It is an expense associated with Risk Avoidance. Whole life makes it an investment. In most cases a VERY VERY VERY poor investment. One that can easily be out-done by buying term for the risk avoidance and investing the difference.
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"Mit der Dummheit kaempfen Goetter selbst vergebens" -- Schiller
"Don't believe everything you think" -- Anonymous
"The Box is there for a reason..." -- Statman
"Societies die because of suicide, not murder..." --