Universal life insurance that flexes with your life.
Permanent, flexible coverage from top-rated carriers, guided by a licensed agent.
Permanent protection with built-in flexibility.
Universal life gives you lifelong coverage you can adjust as life changes — premiums you can flex, a death benefit you can raise or lower, and cash value that grows over time.
Universal life insurance is a type of permanent life insurance that stays in force for your entire lifetime, as long as the policy is adequately funded. Like whole life, it guarantees a death benefit and builds cash value — but its defining feature is flexibility. Within policy limits, you can adjust how much and how often you pay, and even raise or lower your death benefit as your needs change.
Part of each premium goes toward the cost of insurance, and the rest builds cash value that grows tax-deferred. That cash value can become a living asset you draw on for emergencies, retirement income, or other needs. Universal life is typically less expensive than whole life, and it can still be structured with level premiums and a guaranteed death benefit — which makes it a versatile fit for people whose income or priorities may shift over time.
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Lifelong coverage that adapts to you
Four reasons universal life is a go-to choice for flexible, permanent protection.
Coverage for life
Permanent protection that doesn't expire — your policy stays in force for your entire lifetime as long as it stays adequately funded.
Flexible premiums
Pay more in strong years and less when money is tight — within policy limits, you control how and when you fund your coverage.
Adjustable death benefit
Raise or lower your coverage as life changes — a growing family, a paid-off mortgage, a new business — subject to underwriting and limits.
Builds cash value
Cash value grows tax-deferred — a living asset you can borrow against or draw on for future goals and emergencies.
Three simple steps to universal life coverage
No pressure and no guesswork — a dedicated licensed agent guides you the whole way.
Tell us about you
Complete a short online form in about two minutes — just the basics we need to shop for you.
Compare with an agent
A dedicated licensed agent compares top-rated carriers side by side to find your best universal-life value and structure.
Put coverage in place
Review your options, ask questions, and lock in flexible lifelong coverage at a premium that fits your family and budget.
Universal life comes in a few forms
Common variations of universal life — your agent will help you choose the right fit.
Guaranteed universal life (GUL)
Built around a guaranteed death benefit to a chosen age with a low, level premium and little emphasis on cash value. Often the most affordable way to lock in permanent coverage — sometimes called “permanent term.”
Learn about guaranteed coverage →Traditional universal life
The classic flexible policy: adjustable premiums and death benefit, with cash value that earns interest at a rate the insurer sets, subject to a guaranteed minimum.
Indexed universal life (IUL)
Cash value growth is linked to a market index like the S&P 500, with a cap on gains and a floor that guards against market losses — upside potential without direct market exposure.
Learn about IUL →Variable universal life (VUL)
Cash value is invested in market subaccounts you choose, offering the highest growth potential of any UL — along with market risk and more hands-on management.
Survivorship UL (second-to-die)
One permanent policy covering two people, paying out after the second passing. Often used in estate planning — and usually cheaper than two individual policies.
Learn about survivorship →Not sure which fits?
The right universal life policy depends on your goals — guaranteed coverage, cash value growth, or market-linked upside. A licensed agent will walk you through the options.
Read the life insurance guide →Flexibility works both ways
As your cash value grows, you can borrow against it with a policy loan — typically tax-free and with no credit check — or take withdrawals up to your basis. Just remember that the same flexibility that lets you skip or reduce premiums means an underfunded policy can lapse, and outstanding loans reduce the death benefit until repaid. (General information only; how cash value, loans, and funding work depends on your policy, carrier, and how it's structured.)
Which type of permanent coverage is right for you?
The short version: universal life gives you flexibility to adjust premiums and coverage; whole life gives you fixed, fully guaranteed everything. Here's how they compare.
Flexible, permanent, often lower cost
- Permanent — stays in force as long as it's adequately funded
- Adjustable premiums you can flex with your finances
- Death benefit you can raise or lower as needs change
- Builds tax-deferred cash value, often at lower cost than whole life
- Great when your income or priorities may shift over time
Fixed and fully guaranteed
- Level premiums that are locked in and never rise
- Guaranteed death benefit no matter when you pass
- Cash value that grows at a guaranteed rate
- Set-and-forget — no ongoing funding decisions
- Ideal when predictability matters most
Want the fully guaranteed route instead? Compare whole life, explore lower-cost term life, or see how universal life fits within permanent life insurance. Not sure? Your agent will walk you through it, or read the full guide.
Real people, top-rated carriers, no sales pressure
Universal life coverage from the carriers you know
Easy, painless, and fast
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Israel P. — Fort Pierce, FL“Responsive, informative, caring. I couldn't ask for more.”
Steven M. — Marina Del Rey, CAUniversal life insurance, answered
Straight answers to the questions we hear most. Want yours answered personally? A licensed agent is one call away.
How is universal life different from whole life?
Both are permanent coverage that builds cash value, but universal life is built for flexibility: within policy limits you can adjust your premium payments and raise or lower your death benefit over time. Whole life is fixed — level premiums, a guaranteed death benefit, and guaranteed cash value growth — with no ongoing decisions. Universal life is often less expensive, while whole life offers more built-in guarantees. Compare whole life.
Can I change the death benefit on a universal life policy?
Yes. Universal life lets you increase or decrease the death benefit, subject to underwriting requirements and policy limits. Increasing coverage may require a new medical review, while decreasing it typically does not. Your agent can walk you through what a change would mean for your premium and cash value.
Does universal life insurance build cash value?
Yes. A portion of each premium goes into a cash value account that grows tax-deferred. Depending on the policy type, that growth comes from interest the insurer credits (traditional UL), a market index with a cap and floor (indexed UL), or investment subaccounts you choose (variable UL). Over time the cash value can be a living benefit you draw on for emergencies, retirement income, or other needs.
Can I adjust my premium payments?
Yes — that flexibility is the hallmark of universal life. Within policy limits, you can pay more in strong years and less when money is tight, or even use accumulated cash value to help cover premiums. Just keep in mind that consistently underfunding a policy can cause it to lapse, so it's worth reviewing your funding with your agent from time to time.
Is universal life cheaper than whole life?
Often, yes. Universal life is typically less expensive than whole life for the same death benefit, especially guaranteed universal life (GUL), which minimizes cash value to keep the premium low. The trade-off is that whole life comes with more guarantees, while universal life relies on adequate funding to stay in force. A licensed agent can compare real quotes for both so you see the actual difference.
What is indexed universal life (IUL)?
Indexed universal life ties your cash value growth to a market index like the S&P 500, with a cap that limits gains and a floor (often 0%) that protects against market losses. Your money isn't invested directly in the market, so you get upside potential without direct market risk. It's a popular choice for long-term planning. Learn more about IUL.
Lock in flexible lifelong coverage today.
It takes about two minutes to start. A licensed agent handles the rest — comparing top-rated carriers to structure universal life coverage that protects your family and flexes with your life.
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