Thursday, March 28, 2013

Buy Tem and Invest the Difference! Is this sound advice?

Many  readers listen or watch Suze Orman or Dave Ramsey in their  finance shows.  Don't  get me wrong.  I  like  them  both. However  there is one  area where they always  give  bad  advice!  That is  when  they  tell  clients  to only buy Term Insurance and  Invest  the  savings.   I  do  sell Term  insurance  but I generally use it as a supplement  to  a Cash Value Life Insurance policy that will always be there  when the client or their  family needs it.  There  are  several problems  with Dave and Suze's logic.
 First,
what  happens  if  you  need  to provide insurance  for  several years past the original term?  One of  several  things happens, your policy  expires with you  receiving  no benefit whatsoever, or if the policy permits you  to  keep paying, the premium jumps as much as 10-15 fold for  each additional year with an insurance need, or the policy  expires worthless and due to your then current age  and  health you  have become Medically Uninsurable.
 Second,
The problem  relates  to  the  actual  math involved. A recent  article in a professional  publication  demonstrated that the math often does not work out the way they suggest it should. I wont include  the  publication  here but  would gladly  share  the information and the  math with  readers individually. The  real  world  numbers indicate that especially in a low interest rate environment (does this sound at all like  like 2009- 2015) you are potentilly well ahead  by buying  a Cash value Life insurance product. The  author  illustrated  a Whole life  product  but there are some other products that can perform even better.
Third,
This problem  deals  with  the  rate of  return that they project  when they do  their projections. Both of them  talk about  making 7-8% per year on their portfolio.  How  many  readers can  honestly say that they  have  seen a 7-8% rate of return on their market risk assets in the  past 10 years?  Im willing  to  bet its no more thn one in a hundred who have  seen that ten year  return.  IF  you  have then  your 2003  $100,000  would now be worth  $216,000 in 2013.  This assums that  you  added no more money to the  account in that 10 yr period.  If  the average investor did not turn 100K into 216K  then the performance numbers quoted  by Dave and Suze  dont work out!!! You  can  make  that  in a good  year but they fail to  deal  with  the MASSIVE impact of the  down years.  Unfortunately real world investors  suffer in the down  years unless  they  are  using some SAFE MONEY assets in the financial plan.
Fourth,
Its very hard to beat the potential Tax advantages of a properly designed  and properly funded Cash Value  Life Insurance policy. Nothing Beats Tax Free Income!! 

I suggest that often a fiscally  smarter way to  go is  to  combine  several insurance products. At least  they  should consider  a Term  and a Cash Vale policy to minimize premium expense and maximize protection for  their premium dollars.  Of course everyones situation is different and  thats why they  should  consult  with  a licensed insurance professional  to help analyse their  specific needs.

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