Management Notes

Reference Notes for Management

K buys a policy where the premium stays fixed for the first 5 years. The premium then increases in year 6 and stays level thereafter, all the while the death benefit remains the same. What kind of policy is this?

K buys a policy where the premium stays fixed for the first 5 years. The premium then increases in year 6 and stays level thereafter, all the while the death benefit remains the same. What kind of policy is this?

 Options:

  1. Variable life
  2. Adjustable life
  3. Graded Premium whole life
  4. Modified Whole life

The Correct Answer Is:

d. Modified Whole life

Correct Answer Explanation: d. Modified Whole life

The policy described, where the premium remains fixed for the first 5 years, then increases in year 6 and stays level thereafter while the death benefit remains constant, is characteristic of a “Modified Whole Life” insurance policy.

A Modified Whole Life policy is a type of permanent life insurance that combines features of both whole life and term life insurance. In the initial years, it functions like a term life insurance policy with a fixed premium.

This means that for the first 5 years, the policyholder pays a consistent premium amount, providing them with coverage similar to a term life policy.

After the initial 5-year period, the premium increases, but it then remains level for the remainder of the policy’s duration. This makes it distinct from a traditional whole life policy, where the premium remains level from the beginning. Despite the increase in premium, the death benefit remains constant throughout the life of the policy.

This type of policy structure can be beneficial for individuals who may have limited financial resources in the early years but anticipate an increase in income in the future.

The fixed premium in the first 5 years allows them to obtain coverage at a lower initial cost, while the premium increase in year 6 helps to support the policy’s long-term sustainability.

Now, let’s examine why the other options are not correct:

a. Variable Life:

Variable life insurance is a form of permanent life insurance where the policyholder has the ability to allocate their premium among various investment options, such as stocks, bonds, and mutual funds. The performance of these investments directly affects the cash value and potentially the death benefit of the policy.

In a variable life policy, there is a level of risk involved, as the policy’s value can fluctuate based on market conditions. This is a stark contrast to the policy described, where the premium remains fixed for the first 5 years, and there is no mention of investment options or exposure to market fluctuations.

Additionally, the death benefit in the scenario remains constant, which is not a characteristic of variable life insurance.

b. Adjustable Life:

Adjustable life insurance is a type of flexible premium policy that allows the policyholder to modify various aspects of the policy over time, including the premium amount, death benefit, and sometimes even the type of insurance coverage (such as term or whole life).

In adjustable life, the policyholder has the ability to adapt the policy to better suit their changing needs and financial circumstances. This contrasts with the scenario provided, where the premium remains fixed for a specific period (the first 5 years) and then increases, and the death benefit remains unchanged.

The lack of flexibility in premium adjustments during the initial 5-year period is inconsistent with the features of an adjustable life policy.

c. Graded Premium Whole Life:

Graded premium whole life insurance is a variation of traditional whole life insurance. In this type of policy, the premium starts lower than that of a standard whole life policy but gradually increases over time. The increase is typically structured over a set number of years, such as 5 or 10.

In the scenario described, the premium starts fixed and remains so for the first 5 years before increasing. This differs from a graded premium policy, where the premium starts lower and gradually rises. The graded premium structure is not applicable to the situation provided.

In summary, none of the other options (Variable Life, Adjustable Life, and Graded Premium Whole Life) align with the specific features described in the scenario.

The characteristics of a Modified Whole Life policy, with its fixed premium for an initial period followed by an increase and constant death benefit, uniquely fit the provided details. This type of policy is tailored to individuals who may have specific financial considerations and expect an increase in income in the future.

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