Universal life is divided into two parts - A basic insurance
policy that will pay a stated death benefit so long as
basic premiums are paid and an investment account.
You are allowed to put more money into this policy than is required
for the basic death coverage, and that additional sum goes
into a tax-free account, just like an RRSP. Within that
account, you can elect to invest in just about any kind of asset
you want from fixed income bonds to high octane index or equity
growth funds.
Upon retirement, you can use all the accumulated cash inside the
plan as collateral at the bank to receive a loan paying you income
for the rest of your life. The most
outrageous aspect of this plan is that because the money is flowing
from the proceeds of a life insurance policy, the retirement income
is tax free. You can also roll it over inside your
estate on a tax advantaged basis.
"Garth Turner"