Build a stronger future
of adults wish they had put more money away, whether for retirement, emergency expenses, or their children's education.1
The average US household only owns enough life insurance to replace three years of income.2
Planning for the Future
Would your family be able to continue their current lifestyle should you die prematurely?
of households have a life insurance coverage gap.
Did you know?
Using LIMRA’s Life Insurance Needs Model, LIMRA estimates that 41 percent of households (52 million) have a life insurance coverage gap of $200,000 on average. That’s 52 million families who need more life insurance than they currently have. Overall, 4 out of 10 households said they would have trouble covering everyday living expenses if the primary wage earner died.3
Do you know someone who has been financially impacted by a qualifying illness?
adults in the U.S. have a chronic disease and four in ten adults have two or more.4
Did you know?
People are living longer, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they are living healthier. The unexpected can and does happen. How would you pay for the costs of a qualifying illness?
Chronic diseases such as heart disease, stroke, and cancer are the leading causes of death and disability in the United States. These top three chronic diseases account for nearly 1,459,000 deaths in the U.S. each year.4
Are you confident that with your current financial strategy, you'll have enough money saved away for retirement?
was the average 401(k) balance at the end of 2016.5
Did you know?
According to a recent study by the Employee Benefit Research Institute, the average 401(k) balance at the end of 2016 was $75,358. Would that be enough money to get you through retirement?
Do you know about these risks to your financial strategy?
Indexed universal life insurance (IUL) can help mitigate all of these risks. It can provide:
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Death benefit protection |
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Opportunity for cash value growth |
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A way to help supplement retirement income |
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Opportunity to access a portion of the death benefit while you're living |
Death Benefit Protection
A life insurance policy can help create a self-completing plan. Most savings plans are dependent upon someone earning and contributing to the plan. But what if you die before the plan is fully funded? Does your family’s dream for the future die with you? A self-completing plan can provide the dollar amount needed to meet your retirement goal should you die prematurely. Should you die, this plan can be immediately funded and help provide for your loved ones’ current and future needs. A permanent life insurance policy provides a death benefit if you die too soon, and the opportunity to help supplement your retirement income if you live a long time. Life insurance death benefit proceeds are also generally free from income tax when passed to your beneficiaries.
Growth Opportunity
Indexed Universal Life (IUL) insurance provides death benefit protection in case of the unthinkable, and potential tax-advantaged cash value growth based on the upward movement of a stock market index.
Will you have enough to retire?
In addition to death benefit protection, when considering the need to help supplement your future retirement income, make sure to look at all of your options. Many employers match contributions up to a certain dollar amount or percentage to a company-sponsored retirement account, which usually offers tax‑deferred growth.8 Take full advantage of that retirement funding resource.
When seeking additional options to help supplement your retirement income, it may be beneficial to seek out sources of tax‑advantaged retirement funds. Tax‑advantaged money is taxed up front when earned, but not taxed when withdrawn.
Let’s assume you and your significant other are starting retirement this year and require $100,000 per year after tax for living expenses. We’ll assume the current tax brackets, the current standard deduction for Married Filed Jointly, and 6% state income tax. To access 100% of the needed funds from only tax-deferred sources, you would need to withdraw $118,275. However, balancing the portfolio with a tax-advantaged funding source, you would only need to withdraw $61,340 from the tax-deferred source. A policy loan of $45,000 from the life insurance policy’s tax-advantaged cash value makes up the difference.9 Withdrawing less from the tax-deferred source lowers the annual tax bill.
Withdrawal: | $118,275 |
Taxes: | – 18,275 |
$100,000 | |
Tax-deferred: | $61,340 |
Taxes: | – $6,340 |
Policy loan: | + $45,000 |
$100,000 |
Tax-deferred |
|
Withdrawal: | $118,275 |
Taxes: | – 18,275 |
$100,000 | |
Total annual withdrawal: $118,275 |
Tax-deferred & Tax-advantaged |
|
Tax-deferred: | $61,340 |
Taxes: | – $6,340 |
Policy loan: | + $45,000 |
$100,000 | |
Total annual withdrawal: $106,340 |
The information presented is hypothetical and not intended to project or predict investment results.
Accelerated Death Benefits
Did you know that a life insurance death benefit could help while you are living? An accelerated death benefit can provide access to funds for qualifying medical condition without liquidating assets. It allows the policyowner to receive a portion of the death benefit if the insured has been diagnosed by a physician with a qualifying illness.10 Plus, it’s an unrestricted benefit — the money can be used for any purpose.
If you were certified by your physician as chronically ill and meet the qualifications for the chronic illness benefit in your policy, you may elect to accelerate a portion of your death benefit to help pay for your nursing home stay and other expenses.10
For California residents
California residents: For information on the differences between accelerated death benefits for chronic illness and long term care see the consumer brochure.
If you were told by your physician that you have less than two years to live, and upon qualifying for the terminal illness benefit on your life insurance policy, you may elect to access a portion of your death benefit so you can take a vacation with your family.10
Is indexed universal life insurance right for you?
There are also some things to consider when using indexed universal life insurance, such as:
Build your stronger future today
CALIFORNIA RESIDENTS - An accelerated death benefit is a life insurance benefit that also gives you the option to accelerate some or all of the death benefit in the event that you meet the criteria for a qualifying event described in the policy. This policy does not provide long-term care insurance subject to California long-term care insurance law. This policy is not a California Partnership for Long-Term Care program policy. This policy is not a Medicare supplement policy.
1. Bankrate’s Financial Security Index, 2019.
2. LIMRA, Trends in Life Insurance Ownership Study, 2017 and 2018.
3. LIMRA, Facts of Life and Annuities 2018. https://www.limra.com/globalassets/limra/research/research-abstracts/2018/the-facts-of-life-and-annuities-2018-update/full-report
4. Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. June 13, 2019, from https://www.cdc.gov/chronicdisease/index.htm
5. Issue Brief, No. 436. Employee Benefit Research Institute, November 6, 2018. https://www.ebri.org/docs/default-source/ebri-press-release/pr-1225-long-k-6nov18.pdf
6. The tax-deferred feature of the indexed universal life policy is not necessary for a tax-qualified plan. In such instances, you should consider whether other features, such as the death benefit and optional riders make the policy appropriate for your needs. Before purchasing this policy, you should obtain competent tax advice both as to the tax treatment of the policy and the suitability of the product.
7. Policy loans from life insurance policies generally are not subject to income tax, provided the contract is not a Modified Endowment Contract (MEC), as defined by Section 7702A of the Internal Revenue Code. A policy loan or withdrawal from a life insurance policy that is a MEC is taxable upon receipt to the extent cash value of the contract exceeds premium paid. Distributions from MECs are subject to federal income tax to the extent of the gain in the policy and taxable distributions are subject to a 10% additional tax prior to age 59 1/2, with certain exceptions. Policy loans and withdrawals will reduce cash value and death benefit. Policy loans are subject to interest charges. Consult with and rely on your tax advisor or attorney on your specific situation. Income and growth on accumulated cash values is generally taxable only upon withdrawal. Adverse tax consequences may result if withdrawals exceed premiums paid into the policy. Withdrawals or surrenders made during a Surrender Charge period will be subject to surrender charges and may reduce the ultimate death benefit and cash value. Surrender charges vary by product, issue age, sex, underwriting class, and policy year.
8. Subject to eligibility requirements. The death benefit will be reduced by the amount of the death benefit accelerated. Since benefits are paid prior to death, a discount will be applied to the death benefit accelerated. As a result, the actual amount received will be less than the amount of the death benefit accelerated. An administrative fee is required at time of election.
The term financial professional is not intended to imply engagement in an advisory business in which compensation is not related to sales. Financial professionals that are insurance licensed will be paid a commission on the sale of an insurance product.
Indexed Universal Life products are not an investment in “the market” nor in the applicable index and are subject to all policy fees and charges normally associated with most universal life insurance.
North American does not give legal or tax advice. Please consult with and rely on a qualified legal or tax advisor before entering into or paying additional premiums with respect to such arrangements.
Life insurance policies have terms under which the policy may be continued in force or discontinued. Current cost of insurance rates and interest rates are not guaranteed. Therefore, the planned periodic premium may not be sufficient to carry the contract to maturity. The Index Accounts are subject to caps and participation rates. In no case will the interest credited be less than 0 percent. Please refer to the customized illustration provided by your agent for additional detail. The policy’s death benefit is paid up on the death of the insured. The policy does not continue to accumulate cash value and excess interest after the insured’s death. For costs and complete details, call or write North American Company for Life and Health Insurance, Administrative Office, One Sammons Plaza, Sioux Falls, SD 57193. Telephone: 877-872-0757.
California residents: For information on the differences between accelerated death benefits for chronic illness and long term car, see the consumer brochure.
Texas Residents: Receipt of acceleration-of-life-insurance benefits may affect your, your spouse’s, or your family’s eligibility for public assistance programs such as medical assistance (Medicaid), Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC), supplementary social security income (SSI), and drug assistance programs. You are advised to consult with a qualified tax advisor and with social service agencies concerning how receipt of such a payment will affect your, your spouse’s and your family’s eligibility for public assistance.
Builder Plus IUL 2 (policy form series LS183), Accelerated Death Benefit Endorsement for Critical, Chronic and Terminal (form series LR508), Accelerated Death Benefit Endorsement - Critical Illness (form LR498, CA only), Accelerated Death Benefit Endorsement for Chronic Illness (form series LR492, CA only), and Accelerated Death Benefit Endorsement for Terminal Illness (form series LR466, CA only) are issued by North American, Administrative Office, One Sammons Plaza, Sioux Falls, SD 57193. Products, features, riders, endorsements, or issue ages may not be available in all jurisdictions. Limitations or restrictions may apply.
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