Split Dollar Life Insurance
Definition of "Split dollar life insurance"
Policy in which premiums, ownership rights, and death proceeds are split between an employer and an employee, or between a parent and a child. The employer pays the part of each year's premium that at least equals the increase in the cash value. The employee may pay the remainder of the premium, or the employer may pay the entire premium. When the increase in cash value equals or exceeds the yearly premium, the employer pays the entire premium. If the employee dies while in the service of the employer, a beneficiary chosen by the employee receives the difference between the face value and the amount paid to the employer (the cash value or the total of all premiums paid by the employer- whichever is greater). Thus, during employment, the employee's share of the death benefit decreases. If the employee leaves the employer, the latter has the option of surrendering the policy in exchange for return of all premiums, or selling the policy to the employee for the amount of its cash value. There are two types of split dollar life insurance policies: Endorsement-the employer owns all policy privileges; the employee's only rights are to choose beneficiaries and to select the manner in which the death benefit is paid. Collateral-the employee owns the policy. The employer's contributions toward the premiums are viewed as a series of interest-free loans, which equal the yearly increase in the cash value of the policy. The employee assigns the policy to the employer as collateral for these loans. When the employee dies, the loans are paid from the face value of the policy. Any remaining proceeds are paid to the beneficiary.
Popular Insurance Terms
Payment of premiums and benefits as they come due. In pension plans, known as the "pay as you go basis." The plan depends on new employees coming into the work force so that their ...
Independent agency supported by the insurance industry that tests a variety of materials, products, and devices, such as appliances and electrical equipment, to assure that they meet safety ...
Reductions in the value of property due to physical damage or destruction. ...
Assumption of liability through contractual agreement by one party, thereby eliminating liability on the part of another party. An example is a railroad sidetrack agreement with a ...
Type of employee savings plan under which an employee may contribute up to a specified percentage of the salary on an after-tax basis and the employer matches the employee's contribution up ...
Risk management technique for identifying risks and taking steps to minimize losses. ...
Means of paying the cost of benefits of pension plan participants including retirement, death, and disability. ...
Limit allowed by law on employee salary reduction plans. Many pension plans, as well as the popular 401 (k) plan, allow employees to set aside pre-tax dollars in a company-sponsored ...
Type of insurance that provides a single aggregate limit of coverage within the insurance policy terms, thereby limiting the insurance company's liability for a risk transferred to it. The ...
Have a question or comment?
We're here to help.