you get will differ depending on the insurers and what agreements were made when the policy was started.
The major drawback of this type of insurance is that you are likely to have to pay a high premium than you would with any other kind. It is possible to get around this by getting a low cost endowment policy. This does mean lower premiums; however, the amount that will be paid out will decrease over time.
As another viable option, you could opt for a return of premium insurance plan. This is a relatively new concept on the market but delivers a win-win situation for you. The plan is also for a specified amount of time and the premiums will be monthly like the other products. Should you pass away during the policy period, your named beneficiary will receive the death benefit like all the other plans.
Should you live through to the end of the policy, you will receive your premiums paid back to you in full. There is no tax payable on the premiums you have made and so there will be no reduction in the amount of money that is returned to you. You can also receive some return of premium if you cancel the policy before it is due to expire. Essentially, this policy is a way of ensuring you receive money back whether you do or don’t die.
In order to get lower premiums you need to be aware of a few conditions that affect how much you will pay. The first of these is your age; you are likely to pay a higher premium if you take out insurance in later life. This is why it makes sense to take insurance out in your earlier years. The second point to remember is that smokers will pay more than non smokers, sometimes as much as 50% more.
You can find out all about return of premium insurance and endowment life insurance policies from your financial advisor or insurance agent. Take the time to look at the policies closely and ask any questions that you have. If you feel you are ready to buy these policies, most providers have a quick and straightforward application form on their websites.
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