Split-dollar and premium-financing structures

Split-dollar life insurance

Two parties share the premium, cash value or death benefit of a life policy under either an economic-benefit or loan-regime structure. Private split-dollar typically involves family members or a trust; employer arrangements involve a business and executive.

Strategy Overview

The decision at a glance.

The right question is not whether a strategy sounds attractive. It is whether its benefits, costs and obligations improve your complete plan versus practical alternatives.

When it may be worth considering
A substantial, long-duration insurance need where the parties have clear economics and professional capacity to administer the arrangement.
Things to consider
Ownership, valuation, interest, imputed benefit, collateral assignment, termination and estate inclusion are highly technical.
How Helix can help
We model both parties’ economics, coordinate stress tests and keep annual administration and the exit path visible to the legal and tax team.

A Closer Look

How this strategy works in practice.

These are the mechanics and decisions worth understanding before you spend time or money pursuing a detailed design.

01

How it generally works

  1. Two parties enter a written arrangement allocating premium payments and rights in a life policy.
  2. Policy ownership and contractual rights determine whether the economic-benefit or loan regime generally applies.
  3. Annual tax reporting, policy values, imputed benefits or loan interest and the exit obligation are tracked together.
02

Questions worth answering

  • Who owns the policy and which rights does each party control?
  • Which tax regime applies, and how is the annual amount measured?
  • How and when will the arrangement end without forcing a policy lapse or taxable transfer?

Prepare For A Useful Conversation

Information worth gathering.

You do not need every item before starting. These materials help replace generic assumptions with facts from your financial life.

  • 01The policy contract and current in-force illustration
  • 02Loan, collateral-assignment and split-dollar agreements
  • 03Current rates, accrued interest and collateral statements
  • 04A written repayment, unwind or exit scenario

From Interest To Informed Action

A disciplined path from education to implementation.

  1. 01

    Explain

    Clarify what split-dollar life insurance is designed to accomplish and where it may not fit.

  2. 02

    Consider

    Share your goal, timing, decision-makers and relevant assets through a brief, private planning form.

  3. 03

    Discover

    Meet privately so we can understand your broader family, business, tax, estate and investment picture.

  4. 04

    Analyze

    Compare the strategy with simpler alternatives using consistent assumptions and downside scenarios.

  5. 05

    Coordinate

    Work with your attorney, CPA, insurance professional or other specialist before implementation.

  6. 06

    Monitor

    Review assumptions, documents, funding and results as laws, markets and your circumstances change.

Common Questions

Things to consider before you decide.

What is Split-dollar life insurance?

Two parties share the premium, cash value or death benefit of a life policy under either an economic-benefit or loan-regime structure. Private split-dollar typically involves family members or a trust; employer arrangements involve a business and executive.

Who might consider this strategy?

A substantial, long-duration insurance need where the parties have clear economics and professional capacity to administer the arrangement.

What are the key risks and tradeoffs?

Ownership, valuation, interest, imputed benefit, collateral assignment, termination and estate inclusion are highly technical.

What role does Helix Wealth play?

We model both parties’ economics, coordinate stress tests and keep annual administration and the exit path visible to the legal and tax team.

Your Next Step

Could split-dollar life insurance improve your plan?

Tell us what you are considering through a brief, private planning form. If deeper analysis could be useful, the next step is a private discovery meeting focused on your circumstances.

Tell us what you are consideringNo recommendation is made until Helix understands your circumstances.
Important planning information

This page is educational and is not individualized investment, legal, tax, accounting or insurance advice. Strategy availability and results depend on your circumstances, current law, underwriting, product terms and professional implementation. No strategy eliminates risk, and tax outcomes are not guaranteed. Insurance services are offered only where appropriately licensed. Separately licensed representatives may receive insurance commissions, which creates a conflict of interest described in the firm's disclosures.

Begin

Explore whether split-dollar life insurance fits your plan.

Start with a private conversation about the goal, timing and decisions already in motion. Helix will help determine whether deeper analysis is appropriate.

A few basic contact details are enough to start. Information you submit is handled under our privacy practices. Privacy Policy

Strategy of interestSplit-dollar life insurance
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