endowment assurance

A fixed term life assurance policy in which provision is made for premiums to pay for life cover plus a savings/investment element. The policy pays out a sum of money (the sum assured) on the death of the life assured or at a specified date (the maturity date) if the life assured survives the term. If an endowment policy is encashed in its early years any proceeds returnable to the policyholder will normally be below the value of the premiums paid up to cancellation.