Guardian Life Logo

Maybe you want permanent life insurance coverage with rates that never go up. Or, you like the idea of a policy with cash value that's always guaranteed to grow.1,2 Those are just two of the many reasons to get a quote for whole life insurance. Read on to learn more about how coverage works and what to look for – or tell us your ZIP code to connect with a local financial professional who can answer your questions.

Find a financial professional near you

Go now

Key advantages of whole life insurance

A full death benefit from day one

Protection that lasts your entire life

Cash value helps build wealth

The entire benefit amount is payable to beneficiaries as an income tax-free lump sum from the first day the policy is in effect.

3

Whole life insurance is the simplest way to get permanent life insurance protection, with level premiums that stay the same for life.

A percentage of each premium dollar goes toward cash value where it earns interest and grows tax-deferred at a guaranteed rate. 4

The cash value can be a lifelong asset

It typically takes a few years for the cash value to grow into a useful sum, but once that happens, it can be a valuable financial asset that provides several advantages. With enough cash value accumulation, you can:

  • Purchase additional death benefit protection

  • Take out a low-interest, tax-efficient policy loan against your cash value 5

  • Use the funds to pay most or all of your premiums, helping to keep the policy in effect in later years

  • Use all or a portion of the cash value to supplement your retirement income

Not all life insurance quotes are the same. Here are four questions to ask.

How does cash value grow?

Does the policy pay dividends?

The cash value in a whole life policy is guaranteed to grow at a specified rate no matter what happens to the markets. However, different life insurance companies have different ways of calculating that rate. Guardian offers whole life policyholders different options: for example, some of your policy value can be linked to the S&P 500 index.6,7

Some insurers are owned by stockholders, but a mutual insurance company is owned by its policyholders. So whole life policies from a mutual (such as Guardian) can actually earn an annual dividend – a portion of the company profits. Dividends 8 can increase your policy value beyond the guaranteed growth rate. While mutuals don't guarantee dividends, Guardian has paid them every year since 1868.

What riders are included?

One death benefit or two?

Policies have optional provisions called riders, which can affect premiums 9 but are often worth the added protection. For example, an accelerated death benefit rider lets you access a portion of the benefit amount if you have a terminal or serious medical issue. Waiver of premium enables you to stop paying your premiums for a time if you become unemployed or disabled 10. And guaranteed insurability gives you the option to increase your coverage in the future without added medical exams.

A whole life policy does not just have to cover one person. For example, Guardian offers a "survivorship policy" that insures two people, typically a married couple, on one policy. With this policy, called EstateGuard, the cash value increases after the first person dies, and the benefit is paid to the beneficiary after the second person dies. Another unique feature allows the policyholders to add more coverage in the policy's early years.

How whole life insurance compares to the other life insurance options

Compared to a term life insurance policy:

Whole life provides lifelong coverage and asset-building cash value. A term policy provides temporary coverage, typically for 10 to 30 years, and there's no cash value – when the term ends, there's nothing left. Term life insurance rates are typically much lower for a given level of protection. On the other hand, with a whole life policy, you or your beneficiaries are assured of an eventual payout, so as you pay premiums, you may feel you're getting more value.

Compared to a universal life insurance policy:

This is the other primary type of permanent insurance coverage, and it offers more flexibility but fewer guarantees than a whole life policy.11 Like whole life, universal life insurance builds tax-deferred cash value, but the premiums are flexible: you can raise or lower your payments as you see fit, within the policy limits.12 This can provide added flexibility to people with varying incomes, although paying in less can diminish the policy's cash account growth and could eventually result in the need to pay more later on to keep your coverage.

A whole life policy is the only type of life insurance with these three guarantees

1

2

3

The death benefit is guaranteed never to decrease

The premium payments are guaranteed never to increase

The cash value is guaranteed to grow at a set annual rate

Factors that affect the cost of a whole life insurance policy

The coverage amount affects whole life insurance rates in an obvious way: the bigger the death benefit, the higher the premium. But many other factors come into play as well, including:

Age

Good health and life expectancy lower the cost of insurance, so the younger you are, the less you'll typically pay for a policy.

Gender

According to the Centers for Disease Control, in 2021 the average life expectancy for men in the U.S. was 73.2 years, while women averaged 79.1 years. A longer life equals more monthly premiums paid, which leads to lower rates per month.

Tobacco use

Whether you smoke, vape, or dip, using tobacco increases your medical risks and life insurance costs. Tobacco users often pay two to three times as much for life insurance as non-users. If you quit using tobacco, you will usually need to be tobacco-free for at least a year to qualify for non-smoking rates.

Risky occupations and hobbies

Certain work environments, such as oil rigs, have hazards known to increase death or injury risk, affecting rates. Similarly, certain hobbies, such as scuba diving, can also lead to higher rates.

Health

When you apply for a policy, there is an "underwriting" process in which life insurance companies assess mortality risk based on the factors noted above, as well as your medical condition. You'll likely be required to answer health questions and take a medical exam before a policy is approved. After assessing the results, the insurance company will assign you to a classification, such as Preferred Plus (lowest rates), Preferred, or Standard (higher rates). These classifications vary somewhat by insurer, and it's important to remember that no life insurance company expects every prospective customer to be in peak medical condition.

The company behind your policy matters. Here's why.

Whole life insurance is a life-long financial asset that can help get you through difficult times – and take greater advantage of the good times. So, you want to buy life insurance from a company you have confidence in. While all large, nationally known insurers may seem alike, they aren't. Few have been around for over 160 years, as Guardian has been. And policies can vary in ways that make a significant difference. For example, Guardian offers cash value growth options that other insurers may not offer and has unique products like a survivorship policy that can cover two spouses. Underwriting methods may also be distinct. For example, Guardian will offer policies for healthy people living with HIV, but other companies may not. In addition to these more subjective criteria, there are objective measures that can help you decide which insurers you want to work with :

  • High Financial Strength Ratings: Independent companies rate the financial strength of insurance companies to evaluate their ability to meet obligations. Look for strong ratings from the various rating services for the insurance industry.

  • High customer satisfaction scores: There are customer surveys and reviews that can tell you how satisfied others are with a company's services.

  • Low customer complaints: State regulators and private organizations collect and publish data on customer complaints.

  • Product selection and customization: Some companies focus on term life insurance, while others offer term, whole, and universal coverage that can be tailored to your needs.

  • Policyholder dividends: Mutual companies may pay a dividend on the cash value of their permanent policies. Others may not.

  • Direct underwriting: Some companies issue their own policies, while others issue other companies’ policies.

Ready to get started? A Guardian Financial Professional can help.

Talk to someone who will listen to your needs, help you determine how much coverage you need, and explain more about different whole life insurance options.

Need some help?

Find a financial professional near you who can help

Frequently asked questions about getting a whole life insurance policy.

Why do people buy whole life insurance?

Whole life insurance coverage can help protect your family for your entire life. From the first day you're covered, a death benefit will help provide for your family's needs if something happens to you. And over time, the life insurance policy builds cash value, providing added financial protections and benefits.

How does "cash value" work?

With cash value life insurance, every time you pay a premium, a certain portion is set aside to grow. Over time, it grows tax-deferred into a meaningful sum of money: you can borrow against it; you can use it to pay for all or a portion of your life insurance premiums later on; or you can use your cash value to help pay for living expenses in retirement.

Does whole life insurance cost more than term life insurance?

Like other permanent life insurance policy types , whole life insurance may appear to be more expensive than a term life insurance policy that covers you for a defined period. However, it provides lifetime coverage, and over time whole life insurance may be more economical because the premiums do not increase with age. In addition to lifelong protection, you build cash value with whole life; term insurance doesn't.

Can I get whole life insurance if I have HIV?

Guardian offers whole life insurance policies to healthy people living with HIV under certain conditions:

  • Between ages 20 and 60

  • On highly active anti-retroviral therapy for two or more years with favorable lab results

  • Free of any AIDS-defining illnesses

  • Under the care of a doctor specializing in HIV

Suggested reading

This article is for informational purposes only. Guardian may not offer all products discussed. Please consult with a financial professional to understand what life insurance products are available for sale.

1 All whole life insurance policy guarantees are subject to the timely payment of all required premiums and the claims-paying ability of the issuing insurance company. Policy loans and withdrawals affect the guarantees by reducing the policy's death benefit and cash values.

2 Some whole life polices do not have cash values in the first two years of the policy and don't pay a dividend until the policy's third year. Talk to your financial professional and refer to your individual whole life policy illustration for more information.

3 Guardian, its subsidiaries, agents and employees do not provide tax, legal, or accounting advice. Consult your tax, legal, or accounting professional regarding your individual situation.

4 All whole life insurance policy guarantees are subject to the timely payment of all required premiums and the claims paying ability of the issuing insurance company. Policy loans and withdrawals affect the guarantees by reducing the policy’s death benefit and cash values.

5. Policy benefits are reduced by any outstanding loan or loan interest and/or withdrawals. Dividends, if any, are affected by policy loans and loan interest. Withdrawals above the cost basis may result in taxable ordinary income. If the policy lapses, or is surrendered, any outstanding loans considered gain in the policy may be subject to ordinary income taxes. If the policy is a Modified Endowment Contract (MEC), loans are treated like withdrawals, but as gain first, subject to ordinary income taxes. If the policy owner is under 59½, any taxable withdrawal may also be subject to a 10% federal tax penalty.

6 The Index Participation Feature (IPF) is a rider available with select Guardian participating whole life policies. With the new IPF, policyholders can now allocate between 0% and 100% of the cash value of paid-up additions (PUA) to the IPF each year. The IPF provides an adjustment to the dividend paid under the policy. This adjustment, subject to the cap rate (currently 10.5%) and floor (currently 4%), may be positive or negative based on the S&P 500 price return index performance. Adverse market performance can create negative dividend adjustments which may cause lower overall cash values than would otherwise have accrued had the IPF rider not been selected. While the adjustment provided by this rider is affected by the S&P 500 price return index, it does not participate in any stock or equity investment of the S&P 500 price return index. The cost of the IPF rider is currently 2% with a guaranteed rate of 3% on the IPF portion of the policy. Policy loans against, or withdrawals of, values allocated to the IPF could negatively impact rider performance. Selection of the IPF may restrict the use of certain dividend options.

7 The S&P 500 price return index is a product of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC ("SPDJI") and has been licensed for use by The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America (Guardian). Standard & Poor's® and S&P® are registered trademarks of Standard & Poor's Financial Services LLC ("S&P"); Dow Jones® is a registered trademark of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC ("Dow Jones"); and these trademarks have been licensed for use by SPDJI and sublicensed for certain purposes by Guardian. The Index Participation Feature ("Product") is not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by SPDJI, Dow Jones, S&P, or their respective affiliates, and none of such parties make any representation regarding the advisability of investing in such Product nor do they have any liability for any errors, omissions, or interruptions of the S&P 500 price return index.

8 Dividends are not guaranteed. They are declared annually by Guardian's Board of Directors. The total dividend calculation includes mortality experience and expense management as well as investment results.

9 Riders may incur an additional cost or premium. Riders may not be available in all states

10 A Waiver of Premium rider waives the obligation for the policyholder to pay further premiums should they become totally disabled continuously for at least six months. This rider will incur an additional cost. See policy contract for additional details and requirements.

11 Permanent life insurance consists of two types: whole life and universal life. Cash value grows in a participating whole life policy through dividends, which are declared annually by the company's board of directors and are not guaranteed. Cash value grows in a universal life policy through credited interest and decreased insurance costs. The cash value of both policy types benefits when the policyholder pays an amount above the required premium.

12 Universal Life Insurance may lapse prematurely due to inadequate funding (low or no premium), increased cost of insurance rates as the insured grows older, and a low interest crediting rate. This does not apply to universal life policies which have a secondary guarantee, but if the secondary guarantee requirements are not met the policy will most likely lapse.