Whole life insurance could be a better investment avenue. Whole life insurance policies allow policyholders to ensure life insurance that doesn't expire. Some policies include a cash-value option. But the cash value, when utilized, takes away from the death benefit. When a policyholder pays premiums for years, they end up with less money than if they had invested in the market. Better interest earnings and the ability to use cash value without impacting the death benefit could help make whole life policies more desirable.