4 Ways To Harness the Power of Life Insurance in Estate Planning

4 Ways To Harness the Power of Life Insurance in Estate Planning

4 Ways To Harness the Power of Life Insurance in Estate Planning
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While life insurance is commonly associated with providing financial protection for loved ones to cover final expenses, it can also serve as a valuable and versatile tool in estate planning. By understanding the various ways life insurance can be employed in estate plans, we can help our clients make informed decisions that align with their goals and objectives. Here are just four important ways life insurance can be used in retirement and estate planning:

1. Pay Estate Taxes

Estate taxes can pose a significant burden on the assets left behind. By incorporating life insurance into an estate plan, individuals can ensure that their beneficiaries have the necessary funds to cover these taxes.

In 2023, estates worth more than $12.92 million ($25.84 million for married couples) were subject to taxation of up to 40%. The tax bill is typically due within nine months of the estate owner’s death, which can create financial strain for heirs inheriting illiquid assets.

Life insurance proceeds can provide immediate liquidity, allowing heirs to address estate taxes without the need to sell assets at potentially below-market valuations.

2. Equalize Inheritance Distributions

In situations where there are multiple heirs and assets that are not easily divisible, life insurance can help equalize inheritance distributions.

A recent article from MassMutual highlights the example of a family business or valuable property that some heirs may wish to sell while others want to retain. By using life insurance, the heirs who wish to sell can be compensated with the death benefit proceeds, ensuring a fair and equitable distribution of assets. This approach helps preserve family harmony and the viability of the business or property.

3. Fund Irrevocable Trusts

Irrevocable trusts are commonly used in estate planning to protect assets and minimize estate taxes. Life insurance can be a powerful tool for funding these trusts.

By naming the trust as the beneficiary of a life insurance policy, the death benefit proceeds can be excluded from the estate, reducing potential estate tax liabilities. This strategy provides immediate liquidity to cover expenses or distributions outlined in the trust, ensuring that the intended beneficiaries receive their designated share.

4. Earmark Funds for Specific Purposes

Life insurance can also be used to earmark funds for specific purposes within an estate plan, like paying off divorce obligations or for child support.

By establishing a trust and designating the life insurance policy as the funding source, individuals can ensure that their financial obligations are met even after their passing. This approach provides a reliable source of funds and financial security for loved ones, alleviating potential financial burdens.

It’s crucial to have open and honest conversations with our clients about the benefits of incorporating life insurance into their estate planning. By understanding their unique circumstances and goals, we can help them make informed decisions that align with their needs. It’s important to emphasize that estate planning is a complex process, and consulting with an estate planning attorney is essential to ensure that the chosen strategies are appropriate and legally sound.

The Takeaways

Life insurance proceeds can provide immediate liquidity, allowing heirs to address estate taxes without the need to sell assets at potentially below-market valuations.

  1. By using life insurance, the heirs who wish to sell can be compensated with the death benefit proceeds, ensuring a fair and equitable distribution of assets.
  2. By naming an irrevocable trust as the beneficiary of a life insurance policy, the death benefit proceeds can be excluded from the estate, reducing potential estate tax liabilities.

Putting It Into Practice

Life insurance can be a powerful tool in estate planning, providing financial protection and flexibility for our clients and their beneficiaries. By educating ourselves and our clients about the various ways life insurance can be used, we can help them navigate the complexities of estate planning and achieve their goals.

For more information, contact a Pinnacle Financial Services representative today

1 (800) 772-6881 x7731 | sales@pfsinsurance.com

Senior Sales Director | Life, Annuity, and LTC

x7105 | gyodis@pfsinsurance.com

 

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Corebridege Financial | New instant decision – same Select-a-Term

Corebridege Financial | New instant decision – same Select-a-Term

Corebridege Financial | New instant decision – same Select-a-Term
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New SimpliNow Choice platform
your ticket to all UW paths!

iPipeline iGO and LifePipe users have access to instant decision!

Delivering instant decision on our new iPipeline SimpliNow Choice platform with the existing, fully featured Term product. Plus, in the same session, you can choose which underwriting (UW) path best meets your client’s needs:*

  1. NEW client completion Part B (instant decision)
  2. NEW agent completion Part B
  3. Tele-interview
  4. Paramed

The client submission path is good for those clients who you believe would be comfortable filing out the online forms independently and are motivated to complete the application. It also makes the exam much shorter even if they do not stay lab-free.

Choose Select-a-Term (New Submission Platform), and if your client is a good fit for our instant decision path, select “Agent Drop Ticket + Client Collaboration” for the client completion application. If approved as applied for, the policy will be conditionally issued.

Boosting client satisfaction with instant decision!

Find out more

For more information, contact a Pinnacle Financial Services representative today

1 (800) 772-6881 x7731 | sales@pfsinsurance.com

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1 (800) 772-6881
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Americo | November Product Training

Americo | November Product Training

Americo | November Product Training
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Join us for informative product training sessions covering sales ideas and important concepts to help meet and exceed your goals. Hosted by Americo Account Executives, you can take advantage of this unique opportunity to ask questions. Also, learn how to earn a 10% cash bonus!

Agent Tools eApplication for All Simplified Issue Products

November 10th

We will walk you through how to use the Agent Tools eApplication and show you how our text and email signature options utilizing a 6-digit code make this an excellent application for remote sales! Use Agent Tools for your Final Expense, Term, CBO, Continuation, Payment Protector, and ADB business.

Cash Back Option Advantage

November 3rd

Earn a $50 Cash Bonus for every CBO application you write through the end of June!

Our CBO 100 and CBO 50 products offer 100% or 50% cash back on the base premium depending on the product chosen and living benefits for term periods of 15, 20, 25, and 30 years. If your client wants a cash-back option, use our instant decision eApplication to write our Mortgage Term products.

Continuation 10 & 25

November 17th

This is a fantastic product for your clients looking for permanent coverage. The product works just like our traditional Term 125 product, but at the end of the initial death benefit period, the death benefit continues at 10% or 25% of the original death benefit. And the application can be written using our eApplication with a 100% instant decision.

Instant Decision Final Expense

November 7th

You can find out how you can get 100% instant decisions with Americo’s new Agent Tools Final Expense eApplication and get paid the next day – every time.

New Agent Training – Americo: A to Z

November 14th, 21st, and 28th

If you are appointed with Americo and looking to write your first case or increase your business, join us to learn more about doing business with Americo.

Click on the link below to register for training presentations in one place.

All presentations are offered at 11 am ET / 10 am CT / 9 am MT / 8 am PT.

Can’t attend? Recorded training presentations can be found on the Americo Training Channel.

For more information, contact a Pinnacle Financial Services representative today

1 (800) 772-6881 x7731 | sales@pfsinsurance.com

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1 (800) 772-6881
support@pfsinsurance.com

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Corebridege Financial | New instant decision – same Select-a-Term

Corebridge Financial | QoL In the Know: November 2023

Corebridge Financial | QoL In the Know: November 2023
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Corebridge Financial
Corebridge Financial

Product

Improved Term Rates

Effective October 30, 2023, QoL Flex Term is repriced in all states where it is sold. New rates are a mixture of decreases, increases, and no changes. Approximately 27% of cells have lower premiums with an average rate reduction of ~1.4%. Overall, the rates trend lower and decreases can be seen across all key bands.

IUL Credited Rates: Quarterly Update

The latest interest rates are effective October 28, 2023 for both new business and inforce IUL products. View rates by visiting Connext (log-in required).

Underwriting

Foreign National Update: Power of Attorney form available for delivery requirements

Limited Power of Attorney is now acceptable for the completion of delivery requirements on certain Foreign National cases. The request must be made using the Corebridge-specific Limited Durable Power of Attorney form (AGLC202194), which is now available in Forms Depot. See bulletin for sample form.

Policies issued by American General Life Insurance Company (AGL), Houston, TX except in New York, where issued by The United States Life Insurance Company in the City of New York (US Life). AGL does not solicit, issue or deliver policies or contracts in the state of New York. Guarantees are backed by the claims-paying ability of the issuing insurance company and each company is responsible for the financial obligations of its products. Products may not be available in all states and features may vary by state.

All companies above are wholly owned subsidiaries of Corebridge Financial, Inc. Corebridge Financial and Corebridge are marketing names used by these companies.

This material is general in nature, was developed for educational use only, and is not intended to provide financial, legal, fiduciary, accounting or tax advice, nor is it intended to make any recommendations. Applicable laws and regulations are complex and subject to change. For legal, accounting or tax advice consult the appropriate professional.

For more information, contact a Pinnacle Financial Services representative today

1 (800) 772-6881 x7731 | sales@pfsinsurance.com

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1 (800) 772-6881
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Americo | November Product Training

Americo | Upcoming Agent Tools Final Expense eApp Changes

Americo | Upcoming Agent Tools Final Expense eApp Changes
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Faster Decision Process for Final Expense eApplications

 

Beginning November 5, 2023, the MIB check will be included in the initial underwriting phase of the eApplication, similar to the Term Series application process. This means you and your client will receive a more complete decision earlier in the application process. While initial underwriting is happening, please continue to fill out the application as usual and submit it to Americo at the end of the application.

On Sunday, November 5, we will perform a system upgrade to Agent Tools to add this change. Agent Tools will be unavailable from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. Central. You must close out any open Agent Tools Final Expense eApplications by midnight, Saturday, November 4. This does not affect Term Series eApplications.

If you have questions, or if we can be of assistance, please contact Agent Services at 800.231.0801 or agent.services@americo.com.

For more information, contact a Pinnacle Financial Services representative today

1 (800) 772-6881 x7731 | sales@pfsinsurance.com

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1 (800) 772-6881
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Nationwide | Product updates and more to support your sales

Nationwide | Product updates and more to support your sales

Nationwide | Product updates and more to support your sales
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Helping you help your financial professionals

Nationwide CareMatters Together Launch — June 12, 2023

On June 12, 2023, Nationwide® is introducing Nationwide CareMatters Together, our new linked-benefit solution offering long-term care coverage to couples or 2 individuals with an insurable interest in each other.

Designed for couples ages 30 to 70, Nationwide CareMatters Together offers policy owners the flexibility to use their pool of LTC benefits entirely by 1 person or shared between the 2 insureds in any combination.

CareMatters Together offers a shared pool of benefit dollars with multiple guarantees: level premium, cash indemnity LTC benefit, second-to-die death benefit, and a full waiver of premium when LTC benefits are being paid.

As with all CareMatters products, the LTC benefit is cash indemnity; that is, Nationwide pays the full monthly LTC benefit and places no restrictions on how the benefits are used. This helps clients pay for their long-term care the way they want it.

Learn more about the launch here.

Nationwide CareMatters® II Product Updates – June 12, 2023

Beginning June 12, 2023, Nationwide is implementing a price improvement across all scenarios for the current CareMatters II product. There will be a price decrease for all scenarios, which varies by the characteristics of the case.

In addition, to make CareMatters II more accessible to more clients, Nationwide is lowering the current minimum LTC benefit from $2,500 a month to $1,500 a month. WI, SD, and VT require higher minimums.

Please see the attached for more details and the applicable states where this change is taking effect.

Nationwide YourLife CareMatters® (NY) – Rate class update

Effective June 12, 2023, all CareMatters applicants in New York will receive Preferred rate classes. From that date the Single rate classes will no longer be offered. Preferred rate classes are equal to the Couple rates, and all applicants will be eligible for these rates, regardless of marital, civil union, or domestic partnership status. Policies issued on or after June 12, 2023, will receive Preferred rate classes.

The only available classes will be:

  • Preferred Nontobacco
  • Preferred Tobacco

You will continue to see the Couple rate classes referenced on the Life Pending Tracker, but customer-facing communications will display as Preferred.

Another 0.25% fixed rate increase in Nationwide IUL and VUL products effective July 1, 2023

Thanks to Nationwide’s strength and stability, a better interest rate environment and continued customer focus, our policyholders will soon benefit from another increase in our IUL and VUL fixed interest crediting rates. On April 1, 2023, we raised the rate by 0.25% in our 2020 IUL products. Now we are again increasing the fixed rate by 0.25% but this time across all our IUL and VUL products. Effective July 1st, 2023, the new fixed interest rates will be:

Currently selling products

Nationwide IUL Accumulator II 2020 & IUL Protector II 2020: 3.00%

  • New York only — Nationwide YourLife IUL Accumulator & IUL Protector: 2.75%
  • Nationwide Survivorship IUL 2020: 3.00%
  • Nationwide VUL Accumulator and VUL Protector: 2.75%

Products closed to new business

  • Nationwide IUL Accumulator II and IUL Protector II (2018): 2.75%
  • Nationwide YourLife IUL Accumulator and IUL Protector (2015): 2.75%
  • Nationwide YourLife IUL (2011): 3.25%
  • Nationwide Survivorship IUL (2019): 2.75%

Nationwide® Guaranteed Level Term We offer more — at a competitive price (2015): 2.75%

Check out our revamped marketing materials! You’ll see that our Nationwide® Guaranteed Level Term life insurance costs less than you may think, and you get more than you might expect. Get the details in Why Nationwide for term, Nationwide Guaranteed Level Term case study, and Your home is your family’s foundation — term mortgage brochure.

Now available: Three new forms for DocuSign

Nationwide is always striving to make it even easier for you to do business with us. Now, submitting Life business electronically to Nationwide is more convenient than ever, with three new forms available that you can partially complete for your clients. You now have access to these additional forms with DocuSign capabilities:

  • Life Application for Change of Beneficiary Designation (LAFF-0119AO)
  • Request for Designation of Owner and/or Contingent Owner (Life-1112)
  • Request for Change of Name or Address (VLOB-0179)

These forms will follow the same processes as currently available forms with DocuSign capabilities.

For more information, contact a Pinnacle Financial Services representative today

1 (800) 772-6881 x7731 | sales@pfsinsurance.com

Contact a Pinnacle Representative if you have any questions.

1 (800) 772-6881
support@pfsinsurance.com

Contact Us

Contact a Pinnacle Financial Service representative today for assistance.

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