Principal Sum (Death Benefit)

The Principal Sum, also known as the Death Benefit, is the amount of money paid to the beneficiary of a life insurance policy upon the death of the insured. This is the amount agreed upon by the insured and the insurance company at the time the policy is issued.

For example, if the insured has a life insurance policy with a Principal Sum of $500,000, then the beneficiary will receive $500,000 upon the insured's death. The key features of Principal Sum (Death Benefit) in insurance are:

• Agreed amount: The Principal Sum is the agreed-upon amount between the insured and the insurance company at the time the policy is issued.

• Payment: The Principal Sum is paid to the beneficiary upon the death of the insured.

• Tax-free: The Principal Sum is typically paid out tax-free to the beneficiary.

• Policy cost: The cost of the insurance policy is typically based on the Principal Sum, with higher sums resulting in higher premiums.

• Flexibility: The Principal Sum can often be adjusted over time to accommodate changing needs or circumstances.

Next Up

A Texas court ruled that American Airlines breached its ERISA duty of loyalty by failing to properly oversee BlackRock’s ESG-driven investment decisions. The decision could put millions of employers at legal risk if upheld. Are ESG investments in retirement plans now a liability?
The latest economic release from the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the U.S. job market added just under 150 thousand jobs last month while unemployment ticked down one-tenth of a point to 4% to close out the last such economic report with data collected under the Biden administration.
Centers of Excellence (COEs) may have peaked. While mid-sized employers increased adoption, the largest companies are scaling back. Is this a temporary dip or a shift in employer healthcare strategy?