A 401(k) is built for retirement saving. IUL is built around a permanent death benefit.
PRODUCT COMPARISON LAB
IUL vs. 401(k)
Start with the employer benefit.
A workplace retirement plan may include matching dollars and fiduciary oversight; IUL is individually underwritten insurance.
A match can be immediate compensation. Confirm vesting, investment options and plan fees.
Traditional and Roth 401(k) treatment follows retirement-plan rules. IUL tax treatment depends on maintaining the policy and avoiding modified-endowment or lapse problems.
401(k) distributions follow plan and tax rules. IUL liquidity depends on cash value, surrender schedules and loan terms.
Capture an affordable employer match first. Compare insurance only against a documented coverage need, not against the match.
BOTTOM LINE
Buy the job you need—not the story attached to it.
Ask for every fee, restriction, assumption and conflict in writing. Compare the same dollars over the same time period and keep protection needs separate from investment projections.
← Back to the comparison labEducational overview only. Contract, plan and tax rules vary. Review current official documents and qualified professional advice before acting.
THE ACTUAL SOLUTION
Leave with a decision—not another article.
Capture the full employer match before evaluating insurance as an accumulation vehicle.
Compare the 401(k) tax benefit, match, fees and access rules with the insurance policy’s guarantees and surrender schedule.
A product illustration does not replace free matching dollars or a documented life-insurance need.
Compare the same dollars over the same period after fees, taxes, access limits, and insurance costs.
Calculate the employer match
OPEN →YOU ARE DONE WHENAll available match is captured and any permanent policy is justified by protection—not marketing projections.
OPTIONAL DEEP DIVES