Basically, he said that "you are the policyholder, you pay for the policy and the proceeds come to you or your family, not some third party".
QUOTE]
Unless you assign/give ownership of the policy to a third party.
You do not have to assign the policy but if you don't the bank will not allow you to drawdown the mortgage.
As the OP has already drawndown the mortgage, he does not have to assign the life policy but as always check terms and conditions. I know one lender has a condition that they will take out of a policy on your behalf and add the premiums to your mortgage repayments.