The PPLI Solution: A (short) Book Review

When I realized I needed to get up to speed on Private Placement Life Insurance (PPLI) as a tool for potential tax savings, I did what I always do to educate myself on highly technical subjects:

1. Googling
2. Buying expensive books on Amazon

One book was The PPLI Solution by Kirk Loury.

To be clear, most of this book was a waste of my time. Much of the information was stale, as it was written in 2005.

But that doesn't mean I regret the purchase. In fact, one chapter alone made it worthwhile.

If you are thinking "what the hell is PPLI?", I encourage you to read: Tax-Efficient Investing Through Private Placement Annuity and Life Insurance Investment Accounts - A Brief Overview.

As an investment professional, I was looking for objective information on PPLI, and Private Placement Variable Universal Life (PPVUL).

Instead, I was drowning in the sea of white papers written by brokers who provide potentially helpful, but ultimately self-serving information.
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This book was no different. Except chapter sixteen.

PPLI has been around for a long time as a bespoke structured financial product that could save one a boat load of taxes. Of course, the terms bespoke and structured are code for "very expensive" and "lots of fees". This is the roadblock most run into when considering PPLI. Do the setup fees and the ongoing expenses justify the long-term tax savings? So the real problem becomes how low can you get the negotiable fees and are the fixed fees worth it relative to your asset base? 

Fortunately, the PPLI space is moving from bespoke towards standardization, and fees are coming down. One indication that PPLI is going mainstream (or as common as a product for affluent investors can be) is MONEY: Master the Game by Tony Robbins.  While I have not read this book, Awaken the Giant Within on Audible is one of my favorite things to listen to on a long drive; there is a reason it is considered a classic.

How does one assess the level of fees your broker has quoted you? Chapter 16 of  The PPLI Solution breaks down the following:
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1. Federal deferred acquisition cost (DAC)
2. State premium tax
3. Cost of insurance (COI)
4. Mortality and expense (M&E)
5. Structuring/consulting fee

The book then provides an example spreadsheet with these costs, circa 2005.  I am writing this in 2016; the costs quoted to you should be lower than those in the book.  Also, the book will make it clear which of these fees are negotiable.

For those that are looking for really low fees, in my research I have found a way to "go direct", but it is not for the faint of heart; there is no broker to hold your hand. A quote from this type of source should provide the lowest cost example, and could be used as leverage to get a lower rate from your broker.

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To be perfectly clear, I don't sell insurance, nor am I licensed to sell insurance. Please don't contact me regarding how to purchase PPLI, I cannot help you in that regard. Not investment advice. Not a solicitation to invest. Don't take candy from strangers. The links above are affiliate links, if you were to click on one and then buy something Amazon would pay me several cents.