Term vs. whole life — the actual trade-offs, priced out.
Below are real carrier rates for a 40-year-old non-smoker, with our commission line visible on each. Every figure reflects current underwriting — not an illustrative scenario.
$500,000 coverage
$250,000 coverage
Monthly premium: $310–$360. Our commission: 60–80% of year-one premium, then 3–5% renewal. Cash value grows slowly; surrender in early years returns less than paid.
Monthly premium: $28–$34. Our commission: $180 first-year flat. Policy lapses at year 20; no cash value accumulates.
Best fit when your need is time-bound — mortgage payoff, children through college, income replacement during peak earning years.
Best fit when coverage is permanent and the cash-value component serves a specific estate or business purpose — not as a savings substitute.
When whole life earns its premium
Whole life costs roughly ten times a comparable term policy. That gap only closes if you hold it for 20-plus years and the cash-value growth outpaces what you would have invested elsewhere.
For most families with a fixed mortgage and school-age children, a 20-year term covers the actual risk window. Whole life is the right answer for a narrow set of estate-planning and business-continuity situations — and we will tell you plainly if you are not in that set.
Talk through these numbers with me
Bring your current policy, a competitor quote, or nothing at all. One call, no prep required, no obligation to buy.