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
Premiums paid with funds that are not borrowed from life insurance. It is important to ascertain the finance charges and the costs/benefits of such a transaction. ...
Discharge of electricity from the atmosphere, one of the perils covered in most fire insurance policies. ...
Earliest age at which an employee can retire without a penalty reduction in pension benefits after having reached a minimum age and served a minimum number of years with an employer. ...
For loss of an obligee in the event that the principal fails to perform according to standards agreed upon between the obligee and the principal. ...
Arguments composed of assumption of risk, contributory negligence, and fellow servant rule. ...
Type of mutual insurance company that requires a substantial initial premium payment. After the initial premium payment is made, future premium payments required will be paid from the ...
Written statement by an insurance company attesting to the powers it has vested in an agent. ...
Arrangement, often funded by life insurance, to continue an employee's salary in the form of payments to a beneficiary for a certain period after the employee's death. The employer itself ...
Person other than the annuitant as designated by the policyholder on whose life expectancy the annuity payment is also based. ...
Have a question or comment?
We're here to help.