Whole Life Insurance

Whole Life Insurance

A lifetime insurance protection for you and your loved ones.

A lifetime insurance protection for you and your loved ones.

Home / Personal / Life / Whole Life

Whole Life Insurance

Whole life insurance, commonly known as traditional life insurance, ensures that there is lifetime financial coverage for you in the event of an unforeseen circumstance. It ensures financial security for you and your family. With guaranteed coverage for life, whole life insurance offers not only the protection you deserve but also builds up cash value over time. This can be a valuable asset to support your retirement plans, fund future needs, or provide a safety net for loved ones. When exploring life insurance plans in Singapore, whole life insurance stands out for its ability to provide both protection and savings. It gives you the assurance that your legacy is protected, regardless of when life’s uncertainties occur. It is a meaningful way to safeguard your family’s future while giving you peace of mind today.

i-Secure Legacy (II)

Designed to secure you with up to 5x high coverage against Death, Terminal Illness and Total & Permanent Disability for life and up to 161 medical conditions – this whole life insurance plan gives you the utmost assurance when you need it.

i-CompleteCare

A whole life insurance plan that provides comprehensive 360° protection, covering death, terminal illness, disability and early, intermediate and advanced stage Critical Illnesses, as well as a longevity benefit at age 99.

i-Assure99

A non-participating whole life protection plan till age 99, empowering you to take care of your family upon an unexpected event or leave a legacy for
your loved ones.

i-CashLife

A whole life insurance plan that offers yearly cashbacks until age 120. Be rewarded with a guaranteed loyalty cashback on the 20th policy anniversary and every 10 years thereafter.

Infinite Legacy (II)

Enjoy up to 3.5x immediate high coverage and lifetime protection against Death and Terminal Illness with our comprehensive whole life insurance plan. Keep your wealth intact and give your future generations the gift of continued financial stability.

DIRECT - Whole Life (III)

Available only as a direct purchase whole life protection insurance plan at our office, you and your family are guaranteed with lifetime financial protection in the unfortunate event of death, permanent disability, or terminal illness.

Infinite Harvest Plus (II)

Embrace a lifetime of financial security with a continuous stream of yearly income and booster bonus until age 120.

i-Secure Legacy (II)

Designed to secure you with up to 5x high coverage against Death, Terminal Illness and Total & Permanent Disability for life and up to 161 medical conditions – this whole life insurance plan gives you the utmost assurance when you need it.

Infinite Legacy (II)

Enjoy up to 3.5x immediate high coverage and lifetime protection against Death and Terminal Illness with our comprehensive whole life insurance plan. Keep your wealth intact and give your future generations the gift of continued financial stability.

Useful Tips

Whole life insurance provides permanent life protection or your entire life in Singapore, generally covering you until age 99 or 100. Crucially, a portion of the premiums paid accumulates as a guaranteed and non-guaranteed cash value, which grows over time and can be accessed during your lifetime.

On the other hand, term life insurance provides pure protection for a specific, fixed period only (e.g., 20 years or until age 65). If the insured person passes away within that set term, the beneficiaries receive a payout. If the policyholder survives the term, the coverage ends, and the policy typically holds no savings elements or cash value.

The key difference is that whole life combines permanent protection with long-term value accumulation, while term life focuses purely on affordable, temporary protection.
Yes, whole life insurance is a permanent policy, and the coverage is designed to last for your entire lifetime, often extending until the policy anniversary immediately preceding the insured person’s 100th birthday.
As long as you continue to pay your scheduled premiums, or once you have completed a limited premium payment term (if applicable), the policy guarantees a payout upon the occurrence of an insured event (like death or terminal illness). Unlike term life insurance, which has a predefined expiry date, China Taiping Singapore’s whole life policies such as Infinite Legacy (II), are structured to ensure financial security for your loved ones across generations.

Choosing a whole life insurance plan, like the options provided by China Taiping Singapore, offers three significant advantages over a standard term life policy:

Lifelong Guaranteed Protection – A whole life plan guarantees that the death benefit will be paid out eventually, securing your family’s financial future regardless of your lifespan.

Forced Savings and Cash Value Accumulation – A portion of your premium is dedicated to building cash value that grows over time. This cash value acts as a form of savings that can be used later in life (e.g., during retirement), offering valuable financial flexibility that term life does not provide.

Level Premiums for Life – Your premium amount is typically fixed (or “level”) from the moment your policy is accepted and will not change as you age or if your health deteriorates. This locks in your cost of insurance, making financial planning simpler and protecting you against potentially premiums raise later in life, which can occur when renewing a term policy.

In essence, whole life is a long-term strategy for comprehensive risk mitigation with a saving component, whereas term life is purely about temporary risk mitigation.

Whole life insurance is particularly well-suited for individuals and families in Singapore who prioritise lifelong financial security, wealth preservation, and legacy planning.

Whole life plans with China Taiping Singapore are an excellent fit for:

  • Young Professionals and New Parents: By starting early, they can lock in lower, level premiums for life and maximise the time to grow the cash value, building a significant financial asset for the future.
  • Primary Breadwinners with Dependents: If you have dependents (such as a spouse, children, or elderly parents) whose financial stability relies on your income, a whole life policy ensures that your loved ones are taken care of should premature death occur.
  • Individuals Focused on Legacy and Estate Planning: Whole life policies are a powerful tool for wealth transfer. The guaranteed death benefit can provide immediate liquidity to your beneficiaries, ensuring that your wealth is transferred efficiently.
  • Those Seeking a Disciplined Savings Mechanism: If you appreciate the mandatory savings element, the whole life policy serves as a disciplined, long-term approach to accumulating a pool of accessible cash value for retirement or unexpected life events.
It is a commitment for those who view their insurance as a permanent cornerstone of their financial foundation.
Missing a premium payment does not usually result in the immediate loss or termination of your whole life policy, but it does have consequences on the cash value and should be avoided.
  • Grace Period: All life insurance policies provide a grace period (typically 30 or 31 days) following the premium due date. If you pay the premium within this grace period, your policy remains fully in force, and coverage continues uninterrupted.
  • Automatic Premium Loan (APL): If your whole life policy has accumulated sufficient cash value, China Taiping Singapore will automatically utilise a portion of that cash value to pay the missed premium, known as an Automatic Premium Loan (APL). This keeps the policy active, but the loan incurs interest and reduces the policy’s cash value and eventual death benefit.
  • Policy Lapse If the premium is not paid by the end of the grace period and the policy does not have sufficient cash value to cover the premium, the policy will enter a state of lapse. This means your coverage is suspended.
  • Reinstatement: If the policy lapses, you may apply for reinstatement, which involves paying all overdue premiums with interest and will need medical underwriting for evidence of good health.

Missing a premium payment does not usually result in the immediate loss or termination of your whole life policy, but it does have consequences on the cash value and should be avoided.

The cash value is a unique and defining component of a whole life policy, representing the savings element that accumulates within the plan over time.
  • Accumulation Mechanism: A portion of your premiums paid is set aside, allocated to the policy’s cash value, and invested in the insurer’s Participating Fund (for participating plans). This value grows over the life of the policy through guaranteed interest (guaranteed cash value) and potential non-guaranteed bonuses or dividends (non-guaranteed cash value).
  • Financial Flexibility: Once the cash value is substantial, it offers you a source of liquidity and financial flexibility. You can access this cash value through policy loans or withdrawals for funding emergencies.
  • Impact on Death Benefit: It is crucial to note that while the cash value is available for your use, any outstanding policy loans or direct withdrawals will reduce the policy’s total cash value and the eventual death benefit paid to your beneficiaries. The cash value forms a critical part of the policy’s value if you choose to surrender the policy later in life.
Yes, you can absolutely access the accumulated cash value of your whole life policy while you are alive. There are typically three primary ways to access your policy cash value:
  1. Policy Loans: This is the most common method. You can borrow a portion of the cash value (usually up to 80% or 90% of the guaranteed cash value). The policy remains in force, and the coverage continues, but the loan incurs interest. If the loan is not repaid, the outstanding amount will be deducted from the final death benefit payout.
  2. Withdrawals: Some plans allow direct withdrawals of accumulated cash value, especially accumulated cash coupons or non-guaranteed dividends. However, withdrawing the core guaranteed cash value can reduce the policy’s death benefit.
  3. Policy Surrender: You can choose to terminate your policy completely by surrendering it. Upon surrender, you receive the total surrender value (the cash value at that time, which includes guaranteed and non-guaranteed components). Crucially, surrendering the policy means your insurance protection immediately stops.
We always recommend speaking with a financial advisor before accessing the cash value to fully understand the impact on your policy’s death benefit and long-term goals.
Policy dividends, or bonuses, are a unique feature of “participating” whole life insurance plans. They represent the policyholder’s share of the divisible surplus (profit) generated by the insurer’s Participating Fund.
  • Non-Guaranteed Nature: It is important to understand that dividends are not guaranteed. Their distribution and amount depend entirely on the actual investment performance, claims experience, and operational costs of the Participating Fund, as declared by the company each year. Dividends or bonuses are usually illustrated in the policy benefit illustration using two scenarios (e.g., 4.25% p.a. and 3.00% p.a. Investment Rate of Return).
  • Types of Bonuses: China Taiping Singapore generally provides dividends in the form of Reversionary Bonus (added to the policy annually and guaranteed once declared) and Terminal Bonus (a final, non-guaranteed bonus paid out only upon policy maturity, surrender, or death claim).
  • Enhancing Value: These non-guaranteed bonuses, when declared, are added to the guaranteed cash value and sum assured, significantly increasing the long-term wealth accumulation potential and the final payout of the policy.
We always recommend speaking with a financial advisor before accessing the cash value to fully understand the impact on your policy’s death benefit and long-term goals.

If you pass away while your whole life policy is fully in force, your beneficiaries will receive the total death benefit payout, which is a combination of the sum assured and the accumulated cash value components. Typically, there isn’t any separate cash value payment.

The total death benefit usually consists of:
  1. The Basic Sum Assured (or the Guaranteed Benefit): This is the guaranteed minimum protection amount you selected at the start of the policy.
  2. Accumulated Bonuses/Dividends: Any declared and accumulated Reversionary Bonuses (guaranteed once declared) plus any payable Terminal Bonus (non-guaranteed) that have built up over the years.
The combination of the guaranteed sum assured and these accrued bonuses effectively means that the cash value components are enhanced and are included within the final death benefit payout. However, the payout will be reduced if there are any outstanding policy loans and interest you may have taken out during your lifetime.
Yes, one of the most compelling features of China Taiping Singapore’s whole life insurance is that the premiums are typically fixed, or “level,” for the duration of the chosen premium payment term.
  1. Level Premiums: This means the amount you pay for your premium (e.g., monthly, quarterly, or annually) remains the same from the first payment until the end of your premium payment period, regardless of the increase of your age or health situation changes.
  2. Lock in cost: This feature is invaluable for long-term financial planning because it future-proofs your insurance costs. You lock in a rate based on your age and health at the time of application, protecting you from the natural increase in mortality costs as you age.
  3. Difference from Term Life: In contrast, if you renew a term life policy, the premiums will be recalculated based on your attained age and health status at the time of renewal, resulting in significantly higher costs.
This guaranteed level premium helps ensure your protection remains affordable and predictable throughout your working life.
Whole life premiums are noticeably higher than term life premiums because they cover not just the immediate risk of death, but also the costs associated with guaranteeing lifelong coverage and accumulating long-term cash value. The premium covers three distinct purposes:
  1. Mortality Cost (Protection): A portion pays for the insurance coverage (the risk of payout). This cost is higher in a whole life plan because the insurer guarantees that a claim will eventually occur, regardless of time.
  2. Cash Value Accumulation (Savings): A significant portion of the premium is allocated to the policy’s savings component, which builds the cash value and potential bonuses over time. Term life premiums do not include this savings element.
We always recommend speaking with a financial advisor before accessing the cash value to fully understand the impact on your policy’s death benefit and long-term goals.

Yes, many whole life policies, such as the i-CompleteCare provides premium payment term options of 20 or 25 years, as well as to age 60 and to age 65.

Once you have completed all premium payments within the chosen term, your policy becomes “paid-up.” This is a highly desired status, as your lifelong coverage remains fully in force, and your cash value continues to grow (via compounding interest and potential bonuses), but you are no longer required to make any premium payments.

These limited pay options are ideal for those who wish to align their insurance payments with their working years, ensuring they do not have the financial burden of premiums during retirement.

If you stop paying premiums on your whole life policy, the accumulated cash value can be used in several ways to maintain or alter your protection, depending on the policy status and your actions.

The main options usually include:
  • Automatic Premium Loan (APL): If you stop paying premium and do not inform the insurer, the policy will typically use the accumulated cash value to pay the overdue premiums to prevent lapse (as detailed in Question 5). This reduces the cash value and accrues interest.
  • Converting to Paid-Up Policy: You can choose the “Paid-Up” option. The policy will use the accumulated cash value to purchase a smaller amount of life coverage. You will no longer pay premiums, and your coverage will be permanently reduced, but it will continue for life.
  • Extended Term Insurance: You can use the cash value to purchase a term life policy with the same death benefit as your original whole life plan. This term coverage will last for a specific period, depending on how much cash value is available. Once the term expires, the coverage ends, and no cash value remains.
  • Surrender: You can surrender the policy, receiving the full cash surrender value at that time, but this terminates life insurance protection immediately.

The cash value provides flexibility, but stopping premium payments reduces the plan’s overall benefits and intended long-term value.

Let's Talk