Did You Know?
- Over $70 trillion will transfer from Baby Boomers to heirs in the coming decades—the largest wealth transfer in U.S. history. (1)
- 60% of Americans don’t have an estate plan (2), and 42% say they need life insurance or more of it. (3)
- Without planning, estate taxes, legal disputes, and unbalanced inheritances can significantly erode what you leave behind.
Legacy isn’t just about money—it’s about meaning, intention, and ensuring your loved ones are protected when you’re no longer here.
Why Legacy Planning Needs More Than a Will
When most people think about leaving a legacy, they imagine writing a will or creating a trust. While those tools are essential, they don’t always cover all the financial realities your family might face, especially when it comes to liquidity, taxes, or complex asset distributions.
That’s where life insurance comes in. Not just as a safety net, but as a powerful legacy planning tool.
Life Insurance: More Than Income Replacement
Life insurance is often seen as a way to cover funeral costs or replace income after someone passes away. But it can do much more, especially in the context of strategic legacy planning.
Here’s how life insurance can help protect and preserve your legacy:
✅ Preserve What You’ve Built
Create a dedicated pool of funds to offset taxes, debts, or other financial obligations, ensuring that your legacy assets—such as property or investments— don’t have to be sold in a rush.
✅ Simplify Inheritance
If your estate includes non-liquid assets (like a business or real estate), life insurance can help provide the cash needed to:
- Equalize inheritances among heirs
- Avoid forced sales or disputes
- Ensure continuity of family ownership
✅ Provide Certainty in an Uncertain Time
Life insurance policies, when properly structured and maintained, can provide a guaranteed benefit to beneficiaries.
✅ Reflect Your Values
Use life insurance proceeds to fund scholarships, support charitable causes, or invest in your community, ensuring your values live on.
A Legacy by Design, Not by Default
Too often, families rely on default state laws, outdated wills, or court decisions to distribute wealth. That can lead to:
- Unintended heirs or distributions
- Lengthy legal battles
- Excessive taxes and fees
- Emotional strain among loved ones
With a well-structured plan, you stay in control, choosing who receives what, when, and how.
Next Steps: Creating the Legacy You Want
Your legacy won’t happen by accident. It’s shaped by the decisions you make today.
Whether you want to protect your family, reduce taxes, or make a lasting impact, life insurance may be a smart, flexible solution.
Now is the time to act—because the sooner you plan, the more options you have.
👉 Ready to see if life insurance can support your legacy goals?
Schedule a complimentary strategy meeting with us today. We’ll help you explore the possibilities and design a plan that potentially honors your values and helps secure your family’s future.
Sources:
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(1) “Baby Boomer Wealth Transfer Reshaping Global Economy.” Insurance Business Magazine, 20 Mar. 2025, www.insurancebusinessmag.com/uk/news/breaking-news/baby-boomer-wealth-transfer-reshaping-global-economy–lv-529177.aspx.
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(2) “Who Has an Estate Plan? A Demographic Breakdown.” Trust & Will, 2025, trustandwill.com/learn/2025-report-estate-planning-demographic-breakdown
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(3) Harrison Brenton. “How I’m Talking to My Clients About Life Insurance.” Investopedia, 4 Sept. 2024, www.investopedia.com/fa-one-thing-life-insurance-8706370
Life insurance can be a powerful component of a legacy plan, though it may not be suitable for every situation. Individual needs vary, and decisions should be made with professional guidance. Most life insurance policies are subject to medical underwriting, and in some cases, financial underwriting. Life insurance products contain fees, such as mortality and expense charges, and surrender charges, and are not suitable for everyone. Optional riders may involve an additional annual fee. Proceeds from life insurance are generally income tax-free to a properly named beneficiary. Life insurance agents do not give tax or legal advice. Insurance product guarantees are backed by the financial strength and claims-paying ability of the issuing company, and for variable products, do not apply to the performance of the variable subaccounts, which will fluctuate with market conditions. Product and feature availability may vary by state. While permanent life insurance may help you address different financial needs, this information is not meant to imply that you may be able to use the policy to meet all of these financial needs during their lifetime. Utilizing one or more policy benefits may reduce or negate other features of the policy. Before investing, consider the investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses of variable life insurance and its investment options. Contact your Financial Professional for a prospectus, which contains this information and more. Please read the prospectuses thoroughly before sending money. The investment return and principal value of the variable life policy are not guaranteed. Variable life sub-accounts fluctuate with changes in market conditions. The principal may be worth more or less than the original amount invested when the policy is surrendered. Any guarantees offered are backed by the financial strength of the insurance company. Investment advisory services are provided in accordance with a fiduciary duty of care and loyalty that includes putting your interests first and disclosing conflicts. Insurance services have a best interest standard, which requires recommendations to be in your best interest. Advisors may receive commission for the sale of insurance and annuity products.
