No. Your policy has a 0% floor, which means market losses won’t reduce your cash value. In a down year, you may earn zero interest, but your previous gains and principal stay intact. Keep in mind that policy charges are still deducted, so your cash value could dip slightly in flat or negative years. We design every plan with a cushion to handle these periods.

Like all permanent life insurance, an IUL has internal policy charges — the cost of insurance, administrative fees, and sometimes surrender charges if you cancel early. These aren’t “out-of-pocket” fees you pay separately; they’re built into the policy. Early on, costs are higher, but over time the tax benefits and long-term growth potential can outweigh them. We’ll walk you through the full illustration so you understand every cost clearly before moving forward.

A lapse can happen if there’s not enough cash value or premium to cover monthly charges, or if loans aren’t managed responsibly. That’s why we stress-test your plan with conservative assumptions, and why we provide annual reviews.

Policy loans let you borrow against your cash value, using it as collateral. You’re charged interest, but your cash value often continues to earn index credits. Repayment is flexible — you can pay it back on your own schedule, or not at all. If unpaid, the balance reduces your death benefit. Many people plan to use loans as supplemental retirement income. We’ll guide you so loan use stays within safe limits.

They serve different purposes and often work best together. Retirement accounts like a 401(k) or Roth IRA offer strong tax advantages, but they have annual contribution limits and don’t include life insurance. An IUL has no IRS contribution caps, offers tax-advantaged access to cash value, and provides permanent death benefit protection. For many, it acts like a “supplemental Roth” — an additional bucket that diversifies retirement income and legacy planning.

Those are marketing names for strategies that use cash value life insurance. Indexed Universal Life can be used that way, but we take a transparent, realistic approach. You’ll see actual best-case and conservative projections — not hype. The idea is simple: fund your policy well, then use it responsibly for cash value access. We’ll help you understand if it fits your goals.

The best time to start is typically in your 30s–50s, when you have time to grow cash value and insurance costs are still moderate. Younger adults can benefit from very low insurance costs, while older clients may use IULs more for estate planning. If you’re under 55 and in average health or better, there’s a good chance an IUL can work. If you’re over 60, we’ll carefully evaluate if it’s still the right fit.