Whole Life Insurance is a type of permanent life insurance. Whole life policies provide lifelong coverage with the guarantee of premium payments staying the same and not going up. Whole life policies also promise a death benefit that will not go down, as long as you pay your premiums your beneficiaries will be able to claim that death benefit when you pass away. Cash accumulations will occur in a cash value account from part of the premium payments for whole life insurance. Cash Value accounts grow over time and are similar to 401(k) or IRA where the cash value grows tax-free. However when you take out that cash value it will be taxable.

Universal life insurance is permanent life insurance. Universal policies can cover your lifelong as long as you keep making the premium payments. Universal life insurance guarantees coverage for life with the flexibility to adjust the premium payment amounts. Some universal life insurance can also offer a cash value component similar to whole life insurance. With cash value, you can take out money through a loan or withdrawal, however, then the insurance company will reduce the payout to your beneficiaries by the amount taken out.