UNIVERSAL LIFE INSURANCE
Life insurance that's flexible to your needs.
Universal life lets you protect the people you love with great coverage that’s flexible to fit your life.
What is universal life insurance?
Universal life insurance gives you lifelong protection and cash value you can use for anything, anytime, plus the flexibility to adjust your policy along the way as your life and needs change. It lets you choose the amount of your death benefit and how much you pay in premiums, as well as when you pay them.
The benefits of universal life policies
Flexible death benefit
You can start off with a specific amount to meet your current needs, but if things shift down the road, you have the option to increase or even change the type of death benefit (within limits) to fit your situation
Flexible premiums
You get to choose how much you pay, and when, which can be helpful if your cashflow fluctuates. Keep in mind, premiums will increase with age (based on the difference between the death benefit and cash value) and as long as there’s enough cash value to pay your policy’s monthly fees, your coverage will continue.1
Cash value
Use it for anything, anytime, usually without owing taxes. You can help pay for an emergency, home repair, college tuition, even invest in your business, whatever you need.2 However, your policy could lapse if the net accumulated value of the policy is less than the monthly fees.
How much do you know about life insurance?
Questions about universal life insurance? We've got answers.
Universal life gives you protection for the people you love, as well as the flexibility to choose the amount of your death benefit, how much you pay in premiums, and when you pay them (within certain limits). Cash value earns interest every day, and expenses are taken out monthly. As long as there is enough cash value to pay your policy’s monthly expenses, your coverage will continue. It will also build cash value that can be used for anything, anytime.2 Find out more about how Universal life works..
How they’re similar:
How they’re similar:
Both are types of permanent life insurance.
Both build cash value.
How they’re different:
Whole life comes with a guaranteed death benefit, while universal life comes with a flexible death benefit.
Whole life comes with set premiums, while universal life comes with flexible premiums.
See our guide to life insurance.
Universal life gives you flexibility to choose how much you pay in premiums and when you pay them (within certain limits) as your circumstances change. While you may eventually have to pay higher premiums to keep your coverage, that flexibility can make it easier to keep your insurance policy in force if your earnings vary like if you’re self-employed, own a business, or earn money through royalties. Ask an advisor if universal life is right for you. Connect with one today.
life insurance covers you for a set amount of time and is likely to be less expensive than whole life insurance.
On the other hand, whole life insurance covers you for life and it has a lot more you can use throughout your life. It gives you the chance to increase coverage as your needs change. Whole life builds cash value over time (tax-deferred) that you can use for anything.2 Plus, it can earn dividends (while not guaranteed, we’ve paid them every year since 1872) that can be taken as cash, used to pay premiums, or buy more coverage. See all our life insurance options.
Custom Universal Life
Custom Universal Life gives you flexibility when it comes to choosing the amount of your death benefit and your premium payment schedule. This type of policy insures one person and builds cash value, tax deferred.
Survivorship Universal Life
Survivorship Universal Life is similar to Custom Universal Life, except that it insures two people and pays the death benefit upon the death of the second person
Make a plan for tomorrow today.
When you work with Northwestern Mutual, we listen to the goals you have and design a financial plan tailored specifically to your life. Universal life insurance is a flexible tool that could be an important part of your plan, giving you lifelong protection while helping you meet more of your financial goals. Find out more about how we plan.
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Term Life Insurance vs. Whole Life Insurance
Ready to take the next step?
Our advisors will help you find the right amount of term life insurance for your goals and budget.
1 Based on a healthy male in the premier class, age 35, purchasing Northwestern Mutual’s Term to Age 80 for $500,000 with a premium starting at $306 per year (increasing annually). Rates vary based on age, gender, medical history, and death benefit amount.
2 Unless you cancel or stop paying your premiums. Utilizing the accumulated value through policy loans, surrenders, or cash withdrawals will reduce the death benefit; and may necessitate greater outlay than anticipated and/or result in an unexpected taxable event. Assumes a non-Modified Endowment Contract (MEC).
3 Loyalty is based on Northwestern Mutual client data.
4 Latest U.S. rank as of 2019 based on direct premiums written. Source: S&P Global Market Intelligence. Prepared calculated by Northwestern Mutual.
5 Northwestern Mutual continues to have the highest financial strength ratings awarded to U.S. life insurers by all four of the major rating agencies: A.M. Best Company, A++ (highest), June 2022; Fitch Ratings, AAA (highest), August 2022; Moody’s Investors Service, Aaa (highest), May 2022; S&P Global Ratings, AA+ (second highest), July 2022.
Northwestern Mutual is the marketing name for The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company and its subsidiaries. Life and disability insurance, annuities, and life insurance with long-term care benefits are issued by The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company, Milwaukee, WI (NM). Long-term care insurance is issued by Northwestern Long Term Care Insurance Company, Milwaukee, WI, (NLTC) a subsidiary of NM. Investment brokerage services are offered through Northwestern Mutual Investment Services, LLC (NMIS) a subsidiary of NM, broker-dealer, registered investment advisor, and member FINRA and SIPC. Investment advisory and trust services are offered through
Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company® (NMWMC), Milwaukee, WI, a subsidiary of NM and a federal savings bank. Products and services referenced are offered and sold only by appropriately appointed and licensed entities and financial advisors and professionals. Not all products and services are available in all states. Not all Northwestern Mutual representatives are advisors. Only those representatives with “Advisor” in their title or who otherwise disclose their status as an advisor of NMWMC are credentialed as NMWMC representatives to provide investment advisory services.