Life Insurance

Although it’s been around for nearly 30 years, a MEC, or a modified endowment contract, can still be confusing. Let’s straighten it out. A modified endowment contract is a unique type of cash value life insurance. A life insurance policy becomes a MEC when the policy has been funded more than federal tax laws permit.

Upon changeover, a MEC loses some of the favorable tax treatment it had as cash value life insurance. For tax purposes it’s now treated like a non-qualified annuity. While the cash value does stay intact and grow tax-deferred, you will be taxed on the cash value growth upon taking withdrawals.

Depending on state laws, cash value withdrawals may be subject to state income tax, along with the federal income tax you must pay. If taken before age 59.5, an early withdrawal penalty of 10% may apply, as well.

Because of these potential tax implications, it’s important to understand MECs, their features, and their potential consequences. Here’s a look at a MEC and how it may affect a life insurance policy. Read More

Generally, many people think of life insurance as a “peace of mind” option. It’s a means to provide dependents, such as a spouse and children, with financial support after the primary on the policy is deceased.

That said, there are many different types of life insurance policies that are used for a variety of financial planning strategies, including retirement, tax-adavantaged wealth building, and estate transfers. While most people begin to pay into life insurance at a younger age, if you are over 70, it may still make sense to purchase a life insurance policy. In fact, depending on your goals and situation, a life policy may be a pretty helpful addition to your overall financial strategy.

Let’s get into some important things to consider if you are thinking of buying life insurance at 70 or older. Read More

In a few ways, a Roth IRA and life insurance share some similarities. They both receive tax-advantaged treatment in the IRS code. They enable efficient wealth transfers from one generation to another, and they can provide a tax-free legacy. But despite these similarities, Roth IRAs and life insurance are very different.

For one, a Roth IRA is a retirement plan while life insurance is, well, just that – an insurance product. Yet some people have been asking which of these options might be the “better” retirement planning vehicle.

However, it isn’t an “either-or” question, but rather a matter of what makes sense for each person based on their individual needs, goals, and overall financial picture. That may include planning situations in which a life insurance policy is used as a tax-advantaged growth and income vehicle alongside a Roth IRA. And maybe even some other retirement accounts!

Nevertheless, it’s important to understand the differences between a Roth IRA and life insurance – including ways the rules may apply differently to them. With that said, here’s a quick look at these two options. Read More

Lots of people agree on the importance of life insurance. But it’s something that many of us don’t own, as research indicates.

According to LIMRA, a financial research group, 30% of U.S. households owned no life insurance at all just a few years ago. About 48% of households, or 60 million families, had an insurance gap that averaged $200,000 from what they actually needed. Factoring in average total coverage, almost 5 in 10 families would have only three years of household income replaced by their life insurance policies.

So, what are some reasons that Americans aren’t buying life insurance? Read More