Life Insurance
Life insurance is a key financial asset that serves a wide variety of purposes, providing financial support to heirs and charitable organizations, indemnification against the loss of a key person of a business, funding of a business continuation plan, and as a benefit for executives and employees. Additionally, life insurance offers a unique combination of liquidity, leverage, and flexibility, with the ability to fund future obligations.
The applications of life insurance extend far beyond providing a death benefit to heirs. Life insurance can be used to fund estate taxes, minimize income taxes, diversify asset portfolios, cover liabilities/debt (e.g., home mortgage) in the event of an untimely death, and facilitate the transfer of a closely-held business and/or support the continuity of a business upon the death of a key employee.
Life insurance is also commonly used for retirement planning, asset protection, and efficiently transferring wealth to children, grandchildren, and charitable organizations. In addition, as employers continually look for ways to recruit, retain, reward, and assist key employees in supplementing their retirement savings on a selective basis, Nonqualified Deferred Compensation (NQDC) programs have become increasingly important. Life insurance can be a flexible, efficient, and economical means for an employer to informally fund a deferred compensation plan, providing the ability to accumulate cash value on a tax-deferred basis.
Please note: Life insurance is subject to certain costs, limitations, and terms and conditions not outlined here. Accessing policy cash values through loans and withdrawals will reduce the stated benefit amounts and may result in tax consequences. Please consult with a qualified professional regarding your individual circumstances.