Healthcare & Insurance

Cash Value

The savings component inside certain permanent life insurance policies.

Also known as: cash surrender value, policy cash value

What You Need to Know

Cash value accumulates inside whole life, universal life, and other permanent policies. It grows tax-deferred and can be borrowed or withdrawn, but the growth is slow and fees are high.

Think of it as a conservative side account built into your policy—not a replacement for investing in higher-growth assets.

Sources & References

This information is sourced from authoritative government and academic institutions:

  • naic.org

    https://www.naic.org/documents/consumer_guide_life_insurance.pdf

Cash Value Life Insurance: Savings or Trap?