401K vs IUL: I Watched 500 Clients Make This Retirement Choice
The 401K vs IUL Showdown: What My 20 Years in Retirement Planning Taught Me Last month, I sat across from Tom, a 42-year-old engineer who asked me the same question I've heard hundreds of times: "Should I max out my 401K or put that money into an Indexed Universal Life policy instead?" After helping over 500 families navigate this exact decision at Amerus Insurance Group , I've seen patterns emerge that might surprise you. Here's what the textbooks won't tell you: the answer isn't about which product is "better" – it's about timing, tax diversification, and what I call the "income replacement strategy" that most financial advisors overlook. The Real-World Numbers Game Nobody Talks About Everyone focuses on rate of return comparisons, but that misses the bigger picture. I've tracked clients who chose different paths, and the results aren't what you'd expect. Take Sarah, a marketing director who chose the 401K ...