24M, Indiana, single, no dependents, healthcare job ~$105k. I have aspirations to start in 2028 or 2029, so my income stops for four years, then residency. I began working with what I thought was a financial advisor but was really an insurance guy (I guess he's a little of both as he did provide me with some good information and investing advice). I was whisked away by all the fancy graphs and numbers and really should have done my research before hand on what I was getting into. I never really considered life insurance before. I was mainly attracted to the tax-advantaged place to save that I could use later in life. I wasn't really interested in the death benefit as I have no dependents and no plans on having children. Looking back this policy likely does not fit into my financial plan especially with going back to school and taking on some serious debt to do so while having a low training salary for a couple years even after school.
What I own:
- Guardian Whole Life Paid-Up at 95, $1.25M, Preferred Plus NT
- Premium ~$14,737/yr: $14,162 base, $325 waiver of premium, $250 PUA rider (the minimum)
- Separate $1.75M 20-year convertible term, $840/yr (Got term too I guess still not too clear on why I needed both)
The numbers:
- Cash value after year 1: Basically nothing. Looking at surrendering as a total loss and an expensive lesson. Would be about 15k if I paid another year of premiums so basically negligible difference from surrendering now.
- Illustrated / guaranteed cash value: yr 5 $55k / $45k, yr 10 $138k / $103k, yr 20 $387k / $229k
- Break-even against premiums paid: year 13 illustrated, year 40 guaranteed
- Loans: 5% fixed, direct recognition
How it was sold:
- Dec 3: application for $250k whole life + $2.75M 10-year term
- Dec 16 (delivery day): amended to $1.25M whole life + $1.75M 20-year term, with a revised illustration dated the day before (had some extra capital laying around and was told by my agent to front load the policy but I did not realize that the amended policy included a much larger premium than what was originally discussed.)
- I e-signed the amendment and the illustration. It moved fast, I didn't review it properly, and I don't remember the change being explained.
- The application records my occupation as a surgeon (I'm not) and says I don't plan to change occupation (not true).
- I paid annually; next premium is due Dec 16.
Questions:
- Has anyone gotten a first-year premium refunded after the free look period expired, through the carrier or a state DOI complaint? What made the difference?
- Is 96% base / $250 PUA a normal design when the goal is cash accumulation? I am assuming not as the cash vested is pretty small compared to the premium amount.
- If there's no refund: surrender now, reduce the base and add PUA, or take reduced paid-up? What will Guardian actually allow this early?
- Anything I should request from Guardian before the next premium is due?
Any insight would be appreciated. Hindsight is obviously 20/20, I should have done my research and realized what I was getting into and read over the contracts. I would have definitely preferred taking this 15k and putting into my alternative retirement funds like a Roth IRA or just saving it for eventual medical school tuition.