Posts Tagged ‘life insurance’
A few weeks ago, I told you about Jon, a long-time reader of my newsletter. His Edward Jones financial advisor was trying to sell him a Variable Universal Life (VUL) policy, and he asked me for my 2nd opinion. Instead of writing my opinion, however, I posted his question to my newsletter readers, and asked you guys to make an assessment.
A few of you came back with the answer of YES since the $2mm death benefit is huge, and the annual premium payment of $17k appears to be quite reasonable. On top of that, the buyer gets the flexibility to skip payments as well. I believe this view of the product is exactly what the insurance company wants but it is misguided.
To answer Jon’s question, I first talked to him to determine his family’s actual need for life insurance. He has two teenage kids and he and his wife already both have 20-year term life insurance policies, each with a $2mm death benefit. They clearly have no need for additional life insurance.
Now let’s look at the product itself. A VUL policy is a combination of two components – life insurance and investment. The product is not entirely under the oversight of the SEC, therefore there is a huge regulatory loophole that the insurance company can use to take advantage of the buyers.
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A few days ago, I interviewed Jim Ludwick using Google+ Hangout On Air (HOA.) This is the first time I’ve interviewed an expert live on air! Feel free to laugh as you watch me stutter and trip over my words left and right.
Jim is the owner of MainStreet Financial, he used to be an agent at NY Life. Now he is a licensed insurance advisor.
I did not waste his appearance and got right down to the nitty gritty. I asked about a client case during the interview. Specifically, this client of mine was talked into 1) buying a universal life insurance inside her defined benefit plan, 2) buying a whole life insurance policy for her young daughter, because “it’s a great investment” according to the agent’s illustration of 8% growth.
I asked Jim three questions:
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What Can Happen When You Have a Life Insurance Salesman as Financial Advisor
Posted on: January 19, 2012
Financial Salesman
In an online forum, a doctor’s wife shared with me her story that should serve as a cautionary tale for all doctors.
Her husband had a solo medical practice. They had a “financial advisor” who advised them to put their saving into a $5mm cash value life insurance policy. They believed the product not only provided protection in the event of the doctor’s death but also was a great savings vehicle.
Last July, her husband was struck by an uninsured drunk driver. He suffered brain damage. Though he recovered from the coma, he was unable to practice medicine any more.
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Watch the show and you’ll know what I meant.
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Invest in a Variable Annuity
Recently, a client of mine brought me the variable annuity he bought a few years ago.
Prominently displayed on the first page are the benefits of the annuity:
Death Benefit: Enhanced Guaranteed Minimum Death Benefit
Living Benefit: Lincoln Lifetime Income Advantage
as well as the fact that the money will earn an fixed annualized rate of 5.75%. Under the bold ACCOUNT FEE subtitle, it states: Account fee is $35 per contract year.
The Investment Scientist 