What is Direct vs. Non-Direct Recognition Life Insurance?

Discover the difference between direct vs. non-direct recognition life insurance and how it affects your policy. Here is what you need to know.

Generally speaking, when picking out a life insurance policy, the primary goal is to ensure that your loved ones get the money they need to maintain their lifestyle. No one wants to leave their family in a bind once they’re gone, which is why the right life insurance can make a world of difference.

However, while the death benefit should be a deciding factor, there is another aspect of modern life insurance policies that can make them more attractive – cash value growth. If you have a form of whole life insurance, your policy will accrue cash value over time. After a while, you can borrow against this money, which comes with a variety of benefits. 

We’ll get into the nuts and bolts of this process, but one significant distinction is direct vs. non-direct recognition. Simply put, will your insurance company allow your cash value to grow the same whether you take out a loan or not? In this article, we’ll break down the difference between these two options so you can decide which one is right for your needs. 

Borrowing Against Your Life Insurance Policy: A Primer

Before we can really get into the pros and cons of direct or non-direct recognition plans, we have to know a bit more about cash value loans. Once you understand how these work and when you can get them, you’ll have a much better idea of when to use direct or non-direct recognition. 

Building Cash Value in Your Life Insurance

First and foremost, anyone with term life insurance doesn’t have to worry about this. Part of the reason why term policies are so affordable (in some cases pennies per day) is that they don’t build any value over time. If you die within the term, your beneficiaries get paid. If you don’t die, then your plan stops, and that’s that. 

Whole life insurance, however, will build cash value during the life of the policy. Because you’ll be paying premiums forever (or until you decide to cancel your insurance), the insurance company will allow you to use that money while you’re still alive. Building wealth through life insurance is one reason why whole policies can be more enticing. 

Here are a few basics on the cash value of your insurance plan. 

When Can I Borrow Against It?

You will want to talk with your insurance agent as soon as possible to determine if there are any proprietary rules regarding cash value loans. Each company operates differently, so you want to verify which qualifications need to be met first. However, as a general rule, if you’ve paid premiums for 10 years or more, then you should have some cash value built up. 

Is the Cash Value Already Mine?

When you talk with some insurance agents or financial planners, they will imply that you are simply borrowing from your policy. This means that the money is already yours, so you don’t necessarily have to pay it back. However, this is misleading. In reality, you are borrowing from the insurance company and putting up your cash value policy as collateral. Unfortunately, this can create a dangerous situation if you’re not careful. 

Typically, you will be charged interest on your loan, although there is a lot of flexibility regarding when you have to pay it back. Over time, though, the interest could exceed the remaining balance, which could negate your entire death benefit. While it may be tempting to keep the money indefinitely, you don’t want to sacrifice your loved one’s financial stability later on. 

Do I Have to Pay It Back?

Realistically, you can pay back any money you borrow from your life insurance policy. Repaying the loan prevents it from decreasing the death benefit, but most insurers allow you to take money out during retirement without repaying. This will just reduce the death benefit.

As we’ll discuss later on, the interest rate on your loan will depend on your insurance company, and the direct vs. non-direct recognition issue will come into play. 

Does a Cash Value Loan Count Against My Credit?

One advantage of borrowing money from your insurance company is that it doesn’t show up on your credit report. Unlike bank loans or credit cards, your cash value loan works differently. If you have bad credit but need money, borrowing against your life insurance policy can be a preferable option. 

How Long Does it Take to Get the Money?

As a rule, life insurance companies can move a lot faster than a bank when it comes to lending. Rather than having to submit to a lengthy application process and credit check, you can just fill out a form and talk with your insurance agent. If you’re looking for a quick cash infusion, a life insurance loan may be a good option. 

Direct vs. Non-Direct Recognition Life Insurance

Now that you know some of the basics of building and borrowing against your cash value, let’s take a closer look at how direct and non-direct recognition insurers operate. Before we get into the details, however, it’s crucial to note that, in the long term, both options are relatively similar. 

However, based on your specific situation, you may prefer one over the other. In either case, you will need to talk with your insurance agent to make sure that you’re choosing the right path for your needs. 

Direct Recognition

In this case, the insurance company will determine your loan interest rate and your cash value dividends based on the amount of your loan. So, if you have built up $100,000 in your policy and borrow half, your dividends will be based on the remaining $50,000. Not only that, but you will likely have a fixed interest rate since you are the only one affected by your loan. 

For most insurance companies, the direct recognition approach seems to be the most “fair.” Only policyholders that borrow against their cash value are affected, leaving everyone else free to earn dividends based on their plans. Essentially, you are the only one paying back your loan – not all whole life insurance policyholders. 

Non-Direct Recognition

On the flip side of things, non-direct recognition life insurance companies will continue to allow your cash value to build as if you didn’t take out a loan. So, rather than earning dividends on $50,000, the earnings will still be based on the original $100,000. For individuals, this process can seem the most appealing, since your cash value can grow much faster, even if you’re borrowing against it. 

So, how do these insurance companies pay for these loans? A couple of different ways. First, the interest rate is usually variable. This means that it can go up or down based on how well the company’s investments are doing. If your insurer is highly profitable, it can afford to maintain higher dividends, which keeps your interest rate low. 

The other way that these insurers cover non-direct recognition policies is that all policyholders can be affected, including those who haven’t borrowed anything. In some cases, the dividend rate for everyone may be lower, depending on how much money is tied up in loans. 

Which Option is Better?

As we mentioned, the long-term effects of direct vs. non-direct life insurance policies are relatively marginal. However, in the short-term, the difference will depend on which side of things you’re currently on. Let’s break down some of the various elements of these plans to help you make the right decision. 

Interest Rates

If you’re worried about paying higher interest, then a direct-recognition company is the better option. Assuming that it will take a while to pay back the money, you don’t want to have to worry about variable interest rates cutting into your finances. 

However, almost all life insurance companies can only move the rate up or down by half a percent each year. So, you never have to worry about rates spiking suddenly. 

One other aspect of this is the margin loan rate. This rate is the difference between the dividends and interest rate of your loan. For example, let’s say that your cash value earns 6.5-percent interest annually. Your loan, however, requires an interest rate of five percent. 

This means that the insurer is losing 1.5 percent, as it is paying you more than you are paying back. To combat this, insurance companies will try to make the margin loan rate as small as possible. Either they will lower the dividend payments or increase your interest rate. 

Long-Term Growth

For those who are looking to build more cash value over time (i.e., for retirement annuities), non-direct recognition companies offer slightly better benefits. Since your dividends aren’t affected by the loan, you can ensure that your policy will grow faster. However, because the dividend rate may be lower overall (to cover for these loans), you might not be earning as much as you think. 

On the flip side, if you know that you can repay your cash value loan relatively quickly, then a direct-recognition plan may be better. Yes, you’ll earn less money in the short-term. But, the dividend rates can be higher overall once you pay the loan back. 

Repayment Schedule

As we mentioned, one of the primary benefits of borrowing against your life insurance policy is that you don’t necessarily have to pay it back. If you don’t, your insurer will simply reduce your death benefit by the loan amount (including accrued interest). In some situations, the freedom of borrowing with impunity can be highly appealing. 

That being said, you will want to talk to your insurance agent to see how the loan interest rates will affect your death benefit. It doesn’t take that long for the interest to grow. So, you could be looking at a substantially lower benefit for your loved ones after a few years. Remember, your life insurance policy is ultimately for them, so plan accordingly. 

Non-Borrowers

So far, we’ve been looking at the potential advantages and disadvantages of borrowing against your cash value. However, what about if you never plan to take out a life insurance loan? In that case, a direct-recognition insurer may seem like the best option. 

This way, you don’t have to help pay for someone else’s loan. As long as you don’t touch the money, you’ll enjoy higher dividends (most likely) over time. 

Bottom Line: Talk With Your Insurance Agent

As you can see, there is no right answer when blindly choosing a life insurance company. It always comes down to your personal situation.

Overall, insurers will know how to stay profitable, whether they are a direct or non-direct recognition entity. Ultimately, the decision will depend on a variety of factors going on in your life. You will need to talk with your life insurance agent first. 

Fortunately, Next-Gen Life Insurance makes it easy to compare companies and plans. We’ll walk you through the selection process. That way you can get the best coverage for yourself and your loved ones. Whole life insurance can be a smart bet, so the more you understand, the better. Contact us today to find out more and to see what’s available.