Life Insurance: A Powerful Tax and Estate Planning Tool

June 8, 2023
Life Insurance: A Powerful Tax and Estate Planning Tool

Life insurance is more than an income replacement strategy to protect your loved ones—it’s also an effective way to transfer wealth to your heirs.

Maximize Wealth Transfer

Structured properly, a life insurance policy isn’t considered part of an estate by the federal government, as payouts to policy beneficiaries upon your death are free of all income and estate taxes, which maximizes the wealth your loved ones could receive.

Despite this income tax-free death benefit, heirs of individuals whose estates exceed $12.06 million in 2022 and $12.92 million in 20231 (double those amounts for married couples) could be saddled with an estate tax liability that could significantly diminish the inheritance they will receive. Note that these estate tax exemptions sunset at the end of 2025 and are expected to be reduced by half starting in 2026.

If the estate you intend to pass to your loves ones exceeds the exemption amounts noted above, consider purchasing permanent life insurance to offset that potential estate tax liability. The proceeds of such a policy could cover the estate taxes at a substantial discount when compared to the insurance cost. Federal estate tax rates today on taxable amounts of over $1 million top out at 40%.2 Be aware that some states also have an estate tax.

Consider an ILIT

An irrevocable life insurance trust (ILIT) can be the ideal ownership structure for your life insurance. Your ILIT will own and be the beneficiary of the insurance and will need a trustee independent of the insured who will manage the policy. These trusts are typically funded with 1) annual exclusion gifts of $16,0003 (for gifts made in 2022; increasing to $17,000 in 20233) per person per trust beneficiary or 2) lifetime gifts, loans or other methods depending on the makeup of your assets.

Take a Team Approach

Life insurance can be an effective income replacement and estate planning strategy for transferring wealth to loved ones.

At Mariner Wealth Advisors, our in-house insurance team has extensive experience designing, reviewing and implementing insurance solutions for clients. They can evaluate your current policies to help ensure they still meet your needs and goals for wealth transfer.

Tax Guide 2022

Tax Guide: Your Resource for Year-Round Tax-Efficient Investing

Year-round planning with an advisor could help improve your overall wealth plan. Find out more by downloading our tax guide.

Sources:

1 “What’s New: Estate and Gift Tax

2 “Instructions for Form 706

3 “What’s New: Estate and Gift Tax

All guarantees and benefits of an insurance policy are subject to the claims-paying ability of the issuing insurance company.

Certain MWA representatives are licensed insurance agents and are compensated for the sale of insurance-related products through an affiliated insurance agency.

This article is limited to the dissemination of general information pertaining to Mariner Wealth Advisors’ investment advisory services and general economic market conditions. The views expressed are for commentary purposes only and do not take into account any individual personal, financial, or tax considerations. As such, the information contained herein is not intended to be personal legal, investment or tax advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any security or engage in a particular investment strategy. Nothing herein should be relied upon as such, and there is no guarantee that any claims made will come to pass. Any opinions and forecasts contained herein are based on information and sources of information deemed to be reliable, but Mariner Wealth Advisors does not warrant the accuracy of the information that this opinion and forecast is based upon. You should note that the materials are provided “as is” without any express or implied warranties. Opinions expressed are subject to change without notice and are not intended as investment advice or to predict future performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Consult your financial professional before making any investment decision.

Mariner Wealth Advisors (“MWA”), is an SEC registered investment adviser with its principal place of business in the State of Kansas. Registration of an investment adviser does not imply a certain level of skill or training. MWA is in compliance with the current notice filing requirements imposed upon registered investment advisers by those states in which MWA maintains clients. MWA may only transact business in those states in which it is notice filed or qualifies for an exemption or exclusion from notice filing requirements. Any subsequent, direct communication by MWA with a prospective client shall be conducted by a representative that is either registered or qualifies for an exemption or exclusion from registration in the state where the prospective client resides. For additional information about MWA, including fees and services, please contact MWA or refer to the Investment Adviser Public Disclosure website. Please read the disclosure statement carefully before you invest or send money.

Contact Us