Are policy loans permitted in universal life insurance?

Asked by: Alfreda Hamill I  |  Last update: December 20, 2025
Score: 4.9/5 (66 votes)

Like all permanent life insurance, it has a built-in cash value that grows over time and earns interest. You can take out policy loans against the cash value, use it to pay your premiums, or even use your coverage for cash to supplement your income in retirement.

Can you borrow money from a universal life insurance policy?

Life insurance loans are only available on permanent life insurance policies — such as whole life and universal life — that have a cash value component. You likely can't borrow against a term life insurance policy since it probably doesn't have cash value. Learn more about term vs. whole life insurance.

What is not possible with a universal life policy?

Which of the following actions is NOT possible with a Universal Life Policy? Premiums may be applied as a credit against income tax. All of these actions are possible with a Universal Life policy EXCEPT "Premiums may be applied as a credit against income tax".

Are policy loans allowed on whole life insurance?

You can only borrow against a whole life insurance policy or a universal life insurance policy. Policy loans reduce the death benefit if not paid off. Life insurance companies add interest to the loan balance, which if unpaid can cause the policy to lapse. Only permanent life insurance builds cash value.

Can I withdraw money from my universal life insurance policy?

A policy owner of universal life insurance has the ability to access their cash in the form of either a life insurance loan, life settlement, or viatical settlement. It is important to remember that withdrawals from a policy's cash value reduce its death benefit and have different tax consequences.

How Policy Loans Work Using Indexed Universal Life Insurance (TAX-FREE)

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What are the disadvantages of universal life insurance?

Some of the drawbacks include caps on returns and no guarantees as to the premium amounts or market returns. An IUL insurance policy may be canceled if you stop paying premiums. IUL policies are generally best for those with large up-front investments who want options for a tax-free retirement.

How soon can you borrow against a life insurance policy?

Once you've built up enough cash value to cover your desired loan amount, you can borrow money from your life insurance policy. The amount of time it will take to accumulate the funds depends on your policy's structure, but it may take a few years to build up enough cash value to take out a policy loan.

What is the cash value of a $10,000 life insurance policy?

Say, for example, that you purchase an insurance policy with a face value of $10,000. Once the policy matures, the cash value of the policy should equal $10,000.

What's the difference between whole life and universal life insurance?

Whole life and universal life (UL) are both types of permanent life insurance. Universal life policies provide flexible premiums and death benefits but have fewer guarantees. Whole life policies offer consistent premiums and guaranteed cash value accumulation.

Are policy loans tax deductible in whole life?

Is a Life Insurance Policy Loan Taxable? A life insurance loan is typically not taxed. However, if you surrender your policy or the policy lapses, you will have to pay taxes on gains made through investments and your outstanding loan will be deducted from your payout.

What does Suze Orman say about universal life insurance?

One of my key life insurance rules is this: Stick with term life insurance. Unless you have someone in your family with special needs, there is typically no need to buy whole life, or universal life, which are referred to as “permanent” policies and cost a lot more.

Should I cash in my universal life insurance policy?

It's often recommended to wait at least 10 to 15 years before cashing out a whole life insurance policy, allowing the cash value to grow. Before making a decision, consult with your insurance agent or a financial advisor to understand the full impact of cashing out.

Why do universal life insurance policies fail?

When a variable universal life policy isn't adequately funded from the outset, a low return on invested premiums will hasten the policy's failure. The cost of insurance in a variable universal life policy is so high that inadequate growth of the cash value will result in increased premiums.

How soon can I borrow money from my IUL?

You can generally borrow money from your life insurance policy once the cash value component has met a certain minimum threshold. However, to take the loan you want, the cash value balance must also reach an adequate level to provide collateral for the loan size you want.

Are IUL better than 401k?

IUL contracts protect against losses while offering some equity risk premium. IRAs and 401(k)s do not offer the same downside protection, though there is no cap on returns. IULs tend to have have complicated terms and higher fees.

What is the maximum loan amount a policy may withdraw from a variable universal life insurance policy?

Final answer: In a Variable Universal Life Insurance policy, the maximum amount a policyowner can borrow is an amount not exceeding the cash value of the policy. This amount is tied directly to the cash value the policyholder has accumulated to avoid risk of policy lapse.

What happens if I outlive my universal life insurance?

If you are still living when a universal life insurance policy matures, you may be able to receive a lump-sum payment equal to the cash value of your policy. However, this generally only occurs for plans that have maturity dates, and only if the insured person has outlived the maturity date.

What is better than an IUL?

Whole life insurance provides the stability of a fixed premium, and it's generally more affordable than indexed universal life insurance.

What are 2 disadvantages of whole life insurance?

A more complex product than term life insurance. Higher premiums than term life insurance. Could be costly if coverage lapses early.

Can nursing homes take your life insurance from your beneficiary?

A nursing home cannot take your life insurance policy if you have one or more named beneficiaries. If you pass away, the nursing home that was responsible for your care cannot attempt to claim any of the death benefits from your policy as long as you named a beneficiary to receive it.

How much cash is a $100 000 life insurance policy worth?

A typical life settlement is worth around 20% of your policy value, but can range from 10-25%. So for a 100,000 dollar policy, you would be looking at anywhere from 10,000 to 25,000 dollars.

How do funeral homes handle life insurance policies?

The funeral director can look at the life insurance policy to determine whether or not the policy is assignable. If it is, they will work with the insurance company to have a portion of the death benefit assigned to them to cover the funeral and burial costs.

How to use life insurance to build wealth?

4 ways to use whole life insurance as an investment
  1. Withdraw or take a loan on the cash value. ...
  2. Create generational wealth. ...
  3. Collect dividends. ...
  4. Surrender the policy (but only if you no longer need it)

Why is cash value life insurance bad?

Why? First up, you're going into debt, which is never a good idea. Second, you'll have to pay interest on the loan, and if you don't pay all of it back, your death benefit will decrease. Think about how crazy this is—you're paying interest on a loan made up of your own money.

What is a max funded Iul?

A max-funded Indexed Universal Life (IUL) policy is designed to build maximum cash value by funding the policy up to legal premium limits. This structure enhances cash growth potential without triggering tax penalties, making it a strategy for those seeking life insurance with significant tax-advantaged savings.