6. LIFE INSURANCE PRODUCTS II

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1 6. LIFE INSURANCE PRODUCTS II One of the principal purposes of saving and investing is to achieve inter-temporal allocation of resources, which is both efficient and effective. Inter-temporal allocation means allocation across time. Effective allocation implies that sufficient funds are available to satisfy successfully the various needs as they arise in different stages of the life cycle. Limitations of Traditional Insurance Products Savings or cash value component is not well defined. It is determined by assumptions about mortality, interest rates, expenses and other parameters set by the life insurer, which can be arbitrary. It is not easy to ascertain what would be the rate of return on these policies until the time when the contract ends. The method of arriving at surrender value is not visible. The yields on these policies may not be as high as can be obtained from more risky investments. Advantages of Non-traditional plans: Unbundling: This trend involves the separation of the protection and saving elements. Consequently, this results in the development of products, which stress on protection or savings, rather than a vague mix of both. Investment linkage The second trend was the shift towards investment-linked products, which linked benefits to policyholders with an index of investment performance. The new products like unit-linked plans implied that life insurers had a new role to play. They were now efficient fund managers with the mandate of providing a high competitive rate of yield, rather than mere providers of financial security. Transparency: Unbundling also ushered greater visibility in the rate of return and in the charges made by the companies for their services. All these were explicitly spelt out and could thus be compared Non-standard products: The fourth major trend has been a shift from rigid to flexible product structures. This is also seen as a move towards non-standard products. When we speak of non standard, it is with respect to the degree of choice, which a customer can exercise with respect to designing the structure and benefits of the policy. Non-Traditional Plans: Universal life insurance policy was introduced in the United States in It quickly grew to become very popular by the first half of the eighties. As per the IRDA Circular of November 2010, All Universal Life products shall be known as Variable Insurance Products (VIP). Features of Universal Life 1. Flexible premium 2. Flexible premium amount 3.Flexible death benefit amounts 4. Unbundling of pricing factors

2 Flexible Premium: Policyholder within limits can decide the amount of premiums., make additional premiums, skip premium payments. Partial withdrawal: Make partial withdrawals from the cash value that was available. Adjustment of death benefits: Death benefits could be adjusted and the face amounts could be varied. In India, as per the IRDA norms, there are only two kinds of non-traditional savings life insurance products that are permitted. 1. Variable insurance plans 2. Unit-linked insurance plans Variable Insurance Plans: This policy was first introduced in the United States in Variable life insurance is a kind of Whole Life policy. Variable life insurance is a permanent life insurance policy. Premium payments are fixed and not flexible with variable life insurance The principal difference in traditional whole life policies is in the investment factor. Traditional Cash Value Policy Variable Life Insurance Policy Traditional cash value policy has a face Assets representing the policy reserves of a amount that remains level throughout the variable life insurance policy are placed in a policy term. The cash value grows with premiums and separate fund. This fund does not form interest earnings at a specified rate. part of its general investment account. Assets backing the policy reserves form part of a general investment account. In this account, the insurer maintains the funds of its guaranteed products. These assets are placed in a portfolio of secured investments. The insurer can expect to earn a steady rate of return on the assets in this account. This is a policy in which the cash values are funded by separate accounts of the life insurance company. Death benefits and cash values vary to reflect investment experience. The policy also provides a minimum death benefit guarantee for which the mortality and expense risks are borne by the insurance company. The premiums are fixed as under the traditional whole life policy. Variable life policies have become the preferred option for those who: Want to keep their assets invested in an assortment of funds of their choice Want to benefit directly from favourable investment performance of their portfolio Must be able and willing to bear the investment risk on the policy Are knowledgeable with equity or debt investments and market volatility

3 Unit Linked Insurance Plan (ULIP) is a product offered by insurance companies. Unlike a pure insurance policy, ULIP gives investors the benefits of both insurance and investment under a single integrated plan. ULIP is basically a combination of insurance and investment. ULIPs are suitable for those: Who wish to monitor their investments closely Whose investment horizon is medium to long-term In ULIP, the premiums paid by the policyholders are invested in funds chosen by them. This is done after deducting the allocation charges and administration charges and for providing insurance cover. ULIP s are transparent with regards to their term, expenses and savings components. The value of each unit of a fund is determined by dividing the total value of the fund s investments by the total number of units.

4 LIFE INSURANCE PRODUCTS II QUESTION BANK 1. Which among the following is a non-traditional life insurance product? A. Term assurance B. Universal life insurance C. Endowment insurance D. Whole life insurance 2. Which of the below statement is incorrect? A. Variable life insurance is a temporary life insurance policy B. Variable life insurance is a permanent life insurance policy C. The policy has a cash value account D. The policy provides a minimum death benefit guarantee 3. What does inter-temporal allocation of resources refer to? A. Postponing allocation of resources until the time is right B. Allocation of resources over time C. Temporary allocation of resources D. Diversification of resource allocation 4. Which among the following is a limitation of traditional life insurance products? A. Yields on these policies is high B. Clear and visible method of arriving at surrender value C. Well defined cash and savings value component D. Rate of return is not easy to ascertain 5. Where was the Universal Life Policy introduced first? A. USA B. Great Britain C. Germany D. France 6. Who among the following is most likely to buy variable life insurance? A. People seeking fixed return B. People who are risk averse and do not dabble in equity C. Knowledgeable people comfortable with equity D. Young people in general 7. Which of the below statement is true regarding ULIP s? A. Value of the units is determined by a formula fixed in advance B. Investment risk is borne by the insurer C. ULIP s are opaque with regards to their term, expenses and savings components D. ULIP s are bundled products 8. All of the following are characteristics of variable life insurance EXCEPT: A. Flexible premium payments B. Cash value is not guaranteed C. Policy owner selects where savings reserve is invested D. Minimum Death benefit is guaranteed

5 9. Which of the below is correct with regards to universal life insurance? Statement I: It allows policy owner to vary payments Statement II: Policy owner can earn market based rate of return on cash value A. I is true B. II is true C. I and II are true D. I and II are false 10. All of the following is true regarding ULIP s EXCEPT: A. Unit holder can choose between different kind of funds B. Life insurer provides guarantee for unit values C. Units may be purchased by payment of a single premium or via regular premium payments. D. ULIP policy structure is transparent with regards to the insurance expenses component 11. As per IRDA norms, an insurance company can provide which of the below nontraditional savings life insurance products are permitted in India? Choice I: Unit Linked Insurance Plans Choice II: Variable Insurance Plans A. I only B. II only C. I and II both D. Neither I nor II 12. What does unbundling of life insurance products refers to? A. Correlation of life insurance products with bonds B. Correlation of life insurance products with equities C. Amalgamation of protection and savings element D. Separation of the protection and savings element