Money Matters
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Life Insurance; Estate Planning
The Ins and Outs of Policy Ownership
Sep 8, 2008
The way that you structure the ownership of your life insurance policy can have possible estate tax consequences. Without proper planning, the beneficiaries of your life insurance policy might not receive the maximum benefit you intended. So it's important to understand what it means to be a policyowner and the various forms of policy ownership.
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Bypassing Probate
Sep 5, 2008
You may have heard about the horrors of probate, but in truth, probate has gotten an undeservedly bad reputation, especially in recent years. If you bypass probate, your estate will go to your beneficiaries without any court proceeding, and you may save a certain amount of time and expenses. However, there is usually little reason for most people to avoid probate today.
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Designating a Beneficiary for Life Insurance
Sep 5, 2008
A beneficiary is the person or entity you name (i.e., designate) to receive the death benefits of a life insurance policy. Some states require that your beneficiary have an insurable interest in your life or be related to you (at least at the time the contract is initiated), while others have no such restriction. |
Life Insurance and Charitable Giving
Sep 5, 2008
Life insurance can be an excellent tool for charitable giving. Not only does life insurance allow you to make a substantial gift to charity at relatively little cost to you, but you may also benefit from tax rules that apply to gifts of life insurance. |
Life Insurance and Estate Planning
Sep 5, 2008
Life insurance has come a long way since the days when it was known as burial insurance and used mainly to pay for funeral expenses. Today, life insurance is a crucial part of many estate plans. You can use it to leave much-needed income to your survivors, provide for your children's education, pay off your mortgage, and simplify the transfer of assets. Life insurance can also be used to replace wealth lost due to the expenses and taxes that may follow your death, and to make gifts to charity at relatively little cost to you. |
Planning Ahead for Life Insurance Proceeds
Sep 5, 2008
Why did you purchase life insurance? If you're like most people who buy life insurance, you're looking to provide a source of income for someone (e.g., a spouse, parent, or child) after you die. Buying the policy was the first step. Now you'll need to do a little more work to ensure that the money you leave behind lasts. |