Variable universal life insurance

A form of whole life insurance that combines the premium and death benefit flexibility of universal life insurance with the investment flexibility and risk of variable life insurance. Because the policyowner assumes investment risk under variable universal life insurance policies, these products are considered securities contracts. In the United States, variable universal life insurance policies must be registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and only agents who have passed the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD) examination may sell this product.