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Stepped vs level premiums: which is best?

Mal Smith • February 9, 2023

These days, most people hold some form of life insurance in their super account. While this is a welcome safety net, the level of cover held this way is often inadequate.

A Rice Warner study back in 2020 found that life cover within superannuation only met about 65-70 per cent of actual need. i

With the impact of Covid since that time, that figure is growing. ii

Holding the appropriate level of life insurance, whether inside or outside super, and reviewing it regularly as your circumstances change has never been more important. After all, how would your family cope if the unexpected happened? How would the mortgage be paid? What about the school fees?

While life insurance should be considered a non-negotiable part of your financial plan, there is flexibility and potential cost savings in the way you pay for it.

Stepped vs level premiums

The regular and ongoing payments you make for life insurance cover are known as premiums. 

You can choose either a stepped premium, or a level premium, or a combination of the two.

A stepped premium is where the amount you pay each year increases while a level premium generally stays the same each year.

While stepped premiums are always cheaper at the outset, over time the total cost of the stepped premium will outstrip that of the level premium. Ironically, the time when you consider cancelling the policy because it is becoming too expensive is likely to be just when you need life insurance cover the most. That is, when the demands on your income from your mortgage, childcare and private school fees are at their highest and the loss of your income would hurt the most.

The earlier, the better 

The younger you are when you take out a life insurance policy, the lower the premiums. This is the case whether you opt for stepped or level payments.

Say you are a male non-smoker seeking $1 million of life insurance cover. When comparing stepped and level premiums, it is estimated that if you are aged 30 when you start the policy, a level premium is about 60 per cent more expensive than a stepped policy at the outset. This jumps to 120 per cent more if you are aged 40 when starting the policy and 170 per cent higher if you are 50. iii

But at some stage there will be a breakeven point where you start to make substantial savings with a level premium. This is particularly the case if you hold on to the policy till aged 65.

It’s a personal decision

There are many reasons why you might choose a level premium, not least because it allows you to have certainty when it comes to budgeting.

But for many, the lure of cheaper premiums at the beginning can steer you to favour stepped premiums. Also, if you do not plan on holding life insurance for an extended period, but perhaps just until your children become independent or the mortgage is paid, then stepped premiums might work out best. 

Some insurers can offer you a combination of stepped and level premiums which might help with your cash flow.

If you would like to know more, or would like to discuss your life insurance needs, give us a call.

The information in this article does not take into account your objectives, needs and circumstances. We recommend that you obtain investment and taxation advice specific to your investment objectives, financial situation and particular needs before making any investment decision or acting on any of the information contained in this document. Subject to law, Capstone Financial Planning nor their directors, employees or authorised representatives gives any representation or warranty as to the reliability, accuracy or completeness of the information; or accepts any responsibility for any person acting, or refraining from acting, on the basis of the information contained in this document. Principal Wealth Management Pty Ltd trading as BMO Financial Solutions ABN 53 109 336 601 is a Corporate Authorised Representative (CAR 277821) of Capstone Financial Planning Pty Ltd ABN 24 093 733 969 Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL) No. 223135.

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