kjheath1

It is not a scam, unless you actually pay a $3500 up front fee to get it set up. The key to the program, is setting it up through the right insurance company which provides all the features which make it work so effectively. Many financially saavy people, and high net worth individuals understand the benefits of this type of "plan" and take advantage of it, sometimes even have several of them in place. To get a more detailed look at how it works, read the book "Bank on Yourself" by Pamela Yellan. I have many clients who are taking advantage of the plan, and I have not once charged them an upfront fee. Before everyone jumps on this reply, saying that its life insurance, so a commission is made (which it is, as with just about everything), the design of the plan is overfunding, which actually minimizes the commissions made. If you are serious about it, feel free to email me, and I can explain it in more detail, and I even have a few copies of the book.

I over fund a whole life policy on each of my kids for college savings. You are correct, you wouldn't want them to MEC, so you set it up correctly so it won't. There is nothing wrong with 529 plans, but they HAVE to be used for college expenses. In a realistic world, there are MANY MANY things that could effect them needing college funding. Overfunding a permanent policy provides plenty of tax free, non penalizable money that I/they can access with no limitations. If not needed for college, they will be able to use it for down payment on house, wedding, etc.

Correct. There is a limit. Once your income exceeds that limit, the Roth is still there, you jsut can't contribute anymore. The limit still aplies if you contribute to a traditional, you can't convert to a Roth. There are other options out there for you to consider, depending on what you are trying to accomplish.

Because of different ratings, no one will be able to give you an exact amount until you go through underwriting. Since you are looking at substantial difference in premiums between 20 and 30 year term, why not look into a universal life policy. Essentially, it can be a lifetime term policy.

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Upon you death, they pay the face value of the policy, not the face value + the investment balance. The investment portion dies with you

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Correct. However, the death benefit has grown as well as the cash value, and, it has grown at a higher rate than the cash value, so, in most cases, the death benefit would pay out MORE than the original death benefit plus the cash value (investment part, as you referred to it).

Read the fine print...you die and they KEEP your investment??? That makes no sense. If you were to die, you would get paid out the death benefit...they don't KEEP it!

There are places you can put the extra 7% above what your employee is matching. Typically, the biggest benefit of 401k is the company match. Putting more than the match may result in losing some of your gains to taxes.

That is a great company. They are a mutual company. It is a great point that people need to research more than just the premium. Although premium makes a difference, you do get what you pay for. Mutual insurance companies are rock solid, always have been, always will be. Even Dave Ramsey has come out and made that point. Amazing that he would ever acknowledge how important that is, but he did. It was impossible for him not to in lieu of the recent financial crisis.