Help your clients achieve more for less with fee-based VUL
Manage wealth and help protect families with fee-based life insurance.
With an Ameritas Advisor ClearEdge VUL insurance policy, your clients benefit from the vital security of life insurance combined with the potential of long-term investing. On top of that, low fees and 100% liquidity lead to more flexibility and control.
More wealth to manage.
The Ameritas Advisor ClearEdge VUL has low expenses and low fees, which means more of your clients’ wealth goes to work from the beginning. It features more than 70 investment options, including funds from Vanguard, Dimensional Fund Advisors and American Funds.
Tax advantaged growth.
Variable universal life insurance gives you the potential to grow your clients’ assets while you protect them. There are no age restrictions or spending limitations on the policy’s assets.
Help fulfill potential beyond traditional investments
Advisor ClearEdge VUL gives you the opportunity to be a central part of helping your clients prepare for:
Selling Ameritas VUL
The performance of the investment options available in variable universal life insurance is a critical element of the product. See investment option performance and prospectus information.
Clients should always read the prospectus before investing in variable universal life insurance to make sure they understand the risks and charges involved.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a limit to how much premium can be put into a policy?
Yes, there is a limit to how much premium can be put into the account value in the first seven years for the policy to retain all its tax advantages. If premiums exceed seven year IRS guidelines (which vary by age and gender of the insured and must be calculated by the insurance company) a Modified Endowment Contract (MEC) is created. While a MEC still offers a tax-free death benefit and tax-deferred growth potential, there are income tax implications if the policyowner borrows, withdraws from or surrenders the policy. The policyowner may also experience a 10% tax penalty on any gains distributed prior to age 59½.
Are there other tests to make sure the policy retains the tax advantages of a life insurance policy?
Yes, there are two alternative tests. The test selected can have a significant impact on premiums, cash surrender values and death benefits.
Can the amount of coverage be changed after the policy is issued?
Yes, the owner can change the death benefit as needed. Increases may require new medical information. Decreases are permitted after the first policy year and the first 12 policy months following the effective date of an increase. The minimum base policy amount permitted after a decrease is $50,000.
Which death benefit option (A, B or C) is best for my client?
It depends. If there is a need for a level death benefit and the objective is to keep the premium required to maintain the policy as low as possible, then Option A may be the most suitable choice. If the objective is to have any favorable investment performance and account value increases reflected in an increased death benefit, then Option B may be the best choice. Option C is used most often in business insurance situations where there is a need for a death benefit equal to the initial amount plus cumulative net premium.
Will this policy last a lifetime?
That’s how we designed it. However, insufficient premium, poor investment returns, or excessive loans and withdrawals could cause the policy to lapse. We encourage you to use the automatic statements both you and your client will receive to monitor the policy’s value.
How can I keep track of my client’s policy values?
We can help. If you have proper authorization signed by your client, you and your client will automatically receive regular statements regarding the progress of the policy each time a premium payment is received or when a partial withdrawal, loan, investment portfolio transfer or other change occurs. Plus, you and your client will receive quarterly statements of current policy values, including a breakdown by investment option. Each year, you’ll receive a report detailing the past year’s activity. You can also check on the current value of the investment options and review policy benefits by signing into our secure platform.
What happens when my client applies for a policy?
We’ll take it from there. When we receive the application, an Ameritas associate will contact our examination vendor. The vendor will contact the applicant to schedule a time for a medical professional to come to the applicant’s home or office to complete a medical questionnaire; gather weight, height, heart rate and blood pressure information; and collect a sample of blood and urine. We will keep you updated on the progress, and alert you when an underwriting offer has been made and before we mail the policy.
What happens when the policy is issued?
When your client receives the policy, they have a ten-day “free look” period.2 During this time, any initial premium is allocated to the Money Market Portfolio. If the policy is returned within the “free look” period, your client will be refunded in full. If the policy is not returned after the “free look” period, the premium is allocated according to the instructions on the application.
Request a free, personalized, confidential proposal
A life insurance proposal estimates how a prospective insurance policy will perform over the course of its coverage. It depicts expected costs and benefits related to the policy based on assumptions about the applicant, such as age, health status and family medical history.
Sound like what you’ve been looking for?
Connect with us! Give us a call today at 800‑255‑9678 or complete our online form.
1Tax law permits a policy owner to withdraw life insurance policy cash values up to the policy owner’s basis or investment in the contract without income tax consequences. Withdrawals and loans will reduce the available death benefit. Withdrawals beyond basis may be taxable income. Excess and unpaid loans will reduce policy value and may cause the policy to lapse. If a policy lapses, unpaid loans are treated as distributions for tax purposes. For more information about the tax results of life insurance, consult your attorney or tax advisor.
2Some states require a longer free-look period.
Ameritas Advisor ClearEdge VUL (form 4201 and ICC22 4201) is issued by Ameritas Life Insurance Corp. and underwritten by affiliate Ameritas Investment Company, LLC.
Variable products are subject to investment risk, including loss of principal. Before investing, carefully consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses and other important information about the policy issuer and underlying investment options. This information can be found in the policy and investment option prospectuses, which are available on this website. Please read the prospectuses carefully before investing or sending money. Products are not available in NY.