11/07/2025
Let’s walk through a simple example of how the tax-free loan strategy works in an Indexed Universal Life (IUL) policy:
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🧩 Example: The Basics
• Policy Owner: Sarah, age 35
• Monthly Premium: $500
• Index Crediting Rate (average): 6%
• Time Frame: 30 years
• Total Paid In (Cost Basis): $500 × 12 × 30 = $180,000
After 30 years, her IUL’s cash value has grown to about $600,000 — all tax-deferred.
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💵 Step 1: Accessing Money Tax-Free
At age 65, Sarah wants to retire and start receiving income.
She can take out policy loans from her cash value instead of withdrawals.
• She takes out $40,000 per year as a loan.
• The loan is not taxable income, because it’s considered borrowed money secured by her policy’s value.
• The policy’s cash value continues to earn interest (depending on the loan type — fixed or participating loan).
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⚰️ Step 2: What Happens Later
When Sarah eventually passes away:
• Her death benefit (say $800,000) is used to pay off any outstanding loan balance.
• The remaining death benefit goes tax-free to her beneficiaries.
Example:
• Total loans at death: $400,000
• Death benefit: $800,000
• Beneficiaries receive: $400,000 tax-free
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⚠️ Key Rules
1. The policy must stay in force (not lapse) — if it lapses with loans, the IRS treats the loan balance as taxable income.
2. Avoid overfunding too quickly, which can make it a Modified Endowment Contract (MEC) — MECs lose their tax-free loan benefit.
3. Proper design and annual review are essential — usually done with an agent or financial professional.