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Paying Premiums for Life Insurance Policies in TrustsPaying Premiums for Life Insurance Policies in Trusts

An overview of the funding methods available.

Richard L. Harris

March 21, 2019

13 Min Read
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There are numerous ways to fund premium payments on life insurance when the policy is held in trust. They include using an existing funded trust and making annual exclusion gifts. For larger premium payments, private finance, split dollar and borrowing from a commercial lender are options. They all have pros and cons. Here’s an analysis of the techniques.

Existing Trust

If there’s an existing funded trust with the right language and the right beneficiaries, review this option first for funding the premiums. The beneficiaries and the terms should be the same as if a new irrevocable life insurance trust (ILIT) was being done now. The grantor of the trust must be comfortable with using the trust funds for the premiums. Also, the trust must ei...

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About the Author

Richard L. Harris

Greenberg & Rapp Financial Group

Richard L. Harris is the managing member of Richard L. Harris LLC, a life insurance sales and consulting firm devoted to helping the very wealthy and their professional advisors deal with issues regarding life insurance. He works as a back office life insurance expert for many accountants, attorneys, and trust officers. With 40 years experience, Richard is a nationally recognized expert in the very advanced areas of life insurance. He brings together expertise and cutting edge ideas in designing and implementing solutions incorporating life insurance that integrate and address the issues at hand. Apart from acting as a life insurance strategist and purchasing agent for life insurance for the very wealthy, he is often consulted about fixing or improving advanced strategies using life insurance that have become problematic because of legislation, poor performance, or change in circumstances. Richard consults on proposed advanced strategies using life insurance providing second opinions on the viability of the transactions. He also provides litigation support both forensically and strategically and serves as an expert witness regarding sophisticated life insurance transactions. Richard is a graduate of Long Island University where he majored in Accounting and Literature. He holds the professional designations of Chartered Life Underwriter, Registered Trust and Estate Practitioner, and Accredited Estate Planner. He is Chair of the Insurance Committee of Trusts & Estates Magazine, on the Editorial Advisory Board of Wealth Strategies Journal, a Contributing Editor to Private Wealth Magazine and is listed in Who's Who in Finance and Industry. He also serves on the Board of the Northern New Jersey Society of Financial Services Professionals and the Advisory Board of HighCap Financial.