Risk Management and Asset Protection Flashcards
What are the main types of insurance coverage for high-net-worth (HNW) clients?
The primary types include life, health, disability, property, casualty, umbrella liability, and specialty insurance (e.g., kidnap and ransom).
Describe umbrella liability insurance and its role for HNW clients.
Umbrella liability insurance provides coverage above standard liability limits, typically $1–10 million, covering bodily injury, property, and personal injury claims beyond primary policies.
What is Private Placement Life Insurance (PPLI)?
PPLI offers customizable life insurance with favorable tax treatment and asset protection, often used for wealthy clients to hold alternative investments.
Define the homestead exemption in asset protection.
Homestead exemption protects a primary residence from creditors up to a certain value, varying by state, but does not cover IRS claims.
What asset classes are at greater risk from creditors?
Assets in individual names, TIC or JTWROS accounts, second homes, non-qualified retirement accounts, and certain real estate holdings are more vulnerable.
Explain the role of trusts in asset protection.
Trusts, especially those with spendthrift provisions, shield assets from creditors by legally separating ownership from beneficiaries.
Describe self-settled trusts and their asset protection benefits.
Self-settled trusts allow the creator to be a beneficiary while keeping assets protected, particularly in states like Alaska and Delaware or offshore jurisdictions.
What are fraudulent conveyance laws?
These laws prevent asset transfers intended to defraud creditors, invalidating such transfers if made without fair consideration or to avoid liabilities.
What is a charging order in asset protection?
A charging order allows creditors to claim distributions owed to a debtor from LLC or partnership interests, without seizing control of the entity.
What are Domestic Asset Protection Trusts (DAPTs)?
DAPTs are trusts established in certain U.S. states with strong creditor protection laws, like Alaska and Delaware, allowing self-settled protection.
How do offshore asset protection trusts (FAPTs) work?
FAPTs, in jurisdictions like the Cook Islands, offer strong protection by requiring creditors to re-litigate claims under local laws, often with higher standards of proof.
What is the difference between revocable and irrevocable trusts in asset protection?
Revocable trusts do not protect assets from creditors since they can be altered by the settlor, while irrevocable trusts provide stronger protection by removing settlor control.
Define spendthrift provisions in trusts.
Spendthrift provisions prevent beneficiaries from transferring their interest, shielding assets from creditors until distributed.
Explain the role of life insurance in estate planning and asset protection.
Life insurance provides liquidity for estates, often with creditor protections, allowing families to inherit assets without debt burden.
What are irrevocable life insurance trusts (ILITs)?
ILITs hold life insurance policies outside the estate, providing tax benefits and protecting the policy’s proceeds from creditors.
How does the Uniform Voidable Transactions Act (UVTA) impact asset transfers?
UVTA standardizes fraudulent conveyance rules, allowing creditors to reverse asset transfers intended to hinder, delay, or defraud.
Describe asset protection in qualified retirement accounts.
Qualified accounts under ERISA, like 401(k)s, are generally protected from creditors, unlike IRAs, which have limited protection.
What are the advantages of asset protection through limited partnerships (LPs)?
LPs protect personal assets from claims against business debts, and charging orders limit creditors to distributions without ownership rights.
How can family limited partnerships (FLPs) be used in asset protection?
FLPs offer tax efficiency and asset protection by limiting creditor access through charging orders and separating control from ownership.
Explain the role of a trustee in asset protection trusts.
Trustees manage assets on behalf of beneficiaries, shielding assets from creditors if structured with proper legal protection.
What factors influence the choice between self-insurance and commercial insurance?
Key factors include risk assessment, loss frequency and severity, cost-benefit analysis, and client peace of mind.
Describe the importance of umbrella insurance for high-net-worth clients.
Umbrella insurance extends liability coverage beyond primary policies, offering protection from large personal claims.
What is second-to-die life insurance?
Second-to-die policies pay out after the last insured’s death, ideal for estate planning to cover tax liabilities for heirs.
Define income protection strategies in cases of divorce.
Income protection strategies include prenuptial agreements, trusts, and segregated accounts to secure assets from division.
Explain property and casualty insurance’s role in asset protection.
This insurance covers risks related to real and personal property, protecting clients from financial loss due to damage or liability.
How does risk assessment impact asset protection planning?
Risk assessment evaluates potential threats to assets, guiding insurance and legal strategies to mitigate financial exposure.
What are annuities, and how do they provide protection?
Annuities offer lifetime income, with some states protecting them from creditors, making them suitable for asset protection.
Describe key estate planning benefits of irrevocable trusts.
Irrevocable trusts reduce estate tax liability, protect assets from creditors, and facilitate wealth transfer to heirs.
How does digital asset management relate to asset protection?
Digital asset management secures online accounts and intellectual property, ensuring control and security over digital wealth.
Explain creditor protection benefits of 529 college savings plans.
529 plans may be protected from creditors, securing funds for education purposes under certain state laws.
What is the “badges of fraud” concept in fraudulent conveyance?
Badges of fraud indicate intent to defraud creditors, such as transferring assets without fair consideration or concealing property.
Describe the role of offshore trusts in prenuptial planning.
Offshore trusts serve as an alternative to prenuptial agreements, securing assets in case of marital dissolution.
What legal entity protections apply to LLCs?
LLCs protect personal assets from business liabilities, with member assets shielded unless there is fraud or gross negligence.
How does self-insurance function as a risk management strategy?
Self-insurance involves retaining risk internally, using reserves for predictable losses rather than paying insurance premiums.
Define the term “asset protection trust” (APT).
APTs are designed to hold and protect assets from creditors, often in foreign jurisdictions with favorable laws.
What is the primary benefit of using irrevocable life insurance trusts (ILITs)?
ILITs exclude life insurance proceeds from estates, reducing taxes and providing creditor protection.