A Primer on Irrevocable Life Insurance Trusts

“I’m proud to pay taxes in the United States; the only thing is, I could be just as proud for half the money.”
Entertainer Arthur Godfrey

The irrevocable life insurance trust (ILIT) can be an important estate strategy tool that may accomplish a number of estate objectives; however, it may not be appropriate for every individual.^1,2

What Is an ILIT?

An ILIT is created by an individual (the grantor) during his or her lifetime. The ILIT owns a life insurance policy on the grantor’s life via the transfer of ownership of an existing policy or through the grantor’s annual contribution of cash to pay the premiums on a policy purchased by the trust.³

The grantor designates beneficiaries, usually family members, who will typically receive the proceeds upon the death of the grantor.

The trust is irrevocable, meaning that the grantor forfeits all rights to the property contained in the trust. Its irrevocable nature is integral to accomplishing the ILIT’s objectives.

What Can an ILIT Accomplish?

The ILIT may be able to accomplish several estate objectives, including:

1. Meeting liquidity needs;
2. Managing estate taxation on the policy proceeds;
3. Providing income to survivors.

How Does an ILIT Work?

When you die, the trust is designed to receive a payment equal to the policy coverage amount, e.g., $500,000. Since the trust’s ownership of the policy is irrevocable, the proceeds are not considered your property. Consequently, they do not fall into your estate, thus potentially avoiding estate taxation. (Remember, generally no income tax is due on such life insurance proceeds.)⁴

The trust provisions should be set up to provide direction about how and to whom payments may be made. You may direct that the trust pay out cash to cover certain expenses, e.g., funeral costs, probate, taxes, final medical expenses, and debts.

This may obviate the need to sell less liquid assets at an inopportune time to cover such costs.

The trust’s beneficiaries may receive the proceeds (after any payments are made to satisfy liquidity needs), creating an inheritance free of estate taxes. Finally, creditors should not be able to attack these assets since they belong to the trust, not you.

Creating an ILIT should be done only with the assistance of a qualified estate planning attorney. It is a complicated exercise in which mistakes may result in losing the benefits ILITs offer.

Age My Way in May

May is a month to celebrate the older Americans in our country and honor their lives and the accomplishments they still have ahead of them.

Older Americans Month was established in 1963 by President John F. Kennedy to bring awareness to the types of programs and support older Americans need to succeed. The Administration of Community Living sets a theme for Older Americans Month every year. This year’s theme is “Age My Way.” Community support, participation, and accessibility are essential for people of all ages, especially for older Americans.

If you identify as an older American, we have some tips to help you take care of your mind, body, and finances:

• Stay Active: Physical activity is important for people of all ages, but it’s vital for older Americans. If you don’t have complete mobility, you may still want to add some gentle physical activity to your routine.
• Grow Your Community: Socialization helps keep your mind sharp as you age but making new friends can seem daunting. If you have a passion, it’s likely that someone else shares that passion, too.
• Refresh Your Estate Strategy: As you age and life continues to change, it’s a good idea to revisit your estate strategy to make certain it still reflects your goals. Now’s a great time to have those conversations with your family members to make sure everyone knows what your wishes are.

Retirement Seen Through Your Eyes

How do you picture your future? Some see retirement as a time to start a new career. Others see it as a time to travel. Still others plan to spend more time with family and friends. With that in mind, here are some things to consider.

What do you absolutely need to accomplish? If you could only get four or five things done in retirement, what would they be? Answering this question might lead you to compile a “short list” of life goals, and while they may have nothing to do with money, the financial decisions you make may be integral to pursuing them.

What would revitalize you? Some people retire with no particular goals at all. After weeks or months of respite, ambition may return. They start to think about what pursuits or adventures they could embark on to make these years special. Others have known for decades what dreams they will follow … and yet, when the time to follow them arrives, those dreams may unfold differently than anticipated and may even be supplanted by new ones.

In retirement, time is really your most valuable asset. With more free time and opportunity for reflection, you might find your old dreams giving way to new ones.

Who should you share your time with? Here is another profound choice you get to make in retirement. The quick answer to this question for many retirees would be “family.” Today, we have nuclear families, blended families, extended families; some people think of their friends or their employees as family.

How much do you anticipate spending? We can’t control all retirement expenses, but we can manage some of them. The thought of downsizing your home may have crossed your mind. One benefit of downsizing is that it can potentially lead to no mortgage or a more manageable mortgage payment.

Could you leave a legacy? Many of us would like to give our kids or grandkids a good start in life, but leaving an inheritance can be trickier than many realize. Tax laws are constantly changing, and the strategies that worked years ago may have more limited benefits today.

Keep in mind this article is for informational purposes only and is not a replacement for real-life advice, so make sure to consult your tax or legal professional before modifying any part of your overall estate strategy.

How are you preparing for retirement? This is the most important question of all. If you feel you need to prepare more for the future or reexamine your existing strategy in light of recent changes in your life, conferring with a financial professional experienced in retirement approaches may offer some guidance.

Optimistic Sign In a Fear-Filled Market?

“Be fearful when others are greedy and greedy when others are fearful,” according to legendary investor Warren Buffett.

It’s a great quote but complex advice to follow, especially in 2022 when stock prices are down double-digits. It seems like company after company is telling shareholders it will be a challenging year.

But has fearful sentiment reached an extreme? According to an April survey by the American Association of Individual Investors, nearly 60% of individual investors describe their six-month outlook for stocks as “bearish”–the highest level since March 2009. A.A.I.I. has been surveying investors since 1987, and the April bearish figure is the 10th highest in history.

The A.A.I.I. has a lot of research into what happens when sentiment gets stretched on bullish and bearish sides. But the most important research takes into account your specific goals, time horizon, and risk tolerance. Please reach out if you feel a bit queasy about today’s markets. The best medicine may be a dose of reassurance.