Upside potential with downside protection Indexed universal life (IUL) insurance provides the opportunity to earn interest based on the upward movement of a stock index. However, money is not actually invested in the stocks that make up the index. 1. When premium is placed into an index account, the beginning value of the index is recorded. 2. After 12 months, the change in the index value is calculated.* 3. Based on the change in the index value, interest is credited to the index account, subject to maximum (cap) and minimum (floor). The index floor means that the index account value doesn’t decrease below its annual starting point due to changes in the index value. Let’s take a look at the cause-and-effect relationship between the index and the index account using a fictional index. There are three different scenarios that could happen – the cap year, the floor year, and the between year.
The cap year
In the cap year, the index grows beyond the cap rate, so interest is credited at the cap rate. In this example, the index gains 18% for the year. An interest cap of 9% applies, so although the index gained over 18%, interest credited to the index account will be 9%. This example is only intended to show you the cause-and-effect relationship between an index and how the index account within a life insurance policy is credited. It does not take into consideration the effect of policy charges or additional annual premiums.
The floor year
In the floor year, the index has negative growth, so the zero percent floor rate comes into effect. At the end of this year, we find that the index is down 11% for the year. However, because of the policy’s zero percent floor, interest credited to the index account is 0% instead of -11%.
The between year
In the between year, the index grows at a rate higher than the floor rate, but lower than the cap rate. At the end of this year, we find that the index has grown 6%. The cap and floor do not come into effect. Interest credited to the index account is 6%.
Putting it together with an annual reset
For the purposes of this example, we’ll assume that these years happen in the order shown below, although they can and do occur in any order throughout the lifespan of a policy. The zero percent floor rate and the index starting value are reset each year. Let’s take a look at what that means in the graph below. We’ve seen the hypothetical performance in three different scenarios. The graph below shows how the cause-and effect relationship between the index and the index account would look if these scenarios were three years in a row.
Key points to remember
Floor
IUL offers protection from a negative return in a poorly performing market. With IUL, you don’t participate directly in the stock market, and the credited interest rate is never less than zero percent, guaranteed.
Cap The growth rate of the index, up to a declared cap, becomes the interest crediting rate. You can consider it “trading” a bit of the upside potential to gain the downside protection of the floor. Neither the top nor bottom of the index’s movement apply to the policy’s index account.
Annual reset
IUL's are designed with an annual reset, meaning that each year’s credited interest is locked in on an annual basis and a new starting point is determined. The interest credited cannot be taken away due to negative index performance, and it will continue to receive potential future growth, giving you the advantage of compounding interest and continued cash value growth in future years.
Discover for yourself the value of upside potential and downside protection. Your Life Solution Alternatives financial professional can help you find the life insurance policy that is right for you.