Life insurance is often treated as a product decision that happens late in the planning process. In reality, it is a structural planning tool that affects estate liquidity, business succession outcomes, trust design, tax exposure, and agreement enforceability. When insurance enters the conversation too late, optionality is decreased. When it enters early, it becomes one of the most flexible instruments available in sophisticated planning.

In this session, attorney and life insurance strategist Eric Eklund will walk attendees through how insurance actually functions inside estate plans and business agreements. Topics include ownership sequencing, timing risks in irrevocable life insurance trusts, and realities of buy-sell implementation.

Attendees will leave with a clearer framework for when insurance belongs upstream in the planning process, how it should be coordinated with trusts and entity agreements, and the need to avoid the most common structural mistakes that occur when a plan’s design and underwriting execution are not aligned.

This session is designed to educate financial advisors on how to intentionally integrate life insurance into advanced planning strategies.