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Life Insurance vs. Roth IRA: Which One Is Better for Retirement?


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Updated: Nov 13, 2023
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Preparing early for retirement and estate planning is an excellent idea. One common decision to make is choosing a financial product that allows you to build a nest egg. And that sometimes boils down to a Roth IRA or life insurance.

A Roth IRA is usually better for a retirement plan because that's its purpose. Returns are likely to be higher, so if having retirement savings is your main objective, it's likely your best bet.

A life insurance policy is the better choice for estate planning because it focuses on providing death benefits to your loved ones after you die. Some types include a savings component, but the returns are usually lower and, as with variable life insurance, aren't guaranteed.

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What Is the Difference Between Roth IRAs & Life Insurance?

If you're considering life insurance vs. a Roth IRA for your retirement savings, it's essential to understand their differences. While these are different financial products, it may be difficult to delineate between them without context.

Their differences lie in the following areas:

  • Contributions
  • Benefits
  • Earnings
  • Distributions
Roth IRA vs. Life Insurance

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Roth IRA
  • Does not consider your health when you open an account
  • You can only use earned income for your contributions
  • Uses after-tax dollars as contributions
  • The IRA contribution limits are up to $6,000 for 2022 ($7,000 for those 50 and older).
  • Allows your money to grow tax-free
  • No income taxes
  • No withdrawal taxes
  • No Required Minimum Distributions (RDMs)
  • No death benefit
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Life Insurance
  • Considers your health when you purchase a policy, so those with medical conditions may have more expensive premiums
  • No restrictions on the type of income you can use to pay for your premium
  • Offers a death benefit
  • Has a cash value component (for permanent life insurance)
  • Allows your money to earn tax-deferred
  • Requires you to pay income tax on withdrawals exceeding your cash value base amount

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DO YOU STILL NEED LIFE INSURANCE IF YOU HAVE A ROTH IRA?

Having a nest egg by the time you retire is one consideration. Having peace of mind and knowing your loved ones will receive financial support if and when you die is another.

Remember, these two offer different benefits. You may want to purchase life insurance as well as invest in a Roth IRA.

Life insurance can supplement your retirement savings, so life insurance can be an advantage even if you already have a Roth IRA.

Comparison of Contributions for a Roth IRA vs. Life Insurance

Understanding how you put money into these potential retirement plan options may give you a better idea of what's more advantageous for you.

Permanent life insurance, whether whole life or universal life, has two components — a death benefit and a cash value. Each time you pay your premium, a portion goes into your investment. In the long run, life insurance may be more expensive than other investment types.

The section below compares contributions for life insurance vs. Roth IRA.

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    Roth IRA

    Minimum Contribution: There is no minimum contribution for a Roth IRA. You can open an account if your income meets eligibility requirements. However, despite not having minimum contribution limits, there is a cap on how much you can put in per year.

    Maximum Contribution: Contributions for a Roth IRA come from your earned income. You use after-tax dollars for your account and can put in as much as $6,000 annually. If you are 50 or older, you can add a catch-up contribution of up to $1,000.

    Contribution Frequency: There is no schedule for when you must make your contributions — you can make them any time during the year. However, you must ensure you complete these by your income tax return's due date, especially if you plan to max out your contributions.

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    Life Insurance

    Minimum Contribution: Your contribution to your life insurance's cash value comes from your premium. Each time you make a payment, part of that goes to your cash value, while the remainder goes to your death benefit. However, there is no standard percentage for the computation.

    Maximum Contribution: You can overfund your life insurance, which means you pay more than your policy requires. You can increase your contributions to your cash value this way.

    Contribution Frequency: Because your life insurance cash value contributions come from your premium payments, how often you put money in your cash value depends on your payment schedule.

Benefits of a Roth IRA vs. Life Insurance

Although both investment tools provide benefits, what you get from a Roth IRA vs. life insurance varies. You'll likely take advantage of three benefits: how your money earns, what your beneficiaries get and withdrawals.

Remember, all three are possible for life insurance and a Roth IRA, but how each works is different. Refer to the table below to see how the benefits differ between a Roth IRA and life insurance.

Roth IRA vs. Life Insurance Benefits Comparison
Benefit
Roth IRA
Life Insurance

Savings
Potential

If your main objective is to save for
retirement, a Roth IRA may be the
better option. It's structured to cater
specifically to those who want to
ensure they have savings by the
time they retire. You're more likely
to get higher returns with a Roth
IRA.

If you are preparing for retirement,
the life insurance plans that can
help you achieve your financial goal
are permanent life insurance types.
Term life plans are typically more
popular but do not include a cash
value component.

Returns for cash value life
insurance are usually lower than
other investments. Returns are not
always guaranteed, which means
you could lose funds when
purchasing life insurance for
retirement savings.

Death Benefit

Setting up a Roth IRA allows you to
build a nest egg, and if you start
early enough, it can reach a
sizeable amount by the time you
retire. Your proceeds are primarily
for your use. Although it does not
pay out a death benefit, you can
arrange for someone to inherit the
balance of your Roth IRA when you
die.

Life insurance policies are death
benefit-focused. People usually
purchase a plan to ensure their
loved ones remain financially
secure if and when the policyholder
dies, as long as the policy is still
active. The payment amount
depends on the coverage you
select when you purchase the plan.

Withdrawals

You can only use earned income
as contributions to your Roth IRA,
which means contributions are
after-tax dollars. Although your
contributions aren't tax deductible,
your money grows tax-free. When
you begin withdrawing your funds,
distributions remain tax-free and
penalty-free after you turn 59 1/2.
However, if you receive
non-qualified distributions, they are
still tax-free, but a 10% penalty
applies.

You can often take money out of
your life insurance policy if it
includes a cash value component.
The amount is tax-free unless it
exceeds what you've established as
cash value. Since your contributions
come from a portion of your
premium payment, it may take
longer for your funds to accrue —
typically two to five years.
Remember, withdrawing everything
cancels your insurance, so ensure
there's money left if you want to
keep the policy.

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MONEYGEEK EXPERT TIP

Because life insurance offers a death benefit and a Roth IRA doesn't, some might think the former is an automatic upgrade. Most also equate this to being a better option for establishing retirement savings.

However, that's not necessarily true. A Roth IRA might still be the better choice, especially if your objective is to build a nest egg for retirement.

Which One Should You Get: Roth IRA or Life Insurance?

Whether life insurance or a Roth IRA is the better choice depends on your financial goals. Knowing whether your priority is saving to retire or leaving financial support for your loved ones may lead you toward the best option.

Roth IRA vs. Life Insurance Comparison by Goal
Goal
Best Option

Retirement Fund
Ensuring you remain financially
comfortable in your golden years.

Roth IRA
A Roth IRA has better earning potential. A Roth IRA
is a retirement plan and its structure allows your
money to grow more rapidly. You can maximize your
Roth IRA if you open it early and contribute the
maximum amount each year.

College Fund
Prevent your child from incurring
student debt.

Life Insurance
To ensure you don't pay the 10% penalty when
withdrawing from your Roth IRA, you must be 59 1/2
or older. Taking money out of your life insurance
cash value has different parameters. You'll likely be
in your 40s or 50s when your child enters college, so
life insurance may be a better option.

Estate Planning
Ensure your loved ones receive
financial support if you die.

Life Insurance
Although you can direct your Roth IRA to specific
beneficiaries, it does not pay a death benefit. Your
loved ones can claim your life insurance if you die
and your policy is active. The money could take care
of final expenses plus tide beneficiaries over for
some time.

Long-Term Care
Coverage for long-term medical
treatments.

Life Insurance
Although the primary purpose of life insurance is to
ensure your loved ones are financially stable if you
die, you can also sometimes use it while you're still
alive. Adding a long-term care rider to your policy
allows you to access a portion or your entire death
benefit.

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MONEYGEEK EXPERT TIP

Most people rely on employer-sponsored retirement plans, such as a 401(k). However, it's essential to know that there are more options to prepare for retirement and a Roth IRA is one of them.

Opening a Roth IRA may seem overwhelming. There are a few things to keep in mind, but it doesn't have to be complicated. Learning the basics of a Roth IRA can go a long way to help you decide whether it's the direction you want to take in preparation for your retirement.

Similarly, you can get multiple benefits from a life insurance policy. However, your unique needs and preferences determine the best life insurance option for you.

It's wise to explore your options before deciding on an option or a provider. Comparing several companies and their coverages can help you find the best deal.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Where you invest your money can make a big difference as you prepare for retirement. If you’re on the fence between life insurance or a Roth IRA, read through some commonly asked questions to help determine your best option.

Expert Advice on Life Insurance vs Roth IRA for Retirement

  1. Our research indicates some consumers are considering whether to fund a Roth IRA or permanent life insurance as a means to retirement planning. Why might they be making this comparison?
  2. For the typical consumer who’s not eligible for a Roth IRA, but isn’t ultra wealthy, how would you recommend they employ these products? Would you recommend one over the other or some usage of both?
  3. How do the contributions and contribution limits for a Roth IRA compare to premium payments for life insurance?
  4. Recently some social media accounts have touted the value of insurance as a way to save for and fund retirement. Is this just marketing?
Amy Mitchell, CFA, CFP®
Amy Mitchell, CFA, CFP®

Senior Wealth Advisor at Hemington Wealth Management

Chuck Czajka
Chuck Czajka

CEO of Macro Money Concepts

Jeremy Keil
Jeremy Keil

Financial Advisor at Keil Financial Partners

Bryan Miranda
Bryan Miranda

Director of Insurance and Investment Advisor Representative at Gerber Kawasaki

Elliott Appel
Elliott Appel

CFP®, CLU®, RLP® at Kindness Financial Planning

Derek Munchow
Derek Munchow

Founder at Augustus Wealth

Chigozie Andy Ngwaba
Chigozie Andy Ngwaba

Assistant Professor of Economics and Director of the Actuarial Science Business Program at Bradley University

John Lopez
John Lopez

Senior Professor of Practice at C.T. Bauer College of Business at the University of Houston

Clint Haynes
Clint Haynes

President, Certified Financial Planner® at NextGen Wealth

About Mark Fitzpatrick


Mark Fitzpatrick headshot

Mark Fitzpatrick is a senior content director at MoneyGeek with over five years of experience analyzing the insurance market, conducting original research and creating content that can be personalized for every buyer. He has been quoted on insurance topics in several publications, including CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.

Mark earned a master’s degree in Economics and International Relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He is passionate about using his economics and insurance knowledge to bring transparency around financial topics and help others feel confident in their money moves.


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