<prompt> Human: Im 21 years old, trying to start my long term investment vehicle. Im seriously considering a Roth IRA because of the tax benefits. I am sure my tax bracket is lower now than it will be when I retire. Ive heard a lot lately about Indexed Life Insurance policies and Annuities. It seems they give you a floor so you wont lose money, and you can withdraw the cash benefit anytime. It seems like flashy smoke and mirrors to me. My question is, what do yall think? Which investment vehicle performs better, and is likely to leave me in a better position at retirement?  <response>: Your gut feeling is correct - Whole life and other similar non-term life insurance products are rarely a good deal for the purchaser.See also: Your Life Insurance And You: Basic Information 