Life Insurance Premium Financing

Life insurance premium financing is used by wealthyInterest on the life insurance premium financing loan is
individuals to pay their life insurance premiums. Byconsidered to be personal interest, and therefore, not
financing your premiums, it allows you to free up thetax deductible.
funds that might have otherwise been used to payIf you are considering a premium financing loan for
your premium. Many wealthy people require aestate planning, there are some tax issues you may
substantial amount of life insurance for businesswant to consider. The life insurance proceeds will be
planning, estate planning, or for income replacement.included in your estate if you own the policy. If the life
In order to qualify for life insurance premium financinginsurance policy is owned by an irrevocable life
most insurance companies require you have ainsurance trust, estate taxes on the death benefits
minimum of $2.5 million in net worth and at least amay be avoided.
$200,000.00 a year income. In addition, you must beBefore you consider financing your life insurance
bankrupt remote entity, such as a Limited Liabilitypremiums you should be aware that the life insurance
Corporation, or an Irrevocable Life Insurance Trust.policy will have to earn returns of between 150 to 300
In a normal premium financing arrangement, you wouldbasis points over the interest rate of the loan.
apply for a policy at the same time you apply for aIn addition, you should ask what the loan commitment
loan. The loan is usually arranged by the insurancefee is, as well as knowing whether the life insurance
company you are working with although there arepremium financing loan is renewable, how long the
many different companies that handle only theterm of the loan is, and if the loan extends well beyond
financing and do not deal with the actual insuranceyour life expectancy.
policy. While you are being medically underwritten forYou may want to find out if the loan requires a
the life insurance policy, your loan is being processed.personal guarantee, or if the loan is guaranteed by the
Assuming you pass the medical exam and qualify forlife insurance policy.
the loan, the policy and financing are put into place atAlso, you want to know how if the program is
the same time.designed on your IRS calculated life expectancy or is it
The benefits of a premium financing arrangement isconventional. If the loan is based on your life
that it frees up business and personal money to beexpectancy, and you live beyond that, the loan amount
used more efficiently in other investment arenas. Inwill exceed the cash value and the whole program will
addition, life insurance premium financing may minimizecome apart.
gift taxes, and can provide a greater rate of return onBefore entering into a financing agreement you may
the death benefit paid through regular non-financedwant to consult a trusted attorney, your financial
methods.advisor, and/or your Certified Public Accountant.
Life insurance premium financing loans may be repaidYou will also want to shop around and compare
either by paying a monthly payment while you areinsurance companies, their individual plans, the premium
alive, pay from the policy itself, or at the time of youramounts, and the different types and amount of life
death, proceeds from the policy will pay off the loan.insurance available to you.