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​Life insurance typically is used to provide replacement income for those who depend on you – spouses, children, or others. Here are three ways replacement income from your life insurance policy can help your dependents:
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Funeral costs and estate taxes
When you die, you may leave taxes due or other end-of-life costs, such as funeral expenses. For example, the most recent information from the National Funeral Directors Association pegs the national median cost of a funeral with viewing and burial at $7,181 – and that doesn’t include additional costs such as monuments or markers, flowers, or published obituaries. A life-insurance policy can be used to cover these expenses, freeing your loved ones from paying for funeral and final estate costs.

Higher education costs
Perhaps you have children who have not yet attended college. Or perhaps your children are already in college or recently graduated, in which case they may have tuition costs or student loans outstanding. In these cases, your life insurance proceeds could be used to finance your children’s college education or to pay off their education-related debts.

Medical expenses
The population is aging: In 2014, the latest year for which data is available, 14.5% of the U.S. population (some 46.2 million Americans) was 65 years of age or older. By 2040, the population of seniors is expected to grow to 21.7% of the population. As we age, we get ill, and many of us will suffer prolonged illnesses prior to death. We may need extended-care facilities, which can be costly. Consider giving your loved ones the gift of not worrying about medical or extended-care bills that may come due after your death by earmarking your life insurance policy to cover such costs.

1. Don’t Do Anything
Strangely, this is a form of savings. Here’s why: If you don’t save, you’ll probably have to borrow; and, borrowing, assuming you intend to repay, is nothing more than deferred saving.

2. Specific College-Savings Vehicles
Sponsored by states, “529s” (named after the IRS-enabling section) are the most popular
method of college savings. More than 10 million 529 accounts have been opened. Any investment growth is tax-free -- assuming the money is used for “qualified higher education expenses”. Your investment contribution may also be deductible from income on your state tax return. There are two types of 529 investments:

Pre-Paid 529s: These simply guarantee you future tuition at today’s price. For example, if you’re a Pennsylvania state resident, you can purchase one year’s undergraduate tuition at Penn State University, main campus   2011-12 rates: $15,124 for freshman & sophomores; $16,352 for juniors and seniors – more for certain majors). Even if your daughter is 14 years away from college, in 14 years, you will own the equivalent of one year of tuition at Penn State. The funds can be applied to any college’s tuition bill. The risk of investing your money well enough to cover future tuition increases is assumed by the sponsoring state (or an agency created by the state). Pre-paids are a safe, conservative way to save for college.

​Only 18 states offer prepaid plans; investments are generally limited to state residents. In the long run, stock market investments have historically increased at a greater rate of return than the inflation rate of college tuition. However, in the period from 2000 to 2010, pre-paid 529 returns significantly exceeded than the return on the benchmark S&P 500.

Mutual Fund 529s: Nearly every state offers a mutual fund-type 529 investment. These plans do not guarantee future tuition and are subject to market risk. Families may be able to invest (1) directly in investments managed by a mutual fund company selected by the state; (2) through a financial advisor affiliated with a state-selected fund manager; (3) or, both. Many investment options exist; some states offer age-based portfolios and other variations designed to allow you to invest according to your own risk tolerance.

Coverdell Education Savings Accounts: If you have an annual income $95,000 -  $110,000 (single) or $190,000 - $220,000 (married couple), you are eligible to contribute, tax free, up to $2,000 per beneficiary per year in almost any investment (except life insurance). As with 529s, Coverdell account withdrawals are tax-free if used for qualified education expenses -- at any eligible institutions, kindergarten thru graduate school.

3. Other Investments
Many people don’t want to tie up their assets in college-specific investments. Their logic is simple: Tax issues, other cash requirements, liquidity and so forth weigh against segregating college savings in a separate “bucket.” These folks may prefer, for example, to fund college costs by selling a losing mutual fund or by refinancing their home with the deductible interest.

4. Cash-Value Life Insurance
Most financial advisors recommend a variety of cash-value life insurance strategies (whole
life, indexed universal life, etc.) for two reasons: (a) Certain types have guaranteed returns, so the cash value grows and isn’t wholly dependent on the fluctuations of the stock market;
and, (b) borrowing from the cash value to fund college costs can done at very, very favorable interest rates as a tax-free event.

Unlike other investments, the cash value of the policy is not included in financial aid calculations derived from the FAFSA form. Plus, there’s a death benefit – which every parent should have as part of a college savings plan. The use of cash-value life insurance as a college funding vehicle is often recommended for grandparents as an “intergenerational funding” method.

5. Tuition Rewards® Points
Here is a wonderful way to lower college expenses: Earn guaranteed scholarships — actually discounts off full tuition for undergraduate study, starting with the freshman year --
provided by participating colleges.  Over 375 private colleges and universities across the country have joined with SAGE Scholars to offer Tuition Rewards® Points as a way to encourage families to plan and save for higher education. Tuition Rewards Points are accumulated annually, in a similar fashion to Frequent Flyer miles points, and can equal up to one full year’s tuition, spread over four years of college. Families must (a) invest in any of
a variety of qualifying financial vehicles and (b) identify children, grandchildren or other loved ones as potential beneficiaries. The earlier families enroll, the more Tuition Rewards points they earn.

Which Ways are Best for You?
Each family has unique circumstances: Different finances, sources of income, academic aspirations (and strength of each student), etc. For many families, it makes sense to seek college preparation, selection and funding advice from one or more specialists. Be cautious, however; many purported “experts” aren’t. Seek referrals. Be particularly skeptical of any college funding specialist who seems only to offer a single type of investment as a “catch-all” solution!

If you would like help from a professional who can guide you, WFGInsuranceQuotes.com can assist you. Connect directly with a financial professional. You can request a personal strategy session to discuss your needs and goals. Click here to learn more about Tuition Rewards.

In this webinar, you'll learn:
*What is Mortgage Protection Insurance and how does it work?
*Understanding Mortgage Protection Insurance  that protects you vs. Mortgage Protection Insurance that protects the lender.
*What are the 5 keys to good Mortgage Protection?
*Show you how to compare life insurance rates without an agent.
*Show you how to automatically get a college scholarship with your policy.
*and much more....

At WFGInsuranceQuotes.com, we're here to help you plan for life's events. Contact us today.

A look at grants, scholarships, 529 plans, and other methods.

How much could a college education cost in the 2030s? 
You may want to take a deep breath and sit down before reading the next paragraph.  
 
A MassMutual analysis projects that four years of tuition, room, and board at a private college will cost nearly $369,000 in 2031.   An article at CNBC offers a slightly cheaper estimate, putting the total expense at $303,000 for a freshman setting foot on campus in 2036. (Today, the cost of four years at a private university is less than half that.) How about the price tag for four years of tuition, room, and board at a public university in that year? The same CNBC article says that it may reach $184,000. 1,2
   
Even today, finding enough money to pay for college can be an enormous challenge. 
There are obvious ways to counter the cost: a student can work full time and apply much of the income toward school, or assume student loans. Fortunately, there are other ways – ways that you may want to explore if you do not want your child to take a hard-scrabble path through school or get soaked with debt.
     
Ideally, you use money you never have to repay. 
​Grants and scholarships are more plentiful than many students (and parents) realize, and some go begging for applicants. Grants are based on need; scholarships, on merit. Grants can be issued incrementally or in lump sums to a student; most are awarded on a first-come, first-serve basis, which is why it is so crucial to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) early. A school accepting your student will evaluate your student's FAFSA, then send an award letter detailing his or her eligibility for federal and state grants. As for scholarships, there are literally millions of them. Sallie Mae provides a convenient online search tool to explore more than 5 million such awards, and you can use it to drill down to opportunities that are strong possibilities for your student. 3
 
Through a 529 plan, you can invest to meet future college costs. 
529 plans come in two varieties, and both varieties have common tax advantages. 529 plan earnings are exempt from federal income tax, and 529 plan assets may be withdrawn, tax free, so long as the money pays for qualified education expenses. While there are no federal tax breaks linked to 529 plan contributions, more than 30 states offer state income tax deductions or credits for them. 4
 
Some 529 plans are prepaid tuition plans, giving you the potential to prepay up to 100% of your student's future tuition at a public university within your state (most of these plans do not pay for housing costs). You may be able to convert a prepaid tuition plan so that the assets can be used to pay tuition at an out-of-state university or private college. (There is also the Private College 529 Plan, which 250+ private colleges and universities collectively support.) 4
 
The great majority of 529 plans are college savings plans, analogous to Roth IRAs. In a college savings plan, you can direct your contributions into equity investments, which offer you the possibility of tax-advantaged growth and compounding. (If the investments perform badly, your college fund may shrink.) 4
 
You may choose to fund a 529 plan account incrementally or with a lump sum. States put different limits on the amount of money that a 529 account can hold, but six-figure balances are often permissible. You can invest in any state's 529 plan and pay for higher education expenses with 529 plan assets at any qualified U.S. college or university. 4,5  
 
Whole life insurance could help. 
If you have a permanent life insurance policy with some cash value, you could take a loan from (or even cash out) the policy and apply the amount toward college costs. The value of a life insurance policy does not factor into a student's financial aid calculation (which many parents do not realize). If you take a loan from a life insurance policy, you will reduce the death benefit; repay the loan in full, and you will restore its full value. 6  
   
Some families use Roth IRA assets to pay for college. 
A Roth IRA gives you a degree of flexibility that a 529 plan does not. Suppose your child does not go to college. (While this may seem highly improbable, some young adults do start successful careers without a college education.) In that event, you still have a Roth IRA: a tax-favored retirement savings account with the potential for tax-free withdrawals. 7  
 
A Roth IRA is not a perfect college savings vehicle, however. First, the annual contribution limit is low compared to a 529 plan. Second, while you may withdraw an amount equal to your contributions without penalty at any time of life, a Roth IRA's earnings represent taxable income when withdrawn. Third, while Roth IRA assets are not countable assets on the FAFSA, tax-free Roth IRA contributions, once withdrawn, still amount to untaxed income for your student (i.e., the Roth IRA beneficiary), and they lower a student's eligibility for need-based aid. 7
 
Going to college should not mean going into debt. 
Would you like to plan, save, and invest to reduce or avoid that consequence? Then talk with a financial professional who is well versed in college planning. The variety of options available may pleasantly surprise you.

​To learn more, we recommend >>  Using Life Insurance To Pay For College

​To really help this sink in, below is the same illustration example as above, but we used a $500 premium. You’ll notice the cash value as illustrated shows nearly $8 million, with a death benefit of almost $10 million. This is a great example of how you can use indexed universal life insurance to diversify your retirement savings.

Contact us today and let us customize a quote and illustration tailored to your needs, or use our easy Quote & Apply tool. Click here.

​

​Life will often seem to present signals about financial moves to make. Starting your first job babysitting or mowing lawns? Probably a good idea to begin saving some of those earnings. Need to pay for college? You’ll want to apply for scholarships. Have a friend who’s asking you to invest in his latest business scheme? Maybe you’ll pass.

As for life insurance, there are certain events that herald when it’s an appropriate time to think about purchasing a policy. Following are a few of those key times…

Tying the knot or taking the plunge
Whatever you call it, if you’re getting ready to walk down the aisle, now is a good time to think about life insurance. A life insurance policy will protect your spouse by replacing your income if something were to happen to you. Many couples rely on two incomes to sustain their lifestyle. It’s important to make sure your spouse can continue to pay the bills, make a mortgage payment, and provide for any children you might have, etc.

Buying a home
If you’re in the market for a home, life insurance should also be a consideration. There are particular types of life insurance policies that will pay off the remaining mortgage if something happens to you. This type of life insurance can help provide a safety net for you and your spouse if you are planning on taking on a mortgage.

Someone becomes dependent on you financially
Another life event that signals a need for life insurance is if someone were to become dependent upon you financially. We might think our only dependents would be our children, but there are other situations to consider. Do you have a relative that depends on you for support? It could be a sibling, parent, elderly aunt. It’s prudent to help protect them with a life insurance policy.

You’ve got a business partner
Life insurance can be invaluable if you’re starting a business and have a business partner. A life insurance policy on your partner or the key leaders in your company can help protect the business if something happens to one of the main players. While the payout on a life insurance policy won’t replace the individual, it can help see the company through financial repercussions from the loss.

You have debt that you don’t want to leave behind
If you’re like most Americans – you probably have some debt. There are two problems with carrying debt. One, it costs you money and isn’t good for your financial health. Second, it can be a problem for your loved ones if you pass away unexpectedly. A life insurance policy is helpful to those who are left behind and are taking on the responsibility of your debt and estate.

You have become aware of “the someday”
Sooner or later we all have to consider our last stage of life. A life insurance policy can help you plan for those last days. A life insurance policy can help cover funeral costs and medical bills or other debts you may have at the end of your life. The payout can also help your beneficiary with any final expenses while settling your estate.

You fell in love with a cause
If you are attached to a certain charity or cause, consider a life insurance policy that can offer a payout as a charitable gift when you pass away. If you are unattached or don’t have any children, naming a charity as your life insurance beneficiary is a great way to leave a legacy.

You just got your first “grown-up” job
Cutting your teeth on your first “grown-up” job is a great time to consider your life insurance options. If you have an employer, they may offer you a small life insurance policy as a perk. But you likely will need more coverage than that. Consider purchasing a life insurance policy now. The younger you are, the less you may pay for it.

Life gives us clues about financial moves
If we know what to look for, life seems to give us clues about when to make certain financial moves. If you’re going through any of these times of life, it’s time to consider purchasing a life insurance policy.

In this webinar, you'll learn:
*What is Mortgage Protection Insurance and how does it work?
*Understanding Mortgage Protection Insurance  that protects you vs. Mortgage Protection Insurance that protects the lender.
*What are the 5 keys to good Mortgage Protection?
*Show you how to compare life insurance rates without an agent.
*Show you how to automatically get a college scholarship with your policy.
*and much more....

Click here to register:
​https://wfginsurancequotes.webinarninja.com/automated-webinars/3178/register

​If you would like help from a professional who can guide you, WFGInsuranceQuotes.com can assist you. Connect directly with a financial professional. You can request a personal strategy session to discuss your needs and goals.