Life insurance as Roth IRA

956 Views | 14 Replies | Last: 4 hrs ago by YouBet
Madagascar
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AG
Has anyone tried out a policy like this? I'm trying to get together a life insurance policy and Prudential is trying to sell me on a whole life policy that they say acts like a Roth IRA that I can invest and pull from for retirement / late life expenses etc. It apparently doesn't have the contribution limits of the Roth and can be self funded for the premium based on the investments.

This all seems too good to be true so I'm trying to find a catch but haven't come up with one yet.
harge57
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I have pretty much never found anyone that recommends whole life policies outside of people that sell whole life policies.
nactownag
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AG
Avoid this advisor most likely
themissinglink
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AG
I've seen one incredibly rich person do something similar with a whole life policy near the end of her life to get around estate taxes that actually kinda made sense as it was explained to me.

I would have to see the numbers on the specific policy in question, but I would be shocked if it's actually as good as the sales person claims. In general, I would stay pretty far away from whole life policies.
sjones
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As someone who sells life insurance, I personally would stick to term policies. There are exceptions based on age/health etc to where a whole life policy can be better. As mentioned above, using it later in life to have the policy pay for estate taxes if your assets are in excess of 6million is a very wise move. If you have any questions just shoot me a text. 979-820-2271
Madagascar
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AG
Thanks for the replies. One of the attractive things about the policy is that is seems I would not just lose the premium like I would with a term life insurance policy and after 20 years with investment in the standard array of index funds, I could start pulling it out on a monthly basis to fund retirement or long term care if necessary.

That's interesting about using it to cover estate taxes at death.
Diggity
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AG
I would read up on whole life. This guy covers most of the issues I have with it.

https://www.whitecoatinvestor.com/debunking-the-myths-of-whole-life-insurance/

themissinglink
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AG
But what's the opportunity cost of buying a term life policy and investing the difference in premiums between the 2 policies?

If you are at the point where you are considering purchasing a whole life policy to avoid estate taxes, I'd make sure to run the plan by a financial advisor with experience advising high net worth individuals. The one time I saw it make sense (I'm not a financial advisor) was with a 90 year old widow with a 9 figure NW from owning a business her late husband started ~60 years before.
Madagascar
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AG
Diggity said:

I would read up on whole life. This guy covers most of the issues I have with it.

https://www.whitecoatinvestor.com/debunking-the-myths-of-whole-life-insurance/




Thanks for sharing this! The article was super helpful in debunking the myths. I will probably just aim for term insurance even though I will end up surrendering the cost.
Fido2K
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Look up "rich man's Roth" or LIRP-life insurance retirement plan. They exist and they have a purpose. And there are other permanent policies that are not whole life policies.
Pinochet
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Did the insurance salesman explain the tax implications as being similar to a Roth (taxed money in, earnings/distributions out tax free)? Or did he say he wanted to have a whole life policy inside your Roth?
OldArmyCT
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AG
I don't have this but instead of a Roth via insurance try a single pay Long Term Care product. This is one example=:

https://www.nationwide.com/personal/insurance/life/long-term-care/carematters-together/
Dill-Ag13
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AG
10 year term life policies is what I do. Up for renewal in a few years. Amount needed staircases downwards as my nest egg builds. Did at 25, next is 35, then last one at 45
Comeby!
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Look up DEFRA and TEFRA guidelines as it pertains to life insurance. Life insurance as an investment is addressed here. Additionally the cost of premium escalations for this type of insurance makes it a bad investment typically
YouBet
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AG
Dill-Ag13 said:

10 year term life policies is what I do. Up for renewal in a few years. Amount needed staircases downwards as my nest egg builds. Did at 25, next is 35, then last one at 45
Yep, this is what we do.
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