Co-Founder, Coastal Financial Partners Group, California
Guardian is a fine, highly rated mutual life insurance company. But the whole life they, and others like them, sell are not investments. First and foremost, the objective is to provide a death benefit at a competitive, level premium. The cash value is a secondary feature which permits a level premium for life. The internal rate of return on the cash value can be projected based on current assumptions and should compare favorably to other long term savings products.
Agent Owner, Gilmore Insurance Services, Marysville, Washington State
The choice to purchase a whole life insurance policy from a strong company like guardian is a good one as it is part of a strong financial plan. While life insurance is "life insurance" it is also a safe consistent place to build cash values over time.
While a cash value life insurance policy will never beat that mythical 12% forever return mutual fund you read so much about, yet can never seem to find in reality, it won't keep you up at night worrying if it will be there tomorrow. Usually when people speak aobut investment and comparing one choice vs. another, they tend to grow thick between the ears about RISK. Does a cash value life insurance policy share the same risk/reward aspects of a pacific rim energy fund? Not even close. Which will keep you up at night? Not even close.
Cash value life insurance can be part of a solid financial plan. Not the only thing, but a safey net that allows the investor to assume risk in other areas and potentially acheive greater gains. It wasn't that long ago that most investments lost ten years value in a few months. Mine did. Except for my cash value life insurance as once earned, it can't go backwards. Sometimes it's what you get to keep rather than how fast or slow it comes to you.
Assuming you’re addressing Guardian’s participating whole life insurance, the answer is, it is not an investment. It could be characterized as a supplemental retirement savings plan, if the policy is designed with the minimum base amount with the maximum (TAMRA compliant) term rider and paid up additions rider (if available.) Keep in mind that some of their products may use direct recognition policy loans which could impede the distributions when compared to similar participating whole life policies.
Insurance Adviser - Broker, SC Insurance Services, Oahu, Hawaii
GLIC Guardian Life Insurance Company is one of the oldest and highest rated insurers in the country. I happen to be appointed with them as a Broker so I'm very familiar with their Whole Life products. As noted above Guardian is a mutual company as such they pay dividends to the policy holders. They also offer increasing insurance benefits called "paid up additions" (PUA), at no increase of premium and no additional proof of insurability.
Insurance is not allowed to be marketed as an "investment", but when you pay into something whether it be in money or your time you are 'investing' in it. Do you get more out of it than you put into it? If you look at it in terms of benefit payout verses what you pay into it, (even though you don't receive the benefit - your beneficiary does), generally the return is at least 100% more than your invested amount. And it may be many times more.
As far as benefit to you, other than the peace of mind that you have made provision for your loved ones in the case of your demise, monetarily whole life policies with mutual companies produce a robust Cash Value growth that you have access to without incurring taxable events and at very low interest rates. And the cash value grows at a minimum Guaranteed rate!
In my comparing Guardian policies with other insurers' policies, The Guardian out-performs most in both the PUA and Cash value. So is a Guardian whole life policy a "good investment"? I would say yes, one of the best.
.JPG){kind=avatar}
While a cash value life insurance policy will never beat that mythical 12% forever return mutual fund you read so much about, yet can never seem to find in reality, it won't keep you up at night worrying if it will be there tomorrow. Usually when people speak aobut investment and comparing one choice vs. another, they tend to grow thick between the ears about RISK. Does a cash value life insurance policy share the same risk/reward aspects of a pacific rim energy fund? Not even close. Which will keep you up at night? Not even close.
Cash value life insurance can be part of a solid financial plan. Not the only thing, but a safey net that allows the investor to assume risk in other areas and potentially acheive greater gains. It wasn't that long ago that most investments lost ten years value in a few months. Mine did. Except for my cash value life insurance as once earned, it can't go backwards. Sometimes it's what you get to keep rather than how fast or slow it comes to you.
Insurance is not allowed to be marketed as an "investment", but when you pay into something whether it be in money or your time you are 'investing' in it. Do you get more out of it than you put into it? If you look at it in terms of benefit payout verses what you pay into it, (even though you don't receive the benefit - your beneficiary does), generally the return is at least 100% more than your invested amount. And it may be many times more.
As far as benefit to you, other than the peace of mind that you have made provision for your loved ones in the case of your demise, monetarily whole life policies with mutual companies produce a robust Cash Value growth that you have access to without incurring taxable events and at very low interest rates. And the cash value grows at a minimum Guaranteed rate!
In my comparing Guardian policies with other insurers' policies, The Guardian out-performs most in both the PUA and Cash value. So is a Guardian whole life policy a "good investment"? I would say yes, one of the best.