Whole Life vs Universal Life Insurance: What’s the Difference?

Life insurance can do more than provide a payout for your beneficiaries after you’re gone — it can also play an important role in financial planning while you’re alive. Permanent life insurance, including whole life and universal life insurance, offers lifelong coverage and includes a savings component to help protect and build wealth over time.

While both are forms of permanent life insurance, they’re distinct products that serve specific needs. This guide explains how permanent life insurance works in Canada, breaks down the key differences between whole life and universal life insurance, and outlines how to decide which option may be right for you.

Key takeaways

• Whole life and universal life insurance are both forms of permanent life insurance, offering lifelong coverage and a tax-free death benefit.

• The main difference is predictability versus flexibility. Whole life insurance offers fixed premiums and guaranteed cash value growth. Universal life insurance allows more flexibility in premiums and how the savings portion is structured.

• Both policies can build cash value on a tax-deferred basis that may be accessed during your lifetime.

• Whole life is often used for long-term stability and estate planning, while universal life may appeal to people whose needs or income may change over time.

• When weighing whole life vs universal life, the right choice depends on your goals, budget, risk tolerance, and how involved you want to be in managing the policy.

Understanding permanent life insurance in Canada

Permanent life insurance is designed to cover you for your entire lifetime. Unlike term life insurance, it doesn’t expire after a set number of years. Instead, it generally provides a tax-free death benefit and includes a cash value component that can grow over time. Premiums for permanent life insurance are typically higher than for term life insurance, but they are usually stable once the policy is issued.

Related: How does permanent life insurance work?

Types of permanent life insurance

In Canada, the two main types of permanent life insurance are whole life insurance and universal life insurance.

Both offer lifelong coverage and tax-deferred cash value that may be accessed during your lifetime, either through withdrawals or by borrowing against the policy. Where they differ is in how the cash value grows and how much flexibility and involvement the policy offers.

Because of these features, permanent life insurance is often considered as part of a broader financial or estate plan, particularly for building tax-advantaged wealth or transferring wealth to the next generation.

How whole life insurance works

Whole life insurance provides lifelong coverage with premiums and benefits that are typically set when the policy is issued. As long as premiums are maintained, the coverage stays in place and pays a tax-free death benefit to your beneficiaries when you pass away.

Whole life insurance also includes a built-in savings component, known as the cash value. Over time, this cash value grows at a guaranteed rate, is not tied to market ups and downs, and accumulates on a tax-deferred basis (meaning you don’t pay tax on the growth while it remains in the policy). If needed, you can access the cash value during your lifetime, either through withdrawals or policy loans.

Related: How to choose the best whole life insurance policy in Canada

Key features of whole life insurance

• Lifetime coverage: Coverage lasts your entire life, not a set term.

• Fixed premiums: Premiums are generally locked in and don’t change over time.

• Guaranteed growth: The cash value grows at a guaranteed rate. The savings component grows on a tax-deferred basis and is not affected by market performance.

• Tax-free death benefit: Beneficiaries receive a tax-free payout, plus any paid-up additions, minus any outstanding loans. Coverage amounts with RBC Insurance coverage generally range from $25,000 to $25 million.

• Non-participating or participating: Participating (par) policies may pay dividends depending on the insurer’s performance. Non-participating policies don’t pay dividends, but offer fully guaranteed benefits at a lower cost.

• Potential dividends: If dividends are paid, they can be used in different ways — such as reducing premiums, buying additional coverage, earning interest, or taking out cash.

• Access to money: Cash value may be accessed by withdrawing funds or borrowing against the policy. The cash value can be used for various needs, such as covering unexpected expenses or supplementing income.

• Flexibility: Designed to be predictable and largely hands-off.

• Optional riders: Extra coverage can be added to suit your needs, such as a children’s term rider, accidental death benefits, or supplemental term insurance.

How universal life insurance works

Universal life insurance also provides lifelong coverage, a tax-advantaged savings component, and a tax-free death benefit, but it offers more flexibility than whole life insurance.

With universal life insurance, you have more control over how the premiums are paid and how the savings portion of the policy is allocated among interest options. For instance, with RBC Insurance, you can choose from a range of investments known as interest options, and select between two plans — one with bonus interest, one without.

The accumulated cash value grows on a tax-deferred basis while it remains in the policy. Because policyholders make more ongoing choices, universal life insurance generally requires more involvement and monitoring than whole life insurance.

Key features of universal life insurance

• Lifetime coverage: Coverage lasts your entire life, not a set term.

• Flexible premiums: You can choose how much to contribute, as long as payments stay within required minimums and maximums to keep your policy active and tax-sheltered. Premiums can be paid monthly or annually and paying more than the minimum can help the accumulated value grow.

• Tax-free death benefit: Beneficiaries receive a tax-free payout. You can choose between two death benefit options: level protection, which pays the coverage face amount or the accumulated value (whichever is greater), or increasing protection, which pays the coverage amount plus the accumulated value.

• Broad range of investments: The savings portion of the policy can be invested in a range of interest options, such as daily interest, guaranteed interest, or market-linked options. These choices can be reviewed and adjusted over time. 

• Tax-deferred growth: Growth is not taxed while it remains in the policy.

• Access to funds: Cash value may be accessed through withdrawals or policy loans. The policy can also be surrendered for its full cash value.

• High flexibility: Premiums, payment timing, and investment choices can be adjusted as income or priorities change.

• Living benefits: Some policies may offer living benefits, such as a compassionate advance if you become terminally ill or a disability benefit paid from the policy’s accumulated value.

• Riders: Extra coverage can be added to suit your needs, such as a children’s term rider, accidental death benefits, or supplemental term insurance.

Difference between whole life vs universal life insurance

Both whole life and universal life provide permanent coverage, but the two work differently. The table below highlights the key differences to help you compare both options: 

How to choose between whole life and universal life insurance

Choosing between whole life and universal life insurance depends on your personal circumstances, financial goals, and how involved you want to be in managing your policy over time. Understanding how each policy fits into your broader financial picture — including income, risk tolerance, and long-term objectives — can help clarify which option may be more suitable.

Why whole life insurance might be right for you

Whole life insurance may be suitable if you:

• Want lifelong coverage with minimal ongoing decision-making

• Prefer predictable premiums and guaranteed cash value growth

• Prefer steady, long-term growth and have a lower tolerance for investment-related risk

• Have reliable cash flow to support fixed premiums

• Are considering a participating whole life policy that may pay dividends

Why universal life insurance might be right for you

Universal life insurance may be suitable if you:

• Value flexibility in how and when premiums are paid

• Want a savings component that can adapt over time

• Expect your income or needs to change

• Prefer a more hands-on, self-directed approach to managing the savings and investment component of the policy

• Are comfortable with some ups and downs tied to the interest options

How to choose the right insurance policy for you

Once you understand the differences between whole life and universal life insurance, the choice largely comes down to your personal priorities, and how involved you want to be. Use the steps below to help clarify what matters most to you.

Define your goals

What do you want this policy help you achieve? Whole life insurance is often used for estate planning or to build financial security, whereas universal life insurance offers more flexibility that can be adjusted to suit changing needs and goals.

Recognize your risk tolerance

How comfortable are you with changes in how the savings grows? Whole life insurance offers guaranteed growth. Universal life insurance can change based on the interest options you choose.

Assess your budget

Can you afford permanent life insurance over the long term? Whole life insurance offers fixed premiums. Universal life insurance allows more wiggle room in how and when premiums are paid, within limits.

Understand the product features and investment options

Do you want the insurer to manage the policy, or are you comfortable making choices yourself?  With whole life insurance, the insurer manages growth. With universal life insurance, you can choose interest options and adjust premiums.

Review your tax and estate needs

How might this policy fit into your long-term plans? Whole life insurance is often used for estate needs, such as covering outstanding debt, future taxes, or leaving a guaranteed legacy to beneficiaries. Universal life insurance is often chosen when flexibility is needed as personal or business needs change.

Work with a licensed insurance advisor

Is this a decision you need help with? Choosing between whole life and universal life insurance can be nuanced, especially when tax, estate, and long-term planning are involved. A licensed insurance advisor can help you understand how each option may fit your situation.

FAQs about whole life vs. universal life insurance

Which is better: whole life or universal life?

Neither is inherently better than the other. The right choice depends on your goals, risk tolerance, and how involved you want to be in managing your policy. Whole life insurance may appeal to those who value predictability and guaranteed growth, whereas those who want more flexibility and choice in how their policy’s savings component is structured may opt for universal life insurance.

Can I switch from whole life to universal life later?

Generally, no. While some term life insurance policies can be converted to permanent insurance, whole life and universal are distinct products. Switching typically requires surrendering one existing policy and applying for a new one, which may involve fees, tax implications, and new underwriting.

What are alternatives to purchasing whole life or universal life insurance?

A good alternative to whole or life or universal life is term life insurance. Term life is typically a be a lower-cost option for short term needs, though it does not build cash value. Depending on the insurance company, some term policies also let you convert term life to a permanent life policy, as your financial needs change.

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