The Strategy of “Buy Term, Invest the Difference”

If you turn on the TV, you may hear many popular financial gurus say term life insurance is really all you need—because life insurance is only needed when you have children or a mortgage. According to them, you should purchase a term policy to cover those 20 or 30 years, and invest what you would have saved by not purchasing “expensive” permanent life insurance. The idea is that when you invest the difference, your returns would outpace those of a whole life policy.

However, in the decades since the idea of “buy term and invest the difference” first gained popularity, we’ve learned that this approach doesn’t work so well in real life.

Here is what we have found about buying term and investing the rest:

You May Not Invest the Difference

One of the ideas is that you will actually invest the difference. Studies have shown that few people follow through on their intention to save and invest, at least to the level at which the proponents of “buy term and invest the difference” would have you believe. Many people don’t invest the rest because there’s no forced savings element involved in the strategy. Purchasing a permanent policy, such as a whole life policy, can provide the discipline many people need to invest a set amount on a regular basis.

Investing in the Stock Market can be Risky

The long-term trend of the stock market over the last 90 years has been upward but, as they say, past performance is no predictor of future results. There is no guarantee you will see similar returns when investing.

The stock market can swing widely over the short term, which can make it difficult to time withdrawals. If you need money when the stock market is down, you lock in your losses and forego any gains you might achieve when the market recovers.

Some permanent life insurance products offer a guaranteed return, and have cash value available to you no matter how the market is performing.

Plans Change, and You Might Be Uninsurable If You Need Insurance Later

Term insurance is temporary, providing coverage for a specified period of time—10, 20 or maybe 30 years. This helps keep the cost low, as your chances of dying at a younger age are relatively low. Once you reach the end of those 10, 20 or 30 years, the premiums will likely skyrocket. This is cause for concern because if you’re still planning for more kids or you just bought a new home, you’ll still need that life insurance.

On top of that, it’s possible that your health might have changed during that time in a way that makes you uninsurable. If you buy a permanent life insurance policy while you are young and healthy, you lock in your insurability.

You Miss Out on the Tax Benefits of Life Insurance

“Investing the difference” in a non-qualified account might require you to pay capital gains tax on any appreciation in value when you sell. Dividends are taxed as income in the year they are paid. Likewise, investing through a qualified 401(k) retirement plan only defers the taxes—and any withdrawals you make will be subject to regular income tax, and a penalty if you are under age 59 ½.

Life insurance, on the other hand, offers powerful tax advantages. As with term policies, the death benefits are income-tax free, and it’s possible to set up a policy so that the benefits are estate-tax free as well. But permanent life insurance can also be a great source of tax-free income while you are alive. The cash value of a permanent policy can be accessed through withdrawal of premiums, which the IRS treats as “just getting your money back,” so it’s not taxable. Another approach is to take the money as a loan. As long as you keep the policy intact, the money isn’t taxable.

With these tax advantages, life insurance can actually outperform investments without taking as many risks. Your financial professional can show you how. The tax advantages of life insurance should be part of comparing against the “buy term and invest the rest” strategy.

You Can’t Take Advantage of the Living Benefits of Life Insurance

Term insurance only offers a death benefit-nothing else. Permanent life insurance, on the other hand, offers “living benefits” that you can take advantage of during your lifetime. Your policy’s cash value is available to you at any time, for any reason—no questions asked. Typically it can be accessed income-tax-free, plus there are no penalties on distributions prior to 59 ½ or forced required minimum distributions (RMDs) when you turn age 70½. This money can be used to pay for college, start a business, provide income in retirement, or pay for long-term medical care.

Another little known benefit: If you become chronically ill, many permanent insurance policies allow you to access a portion of your death benefit for use while you’re alive.

Don’t get me wrong. Term life insurance has its place. It’s great for temporary coverage, when you need a certain amount of death benefit for a short period of time, or because you’re just starting out and can’t afford as much permanent coverage as you need. It is good “starter life insurance,” where you can lock in your insurability now to get the death benefit you need and then, over time, convert to permanent insurance as your income rises.

But be careful to fully contemplate the idea of “buy term and invest the rest.” Permanent life insurance offers unique benefits, and it can form the foundation of a solid financial plan.

 

All guarantees are based on the claims paying ability of the issuer. Life insurance policies are subject to eligibility requirements and restrictions, and may not be right for everyone. Accessing cash value will reduce the death benefit and policy values, and may be taxable. Some of the life insurance benefits described may require additional riders and may be subject to additional costs.

This post is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as specific financial, legal or tax advice. Depending on your individual circumstances, the strategies discussed in this presentation may not be appropriate for your situation. The information in this material is not intended as tax or legal advice. Always consult your legal or tax professionals for specific information regarding your individual situation.

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