Life and Disability For Business Owners

Life Insurance for Business Owners

If you own your own business, chances are you’ve at least thought about the conditions under which you will leave the business and who is going to take over after you’re gone. Business continuation is difficult enough under normal circumstances, but if it takes place following the unexpected death of a key person or owner, the complications can increase exponentially.

If you own your own business, chances are you’ve at least thought about the conditions under which you will leave the business and who is going to take over after you’re gone. Business continuation is difficult enough under normal circumstances, but if it takes place following the unexpected death of a key person or owner, the complications can increase exponentially.

A way to help manage the risk

Company-owned life insurance is one way to help protect a business from financial problems caused by the unexpected death of a key employee, partner, or co-owner. If the covered individual dies, the proceeds from this type of insurance can help in several ways. Here are some examples.

Fund a buy-sell agreement

A buy-sell agreement typically specifies in advance what will happen if an owner or a key person leaves the company, either through a personal decision or because of death or disability. The death benefit from a company-owned life insurance policy can be used to purchase the decedent’s interest in the company from his or her heirs.

Keep the business going

If a decision is made to continue the business, there may be a period when operations cease while the survivors develop a plan to move forward. The death benefit can be used to help replace lost revenue or to pay costs associated with keeping the doors open, including rent, utilities, lease payments, and payroll. It may also help the surviving owners avoid borrowing money or selling assets.

Replace lost income

If a business owner has family members who depend on the income from a business, which simply could not continue if he or she were suddenly gone, the proceeds from company-owned life insurance could help replace the lost income and help protect the family’s quality of life while they adjust and move on. The appropriate coverage amount will depend on several factors. It could be a multiple of the business owner’s annual salary or the company’s operating budget. Don’t forget to factor in such details as the cost of hiring and training a successor, where applicable, and any debts that the family may have to repay. A thorough examination of a business and the related personnel should be conducted before the exact amount of coverage is determined.

Key-Man Policy

You might consider purchasing a key-person life insurance policy that covers the loss of services when a key employee or partner dies. The benefits can be used to cover any lost profit and the cost of replacing the employee or partner. The insurance is owned by your business, which also receives the benefits.

Other ways to use life insurance in my business

Attract and retain quality employees

Split-dollar life insurance is another benefit you can offer your employees while investing in your company. Here, the business purchases a life insurance contract on the life of an employee and shares the cost. If the employee dies, your business receives an amount equal to the premiums paid, and the employee’s beneficiary receives the remaining death benefit. If the policy is surrendered for any other reason, your business receives the cash value.

Deferred compensation that supplements a retirement plan is another option you might consider. Your company would buy a life insurance policy on the life of a key employee. The business is the owner and beneficiary. If the employee dies, the business receives the death benefit tax-free. From the benefit proceeds, your business pays an annual sum to the employee’s survivors fora specified period.

Providing group life insurance as an employee benefit can also help your business by attracting and retaining employees. Group insurance is less expensive to purchase than individual insurance. Also, no medical exam may be required, depending on the size of your company. Here, the premiums are tax-deductible to your business, and the benefits are paid directly to your employee’s beneficiary.

A way to help manage the risk

Company-owned life insurance is one way to help protect a business from financial problems caused by the unexpected death of a key employee, partner, or co-owner. If the covered individual dies, the proceeds from this type of insurance can help in several ways. Here are some examples.

Fund a buy-sell agreement

A buy-sell agreement typically specifies in advance what will happen if an owner or a key person leaves the company, either through a personal decision or because of death or disability. The death benefit from a company-owned life insurance policy can be used to purchase the decedent’s interest in the company from his or her heirs.

Keep the business going

If a decision is made to continue the business, there may be a period when operations cease while the survivors develop a plan to move forward. The death benefit can be used to help replace lost revenue or to pay costs associated with keeping the doors open, including rent, utilities, lease payments, and payroll. It may also help the surviving owners avoid borrowing money or selling assets.

Replace lost income

If a business owner has family members who depend on the income from a business, which simply could not continue if he or she were suddenly gone, the proceeds from company-owned life insurance could help replace the lost income and help protect the family’s quality of life while they adjust and move on.

The appropriate coverage amount will depend on several factors. It could be a multiple of the business owner’s annual salary or the company’s operating budget. Don’t forget to factor in such details as the cost of hiring and training a successor, where applicable, and any debts that the family may have to repay.

A thorough examination of a business and the related personnel should be conducted before the exact amount of coverage is determined.

Remember that the cost and availability of life insurance depend on factors such as age, health, and the type and amount of insurance purchased. Before implementing a strategy involving life insurance, it would be prudent to make sure that the individual is insurable. As with most financial decisions, there are expenses associated with the purchase of life insurance. Policies commonly have contract limitations, fees, and charges, which can include mortality and expense charges. In addition, if a policy is surrendered prematurely, there may be surrender charges and income tax implications.

The loss of an owner can be devastating to a small business. A company-owned life insurance policy may help reduce the financial consequences if such a loss were to occur.