AIG is the world's leading U.S.-based international insurance and financial services organization, the largest underwriter of commercial and industrial insurance in the United States, and among the top-ranked U.S. life insurers. AIG American General's universal life policies offer the policyowner more flexibility than whole life insurance - the flexibility to choose both the amount of insurance and the premium amount to be paid. As needs change, those amounts may be changed subject to certain guidelines. Premium payments are credited to a cash value account where the money earns tax-deferred interest at a rate set by the company, which may be higher than the minimum rate guaranteed in the policy. Policy expenses are deducted from this cash value account. Generally, cash values can be accessed by the policyowner through policy loans and withdrawals.