How Does A Whole Life Insurance Policy Build Cash Value? 
A whole life policy accumulates enough money to pay the face amount at the endowment age , normally 100-120 years old . It also pays the face amount if the insured doesnt live to the endowment age . As the money accumulates it becomes the surrender value of the policy or the cash value . If you chose to take the cash value , it will be less than the face amount . 