© Copyright Tucker Arensberg, P.C. All Rights Reserved. The Latest Issues in Trust Owned Life...

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© Copyright Tucker Arensberg, P.C. All Rights Reserved.

The Latest Issues in Trust Owned Life

Insurance

William Campbell Ries, Esq.Tucker Arensberg, P.C.

www.tuckerlaw.com

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Trustee Duties

TRUSTEE

TRUST

BENEFICIARY

INSURED POLICY

Only Trustee has Power to Act

$ $

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Trustee DutiesPrudent Investor Act

Care, skill, caution

Higher standard for corporate trustee

Exculpatory provisions

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Trustee DutiesInsurance

Duty to monitor

Need and qualification

Carrier solvency

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Trustee DutiesInsurance

Premiums

Improved mortality

Investment results

Lower expenses

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Trustee DutiesInsurance

Policy performance

Comparison to illustration

Not sufficient for current needs

More innovative products

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Trustee DutiesInsurance

Terminate policy

Loan

Stop paying premiums

Withdraw cash value

Exchange policy

Life Settlement

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Trustee DutiesCannot rely on Insurance Agent

No Duty to….advise on adequacy or suitabilityadvise on previously purchased policy investigate solvency of licensed carriermonitor after salemonitor adequacy of coverage after sale

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Trustee DutiesTrustee Liability

Failure to analyze difference between vanishing and level premiums

Holding inappropriate or obsolete policies

Failure to purchase enough life insurance for premium paid

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Trustee Duties – ExamplesFailure to pay premiums

Pearson v. Barr (CA)

Trustee received Crummey Gifts and did not pay premiums; new policy less favorable

Sanders v. Citizens National Bank (FL)

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Trustee Duties - ExamplesPoor policy performance

Von Hoffman v. Prudential (NY)

Heslin v. Metropolitan (NY)

Koenler v. Merril Lynch (FL)

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Trustee Duties - ExamplesBad investment decisions

Poor Vendor Selection

Phillips v. Oster (FL)

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Life SettlementsWhat is a Life Settlement?

Sell policy to third party

Receive greater than cash value; less than death benefit

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Life SettlementsViatical versus Life Settlement

VIATICAL SETTLEMENT

Terminally ill individual sells policy to investor who pays insurer a discounted face value then collects at death

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Life SettlementsViatical versus Life Settlement

LIFE SETTLEMENT

Age 60+

Life expectancy of ten years

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Life SettlementsTrustee duties

Competence of broker

Competence of provider

Review offers

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Life SettlementsInsurance carrier problems

Prohibition on transfer

Agent prohibitions

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Life SettlementsInsurance regulatory issues

37 states regulate

National Association of Insurance Commissioners

Viatical Settlements Model Act

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Life SettlementsSecurities Issues

Is purchase of policy a security?

Is sale of policy to investors a security?

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Life SettlementsFraudulent Practices

Insurance agents hiding Viator’s health

Viator’s fraud on insurance company

Viator’s fraud on settlement company

Funder Issues: godfather

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ConclusionLife Settlement adds new dimension

to fiduciaries’ management of life insurance

Prudent Investor ActTreat insurance like any other

investment

Duty to review

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ConclusionMust review policies

Need

Performance

Solvency

Coverage versus price

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ConclusionMay have to replace

Convince Settlor

OptionsTerminate policy

Replacement

Life Settlement

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QUESTIONS

William Campbell Ries, Esq.Tucker Arensberg, P.C.

412.594.5646wries@tuckerlaw.com

ADMIN 22150