Survivorship (second-to-die) life insurance is a powerful tool for high net worth (HNW) business owners who need liquidity for buy-sell agreements and orderly business succession. …
Second-to-Die vs Single-Life Policies: Cost, Purpose, and Estate Planning Tradeoffs
High-net-worth estate plans in the United States rely heavily on life insurance to create liquidity, equalize inheritances, and mitigate estate tax burdens. Two common structures …
When Survivorship Policies Undermine Flexibility: Alternatives and Layered Approaches
High-net-worth (HNW) estate plans often rely on survivorship (second-to-die) life insurance to provide liquidity for estate taxes, equalize inheritances, and preserve family businesses. But while …
Unwinding Split-Dollar: Tax Traps, Transfer-for-Value, and Post-Termination Risks
High-net-worth (HNW) estate plans in the United States frequently use split-dollar life insurance to retain executive talent, fund buy-sell agreements, and move wealth into trusts …
Split-Dollar Anti-Abuse Considerations: Documentation and Substantiation to Withstand Scrutiny
High-net-worth (HNW) estate plans frequently use split-dollar life insurance to preserve family wealth, provide executive benefits, or fund buy-sell obligations. But split-dollar arrangements attract tax …
Split-Dollar Insurance Demystified: Structures, Regimes, and Tax Consequences for Owners
High-net-worth estate planning increasingly uses life insurance to transfer wealth, provide liquidity for estate taxes, and preserve business continuity. Split-dollar life insurance — where the …
Using Split-Dollar to Reward Key Executives and Preserve Family Wealth in Closely Held Firms
Split-dollar life insurance remains a powerful tool for closely held businesses and high-net-worth (HNW) families to retain key executives, fund buy-sell agreements, and preserve family …
Cross-Border Split-Dollar Issues: Residency, Withholding, and Treaty Considerations
High-net-worth (HNW) families and business owners increasingly use split-dollar life insurance in cross-border contexts to preserve wealth, fund buy-sell agreements, and reward executives. When one …
Drafting Split-Dollar Agreements: Protecting Interests, Valuation, and Repayment Terms
Split-dollar life insurance arrangements remain a powerful tool in High Net Worth (HNW) estate planning when used correctly. For business owners and executive compensation committees …
Designing Split-Dollar with Trusts and Buy-Sell Agreements for Business Owners
High-net-worth business owners often use life insurance to achieve wealth transfer, liquidity for buy-sell events, and tax-efficient succession. When you combine split-dollar life insurance with …