Did you know that if your estate is large enough, up to 40% of your life insurance death benefits can be lost to federal estate tax?
Although life insurance proceeds are not subject to income tax, they are included in your taxable estate, and therefore can be subject to estate tax. To prevent the taxation of life insurance proceeds, many of our clients choose to purchase their life insurance policy using an Irrevocable Life Insurance Trust (ILIT), or gift their existing policy to an ILIT.
In recent years, I've seen a renewed interest in "combo" retirement plans. Although not a new retirement plan design, the “combo plan” has become a popular way for higher-income business owners to significantly boost their retirement savings, while reducing taxes along the way.
I often meet with clients who have successfully managed their business for many years, but have no real plan when it comes to cashing in their life's work. As a business owner, you're focused on day-to-day profitability - and rightly so - but it's equally important to have an exit strategy plan that will allow you to realize the value of your investment.
