5 Flashcards
How do WOL policies differ to term assurance policies? (2)
- More expensive than Term Assurance
- Permanent (not limited by an expiry date)
What are WOL policies useful for?
Can be useful to pay IHT arising rather than liquidating estate
What are the four types of WOL policies?
- Non-profit policy
- With-profits policy
- Low-cost policy
- Unit-linked policy
How does the sum assured of a non-profit WOL policy differ to a with-profits policy?
- Non-profit: Payout fixed sum assured
- With-profit: Sum assured increased with bonus payments
How much does the policy holder get back when they cancel a non-profit WOL policy?
Nil - no surrender value
What are the premiums like for non-profit WOL policies?
Level premiums paid throughout term but reviewed every 10 years (risk assessment)
What are the features of the bonus payments on with-profits WOL policies? (2)
- Bonus payments depends on performance of life company
- Bonus not guaranteed but once added can’t be removed
What is a benefit of with-profits WOL policies?
Smoothed returns to investors
Why do most insurers of with-profits WOL policies reserve the right to apply market value reducers (MVRs) which reduce the surrender value?
To protect interests of policyholders who remain invested in adverse market conditions
How do the premiums of with-profits WOL policies compare to non-profit WOL policies?
With-profits have higher premiums than non-profit policies
How does the surrender value ‘low-cost policies’ differ to with-profits WOL policies?
Less becase surrender value based on with-profits element only
What are ‘low-cost’ WOL policies?
Combination of with-profits WOL policy and decreasing term assurance
What is the advantage of ‘low-cost’ WOL policies?
Cheaper than full with-profits policies
How does a ‘low-cost’ WOL policy work? (2)
- Bonuses increase payout from with-profits element
- Decreasing term sum is reduced progressively
What is the aim of unit-linked WOL policies?
Higher life cover in earlier years, and higher investment content later
How are unit-linked policies flexible? (3)
- They are more like an investment than insurance
- Can often be surrendered without penalty
- Can change fund preferences over time, i.e. moving between stock, bond, and funds
What are the premiums of a unit-linked WOL policy used for?
A portion of the premium is invested in funds, while the rest pays for life cover
How often are the premiums of unit-linked WOL policies reviewed?
Premium levels reviewed every 10 years
How are the premiums of unit-linked WOL policies reviewed? (2)
- Performance levels assessed against original growth assumption
- If actual growth is higher: sum assured can be increased or premiums reduced or benefit from higher investment value
What does endowment assurance do?
Combine protection and investment over a term
What does an endowment assurance policy payout if policyholder dies during term and if they survive the term?
- Death during term then insurance pays out
- If survive term then investment pays out
Why is endowment assurance no longer popular?
Reputation tarnished by mis-selling scandal in 1980s
What are the modern alternatives to endowment assurance?
Modern alternatives include regular savings accounts with unit trust or investment trust and life assurance
What are the features of ‘without-profits endowment policies’? (3)
- Level premiums
- Guaranteed sum in the event of death or when the policy matures
- No potential for growth
How common are without-profits endowment policies?
Expensive and rare, usually legacy policies
What are the features of ‘low-cost endowment policies’? (4)
- Minimum sum assured on death
- No minimum assured on maturity
- Has a with-profits element
- Amount paid on maturity will depend on bonuses added
What are the features of ‘low-start endowment policies’? (4)
- Lower initial premium
- Premium increases
- For those who expect income to increase
- Might not be able to afford subsequent increase
What is a feature of ‘unit-linked endowment policies’?
Operate the same as other unit linked policies
What are the conditions for ‘Qualifying policies’? (3)
- 10 years or more
- Premiums (at least) annually
- Sum assured not less than 75% of premiums payable over the term
What are the premium rules for ‘qualifying policies’? (2)
- Premiums paid in any one year not more than twice those paid in any other year
- Premiums paid in any one year not more than 1/8 paid over the term
What is the taxation of original beneficiary on qualifying policies? (3)
- Proceeds are free of income tax and CGT
- Written into trust to avoid IHT
- Underlying fund pays corporation tax
What is an investment bond used for?
Investment purpose with small amount of life cover
What are investment bonds also referred to as? (3)
Life Company Bond, Life Assurance Bond,
Single Premium Life Assurance Bond (SPLAB)