What to ask the agent. Most states require agents to provide these numbers for cash-value policies if you ask for them. Interest-adjusted costs vary according to the type of policy and your age at purchase. Armed with these numbers, you can compare the costs of different policies within the same company and among different companies. What you'll discover is that the cost of whole-life insurance is all over the lot.
Careful shopping can pay off big.
Also ask for comparable data for the same kinds of policies issued by two other companies. The agent doesn't have to furnish information on competitors' policies but should be able to obtain approximate figures for some companies from manuals widely used in the insurance business. If the agent won't or can't help, call other companies yourself. They are based on the assumption that the cash values will earn a certain amount per year. When interest rates are higher or lower than that, the relationships between premiums and cash values are thrown out of whack, especially in the later years.