Does Dave Ramsey believe in whole life insurance?

Asked by: Mr. Ricardo Ortiz Sr.  |  Last update: November 16, 2025
Score: 5/5 (66 votes)

All of that is why Dave and I teach people to avoid whole life. Instead of whole life, just buy term life and invest the huge savings in a tax-advantaged retirement account. Now you know how life insurance works, and why term is the only way to protect yourself wisely as you work toward becoming self-insured.

What type of life insurance does Dave Ramsey recommend?

Dave Ramsey recommends term insurance as opposed to whole life, variable life or universal life insurance. These cash value policies are often a better deal for the agent than the insured, and they eat up extra money that could be put to better use accumulating your nest egg.

What does Suze Orman say about whole life insurance?

Suze has also mentioned that many companies or insurance agents try to sell whole life or universal life insurance policies to people just so they can earn more commission money. Suze recommends that you should get term life insurance and continues to add that most people should get a 20 year term policy.

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.

At what age should you stop whole life insurance?

There isn't any age cut-off that makes life insurance no longer worth it; it's all about your personal situation. That being said, it is often worth having life insurance after 65 if you have dependents who rely on you financially.

Why Dave Ramsey HATES Whole Life Insurance!

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Do you get money back if you cancel whole life insurance?

If you decide to cancel whole life insurance or another permanent life product, you could receive a payout based on the cash surrender value. Surrender charges: Be mindful that surrendering your policy, particularly in the early years, often incurs surrender charges. These fees will reduce the amount you receive.

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

Most whole life insurance policies mature at 121 years, although some mature at 100 years. 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.

Why are people so against whole life insurance?

Insurance and administrative fees may also eat into the returns, making most people better off buying a much lower cost term policy and investing the difference. In addition, the premiums are much higher than with a term policy so you might not want to look to whole life to cover all your life insurance needs.

Why is whole life not a good investment?

High Cost, No Extra Benefit

The money you pay into a Guaranteed Whole Life policy only covers the death benefit. There is no extra growth or return on your payments. With an IUL, your premiums help pay for both your life insurance and cash value growth, making better use of your money.

What is better, term life or whole life?

Term life is more affordable but lasts only for a set period of time. On the other hand, whole life insurance tends to have higher premiums but never expires. Knowing the differences between term and whole life insurance will help you choose a policy that works best for you and your lifestyle.

Why do millionaires get whole life insurance?

Whole life insurance can provide tax-free dividends

For someone looking to build up wealth to cash in on during retirement, Secco says that dividends can accumulate over time and be used as a tax-free pool of money. However, Secco says that using life insurance as a savings vehicle is a long-term strategy.

What insurance does Suze Orman recommend?

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.

Do you ever pay off whole life insurance?

If you're a whole life insurance policyholder, you might be wondering whether it's possible to completely pay off a whole life insurance policy. The simple answer is yes, it's possible. However, it's not guaranteed, so if you're looking to do this, there's important information you should know beforehand.

What 4 investments does Dave Ramsey recommend?

A diversified portfolio typically includes a mix of stocks, bonds, and mutual funds, balancing growth and stability. Ramsey often recommends allocating investments into four types of mutual funds: growth, growth and income, aggressive growth, and international funds.

What insurance company does Dave Ramsey recommend?

Zander Insurance Is RamseyTrusted

It means Zander is the only company Dave and the entire Ramsey team trusts to help you find term life insurance. They've faithfully served over 600,000 folks in the last 25 years. And they'll help you find the right policy too.

What investments are better than life insurance?

Annuities typically have greater growth potential than life insurance. First, you aren't paying for life insurance protection with an annuity, so all your money goes toward investing. Second, annuities may offer more performance and return guarantees for future retirement income.

What is the biggest weakness of whole life insurance?

Lack of flexibility

Whole life insurance policies have limited flexibility compared to other life insurance products . Death benefit amounts and premiums can't be changed, so it's crucial to carefully review the terms and conditions before finalizing a whole life insurance contract.

Can you cash out whole life insurance?

Cashing out your whole life insurance can offer substantial financial assistance for various purposes, from covering unexpected expenses to accelerating your progress toward financial goals. However, it's important to be aware of the potential tax consequences and other considerations.

Why do financial advisors push life insurance?

Many financial advisors view life insurance as an important part of the financial planning and wealth protection services they offer their clients. Life insurance offers financial protection to surviving beneficiaries in the event the insured policyholder dies.

Do you lose money with whole life insurance?

Over time, the dividends and interest earned on the policy's cash value will provide a positive return to investors, growing larger than the total amount of premiums paid into the policy. However, withdrawals and unpaid loans also reduce the cash value of the policy.

Why do insurance agents push whole life?

So, sales reps may try to push a whole life policy, which is life insurance that lasts until the policyholder's death and includes a tax-advantaged cash value savings component. Whole life coverage is more expensive, leading to more commission income for the agent.

Does Dave Ramsey own life insurance?

Now you know how life insurance works, and why term is the only way to protect yourself wisely as you work toward becoming self-insured. And while Dave and I are not an insurance company, if you're wondering which term life broker we personally rely on, it's Zander Insurance.

How much does a $100,000 whole life insurance policy cost?

What is the average cost of whole life insurance per month? Quote costs vary widely depending on the coverage amount and applicant's age, medical status, and other terms and factors. A recent survey found that a 20-year-old female could pay about $55/month for $100,000 of whole life coverage7.

Can a nursing home take your life insurance?

Nursing homes can't take a senior's life insurance benefits away from designated family beneficiaries to cover outstanding costs. However, nursing homes can accept payments from the resulting funds of a sold or surrendered policy.

How long does it take for whole life insurance to build cash value?

A whole life insurance policy will begin building cash value as soon as you pay your first premium, and it will continue building throughout the life of the policy as long as there are funds in the account.