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November 15, 2021
Market volatility is uncomfortable, but for investors who know where to look, it can also be an opportunity.
Private Placement Life Insurance (PPLI) is a structure that has quietly served wealthy families for decades. At its core, it combines an investment portfolio with a life insurance wrapper, allowing assets to grow free of federal and state income tax under Section 7702 of the Internal Revenue Code. When held inside an irrevocable trust, the policy’s death benefit can also pass outside of the taxable estate, avoiding the 40% federal estate tax.
Private Placement Life Insurance is Flexible
What makes PPLI especially powerful is its flexibility. Portfolios can include stocks, bonds, hedge funds, and private equity. This matters for investors holding tax-inefficient assets like private credit, where current yields in high-tax states like California or New York can be cut nearly in half by taxes. Inside a PPLI structure, that drag is deferred, and potentially eliminated, allowing returns to compound much faster.
Periods of market correction can actually work in a PPLI investor’s favor. Lower valuations create opportunities to harvest tax losses, reposition assets, and fund a policy at reduced cost. The annual funding requirement also introduces a built-in discipline, essentially forcing dollar-cost averaging over time.
Think of it as a separate, tax-efficient reserve, a financial bunker that grows on the sidelines and can be accessed later without triggering a tax event. It is life insurance first, but the planning benefits extend well beyond the death benefit.
If recent market swings have prompted a broader look at your financial plan, that instinct is worth following. PPLI may be one piece of a larger conversation worth having with your advisors.
This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute tax, legal, or investment advice. Please consult with your qualified advisors regarding your specific situation.
