Advanced planning
Advanced planning support for high net worth and complex cases
A comprehensive resource for best-in-class advanced planning support, provided by industry experts focused on great service. We help you design, illustrate and place the cases that need more than a quote.
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In short: advanced planning uses life insurance to solve large, complex problems: paying estate taxes without selling assets, moving wealth to the next generation efficiently, and paying large premiums without tying up capital. The right structure matters as much as the policy.
Keep it in the family
Private financing
Private financing replaces the bank with the family. The insured, a family entity or another trust lends money to an irrevocable life insurance trust to pay premiums, often at the IRS applicable federal rate.
- Can reduce the amount of gift tax exemption used to fund large policies.
- Loans are documented with promissory notes and repaid, often from the death benefit.
- Works alongside sales to grantor trusts and private split dollar arrangements.
Share the cost
Split dollar
Split dollar is an arrangement where two parties, usually an employer and an executive or a family and a trust, share the premium, cash value and death benefit of a policy.
- Economic benefit regime: one party owns the policy and the other is taxed on the value of the coverage it receives.
- Loan regime: premium payments are treated as loans with interest at the applicable federal rate.
- Used for executive benefits, business succession and estate planning.
Transfer wealth
Estate planning
Life insurance creates cash exactly when an estate needs it: to pay estate taxes, equalize inheritances or replace assets left to charity. Owned by an irrevocable trust, the death benefit can stay outside the taxable estate.
- The federal estate tax exemption is now a permanent $15 million per person, but large estates, growing estates and state estate taxes still create exposure.
- Survivorship (second-to-die) policies are an efficient way to fund estate liquidity for married couples.
- Trust design, ownership and beneficiary choices matter as much as the policy.
Guides and case studies
Concept guides
More estate planning guides
- Estate tax and liquidity: the permanent $15M exemption, state estate and inheritance taxes, convertible term to survivorship, death tax savings for the uninsurable
- Trusts and ownership: choosing an ILIT trustee, trustee liability, when the trust isn’t ready, term conversion and ILIT transfers, substitution powers, B trusts vs portability, ownership and beneficiary do’s and don’ts, contingent owners
- Gifting and wealth transfer: gifting under the $15M exemption, family LLCs and discounts, grantor trusts
- Retirement assets and legacy: IRA legacy after SECURE, using RMDs, RMDs and survivorship life, Social Security maximization
- Charitable and special situations: charitable giving, charity-owned policies, special needs planning, estate equalization, the Goodman triangle, reportable policy sales
Recent case results
Complex cases we have placed
Death tax savings for the uninsurable
Options for estate tax planning when a client can’t qualify for traditional coverage.
Read the case →Coronary artery disease
A 72-year-old with heart disease placed at Standard.
Read the case →Heart valve replacement
An upgrade program cut the rating two tables.
Read the case →Case results describe past placements and are not a guarantee of future offers.
Who you’ll work with
Tim Fuller
President, SRS Inc. · Littleton, Colorado
SRS has helped advisors place life, disability, long-term care and annuity cases for more than 50 years, with a focus on impaired risk underwriting and advanced planning. When you send a case, you work directly with our team, not a call center.
Get help with a case
Two ways to start
Advisors get concept design, illustrations and coordination with the client’s attorney and CPA. Individuals can talk directly with Tim Fuller.
For advisors
Send us your case
Share the client’s net worth, goals and current plan. We will suggest a structure, run illustrations and shop the underwriting.
Need numbers now? Submit a life quote request or call 303-309-3471.
For individuals and families
Talk to Tim
Planning your estate or a large insurance purchase? Tim will explain the options and work with your attorney and CPA. No cost, no pressure.
Or call 303-309-3471
FAQ
Advanced planning questions
What is premium financing?
Borrowing from a third-party lender to pay life insurance premiums. The client pays interest and posts collateral instead of paying premiums from cash. It can work well for wealthy clients but carries interest rate, performance and collateral risks.
What is private financing for life insurance?
A loan from the insured, a family member or a family entity to an irrevocable trust to pay premiums, usually at the applicable federal rate, instead of making large gifts.
What is split dollar life insurance?
An arrangement in which two parties share the cost and benefits of a policy. It is taxed under either the economic benefit regime or the loan regime.
Do people still need life insurance for estate taxes with a $15 million exemption?
Many do. Very large or growing estates, business owners with illiquid assets and residents of states with their own estate or inheritance tax can still face taxes, and life insurance provides the cash to pay them.
This page is general information for financial professionals, not tax or legal advice. Tax treatment depends on individual facts; clients should consult their tax and legal advisors. Reviewed by Tim Fuller, President of SRS Inc.
See also: Life insurance · Business planning · Advanced planning · Personal planning · Impaired risk underwriting