How return of premium actually works in Washington
Symetra Life is headquartered in Bellevue. Washington's low smoking rate and strong public-health metrics put its average preferred premiums in the bottom 10 nationally.
Standard 20-year term in Washington: pay premiums for 20 years, get nothing back if you outlive the term. Return of Premium 20-year term in WA: pay roughly 1.5x to 1.9x the standard premium for 20 years, and if you're still alive at the end, the carrier refunds 100% of your premiums tax-free.
The catch: that "refund" is your own money, returned without interest. You essentially loaned the carrier 50–90% more premium per year for 20 years and got it back at zero return.
When ROP actually makes sense for WA residents
ROP works for Washington buyers who satisfy three conditions: (1) they would spend the higher premium anyway and not invest the difference, (2) they want a "money-back guarantee" psychological benefit, and (3) they will keep the policy in force the full term (lapsing forfeits the refund).
For disciplined investors, ROP almost never wins on raw math. Investing the premium difference in a low-cost index fund at a 6–7% real return typically yields 2–4x the refund amount over 20 years.
- Worth it: you would otherwise drop term coverage early ('waste money')
- Worth it: behavioral preference for guaranteed money back
- Not worth it: you have disciplined investing habits
- Not worth it: you might cancel/replace before term ends
Sample Washington ROP pricing (2026)
For a healthy 35-year-old WA non-smoker, 20-year $500K coverage:
- Standard 20-yr term: $23/month — total paid $5,520, refund $0
- Return of Premium 20-yr: $39–$44/month — total paid ~$9,936, refund 100% if alive at year 20
- Difference invested at 6%: ~$8,122 accumulated