Key Man Life Insurance, What You Should Know

Key man life insurance is used by businesses to provide critical cash in the unfortunate event it loses one of its most valuable employees, executives, or owners to sudden and untimely death. 

Key man life insurance is also called:

• Key person life insurance
• Key employee life insurance

In small businesses, the death of one high-performing person can devastate a company. A key man life insurance policy provides immediate funds to help maintain the stability of the organization during the transitional time when it’s impossible to conduct business as usual.

What Is a Key Man Life Insurance Policy?

The key person covered may be:

• a business owner
• an executive
• a high-performing employee (such as a salesperson who holds a business’s primary revenue account)
• a highly skilled employee that would be difficult to replace due to proprietary or technical knowledge, artistic skill, or “the face of the business”

Key man life insurance may be purchased for a variety of reasons, but is most common among small- and medium-sized businesses who would find it difficult to recover from the death of a key person without transitional cash. Here are some examples of companies where key person life insurance is critical.

Start-ups 

The start-up company, more than any other, relies on the abilities and skills of a select group of people. Based on past achievements, these business executives, salespeople, and scientists bring instant credibility to a new company. In many instances, the entire company’s success may depend on only one person. 

These key people possess unique abilities to raise capital, have established key relationships with suppliers and vendors, hold technical expertise which is very rare, or own an extraordinary track record of past sales. Whatever the specific case, a start-up company’s most valuable asset is likely its key employee(s) and their loss would likely mean the demise of the company.

Companies Needing to Secure Financing

To get to the next level, most companies rely on financing or investment capital for the cash flow needed to fund expansion or research and development. To secure these funds, lenders (including the SBA) and investors will typically require the business to purchase life insurance on their key people. Even if life insurance is not a requirement to secure financing, having key person life insurance increases the credibility of your loan application.

Financial institutions and investors understand the risks involved in funding an operation that is heavily dependent upon one employee. Key person life insurance ensures that their investment is protected in the event of a disaster. They will often insist on a collateral assignment, which is a legal document that specifies that the loan balance will be paid off first with the insurance payout. The business will receive the remaining insurance proceeds.

If you are applying for an SBA loan and need life insurance, here are best practices for securing life insurance for an SBA loan, which is critical to getting the best results.

Niche Businesses 

More than any other type of company, key man life insurance is crucial to niche businesses. Hedge funds, research, and biomedical firms, companies with exclusive contracts, and businesses with patents or proprietary systems all rely heavily on the niche expertise of a key employee or business owner.

If one of these niche people dies unexpectedly, a key person life insurance policy can ensure the business will have the necessary funds to continue to operate until contingency plans are implemented.

Non-Profits and Churches (sub-heading)

The most common non-profit organizations needing life insurance are churches and religious institutions. Churches routinely need to expand as their ministry and congregations grow, creating needs for additional classrooms, a gymnasium, or worship center.

To borrow the funds necessary, many banks will require a life insurance policy on the pastor of the church or their elders. It makes perfect sense as the growth of the church is, in large part, related to the vision of its pastor or minister.

Business Owners 

Small business owners have multiple needs for key man insurance, including:

• Providing income to the business to replace the skills and experience of one of the company owners
• Creating liquidity to buy out a deceased partner or shareholder’s family to avoid unintended extended-family partnerships. This is often done in conjunction with a buy-sell agreement, which includes the instructions for what to do in the event of the death of a shareholder or business owner.
• Business succession planning and providing funds for the successful transition of the company when an owner retires. This is typically done using a key man life insurance policy with a cash value component, providing the liquidity needed to successfully transition the ownership of the company without a dramatic effect on its earnings ability and cash flow.
  

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Common Reasons for Purchasing Key Person Life Insurance

Key man life insurance is an affordable way to protect the long-term health of your business. It is easily acquired and offers priceless peace of mind while giving your company credibility in the eyes of potential lenders and investors. Key employee insurance can also be used to fund executive compensation plans and as part of deferred compensation packages or executive benefits.

Key person life insurance is used for a myriad of purposes, but some of the most common purposes include:

To provide funds for recruiting and training a replacement key employee. Replacing a key employee is the number one reason to buy a key man life insurance policy. Many companies have at least one employee that possesses unique skills and abilities, which makes it almost impossible to find a substitute. The recruitment process can take considerable time and resources. The proceeds of a key man life policy can make this complicated process less stressful and buy time needed to find the most qualified candidate.

To pay expenses while the company stabilizes. What if an owner of the company passes away unexpectedly? Could the company continue to move ahead? Key employee life insurance provides instant liquidity to meet cash demands for ongoing operations.

To secure loans for business growth and expansion.  Cash is critical to help finance opportunities, and banks and other lenders usually want collateral as security. The death of a key person is a real risk to a small company’s ability to pay back a loan. Therefore, it is routine for lenders to require key man insurance on any person who is crucial to the viability of the company. In this capacity, it strengthens the company’s credit position.

To purchase stock from the deceased owner’s estate. Most important use of key employee life insurance is for buying out a deceased partner’s equity in the company. For example, let’s say there are two equal owners of a manufacturing company with a fair market value of $4,000,000, and one of the owners dies. This immediately creates two major issues: 1. How does the deceased partner’s family get their share of the equity in the company without selling it? 2. How does the surviving owner pay off the deceased owner’s family to avoid being in business with them? Establishing a buy-sell agreement funded with life insurance solves this potential “liquidity” problem.

To pay off debt obligations. Key man life insurance proceeds can help pay off substantial commitments, such as a loan taken out for the purchase of a business or the mortgage for the facilities associated with the company. For example, two dentists purchase an existing practice for $750,000 and also finance the acquisition of the office building for $1,200,000. If one of the dentists dies unexpectedly, how would this impact the ability to pay the notes? Key man insurance can be purchased on each dentist for $1,950,000 to satisfy 100% of the obligation if one dies unexpectedly.

To fund salary continuation arrangements to a surviving spouse. A salary continuation plan is an agreement between an employee and employer, whereby the employer agrees to continue the employee’s salary upon death or disability. The benefits payable are typically a percentage of salary and length of service. Key person life insurance can provide funds to the company to honor prearranged salary continuation agreements in the event the key person dies.

Executive compensation planning. Retaining employees is crucial to the success of any business. As an incentive, companies routinely offer executive benefits to those most essential to their success. Life insurance with a cash value component can be a desirable perk to any executive. The business can use non-qualified deferred compensation plans to tie them to the company. This concept is known as “golden handcuffs.”

How Does Key Person Life Insurance Work?

Key person life insurance operates very similarly to personal life insurance, with one major difference. Instead of an individual purchasing their life insurance and naming a self-selected beneficiary (usually their family), a business entity purchases a key man life insurance policy on an individual who is invaluable to the continuation of the business. 

The business applies for and owns the life insurance policy, pays all premiums, and is the beneficiary in the event of death. At payout, the business generally receives the proceeds of the key man policy tax-free and can use the funds as it so chooses. To ensure the policy proceeds are received tax-free, all companies should follow the IRS reporting requirements for all business-owned life insurance policies.

What Type of Key Person Life Insurance Policy Should I Consider?

The general rule for buying key man life insurance is to identify the exact reason for the purchase. Once the need is clear, you can lock-in the key man life insurance rates for the period that matches the need. Sounds simple, but many business owners focus too heavily on price alone and end up having to requalify medically ten years out when they should have considered a longer guaranteed plan from the outset.

There are two main types of key man life insurance policies:

Key Man Term Life Insurance 

In most cases, we recommend getting key man life insurance quotes for an ordinary level-term life insurance policy.

The chief reason for key man term life insurance is its low cost. Many organizations needing key man insurance are small businesses with cost concerns, and term life is the cheapest way for a company to protect itself adequately.

A variety of terms are available, including:

Annual renewable term plans: These are the absolute lowest priced policies for the first year. However, rates will increase every year the coverage is maintained. In most cases, the need for key man life insurance is more than one year, so these yearly renewable plans are generally not the most cost-effective over time. We caution our clients not to be short-sighted when it comes to price as annual renewable policies can often become more expensive than a ten-year plan within 3-4 years.

Ten-year level term: This is the “sweet spot” for the majority of key man life insurance needs. Rates are locked-in for a full ten years, and the price provides tremendous value. In business, ten years is like an eternity, as many things can and do change. And, if the need for the coverage is less than the full ten year period, the policy can be dropped anytime without penalty. The price value with the flexibility to adjust makes a ten-year term life insurance plan the most attractive option for most businesses.

Longer-term options: There are also more extended level term options including 15, 20, 25, and 30-year guarantees. The longer the guarantee period, the more expensive the coverage as you have the insurance company “on the hook” for a more extended time. However, in the case of long term notes or succession planning, the insurance need can call for more extended guaranteed coverage and, in some cases, permanent or “whole life” insurance.

Permanent or Whole Life Insurance 

Permanent or “whole life” insurance policies are useful in business succession planning cases. As lifetime guaranteed policies, they are generally the most cost-effective solution over time. By locking up a rate for “life,” cash can be guaranteed to be accessible for buying out a deceased owner’s equity.

How Much Key Person Life Insurance Coverage Do You Need?

It can be hard to put an exact monetary value on how important a key person is to a given business. However, the amount of life insurance you request needs to be closely associated with the real loss to the company if it loses this key person.

The first part to understand when reviewing key man life insurance rates is to look for the amount of insurance that will be available to you. The general insurance company guidelines for the amount of keyman insurance available are as follows:

Employees:

For an employee who owns no equity in the business, the maximum amount of coverage a company can buy is ten times the employee’s annual income.

That does not necessarily mean your business should buy ten times annual income; it’s the stated maximum. You may well find 5 to 7 times the employee’s yearly salary may be adequate, and there is no reason to have a dime more insurance than you need.

Employees with Equity Ownership:

For an employee of the business who is also an equity owner, the maximum amount of life insurance a company can purchase is ten times income, plus the fair market value of their ownership interest in the business.

Conventional Key Employee Valuation Methods 

As previously noted, just because a certain amount of key man life insurance is available doesn’t necessarily mean you need it. So, the second part to understand when reviewing key man life insurance quotes is how much money you need in the event of an employee’s death. 

There are several valuation methods for key employees commonly used to determine the proper amount of key person insurance needed. These valuation methods include:

Replacement Cost Method: The approach bases the amount of key man insurance needed on what it would cost to replace the key executive. The key here is to identify the salary and other ongoing expenses required in hiring, training, and ultimately replacing the key employee. Costs associated with decreased or lost revenue are also a factor when determining a key employee’s replacement cost.

Contribution to Earnings Method: The contributions to earnings method is calculated based on the percentage contribution the key employee makes to the company’s bottom line profit. For example, a top salesperson in a small business may contribute 50% or more of the sales of the company, directly resulting in half of the company’s profits. In this case, multiply the actual value of half of the company’s annual profits by the number of years needed to train an equivalent replacement.

Multiples of Income Method: The multiple of income method is the simplest and most common way of determining the value of a key employee. As previously noted, most life insurance companies use a common multiple of 8-10 times the key person’s current annual salary, including benefits, as a general guideline. Of course, depending on the specifics of the position, a higher or lower multiple may be justified.

Insurance companies are not limited to the key man valuation methods discussed above. Each case merits specific consideration, and therefore should be reviewed based on circumstances. Working with a true professional that specializes in key man life insurance will assure the best results.

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Questions to Ask Before Buying Key Person Life Insurance

After establishing the need for key person life insurance, there are a few questions to answer before you start comparing key man life insurance rates.

Knowing the answers to these questions will help determine the type of key man insurance needed, how much coverage is required, and how long the policy should be maintained. Contemplating these questions will provide a good starting point as you’re collecting key man life insurance quotes. With this information, you will identify your specific risks, making it easier for us to help you find the best solution to your specific situation.

You can use the questions below as a checklist for purchasing key man life insurance.

QUESTION #1: Why are you considering a key employee life insurance policy? Did your attorney recommend it? Were you researching on the internet and found out that you should have it? Maybe your banker is asking for it or you’re putting together a business plan? Once you know why you need it, you can narrow down your options to determine the exact amount of coverage required and for how long. You can then work to find the most competitive key man life insurance rates.

QUESTION #2: What would happen to the company if a key employee dies? Are there existing contingency plans in place? If not, what do you want to happen to the company? If you’d prefer it be kept rather than liquidated or sold, how much money is needed to stabilize the company until it can recover? How long will it take the business to rebound?

QUESTION #3: Can a capable replacement employee be easily found? If not, how much will it cost to locate and train a replacement? What type of compensation will it take to hire the new employee? In some cases, you may have to hire more than one person to cover the responsibilities of the key person. How much money is going to be required to meet these requirements? You need to think this through carefully and even have a plan in place for this contingency.

QUESTION #4: What percentage of revenue is directly attributable to the key person? How would business cash flow be impacted in the event of their death? Would it result in the loss of clients? How long will it take to stabilize the company’s revenue? 

QUESTION #5: What would happen to your company if your business partner died? What would happen to the ownership? Would you be forced to be in business with your partner’s spouse or family? How would you replace your partner’s experience? How would your partner’s family get the income/equity of their interest? Would revenue even be there to pay them? Key employee life insurance is a perfect way to provide liquidity for a business transition. It provides instant cash to buy-out a deceased partner or shareholder’s interest while allowing for the surviving partner to maintain control of the company.

QUESTION #6: Is the company willing or able to self-insure? What are the actual costs of not doing the insurance? Does it make sense to forgo coverage? In nearly all cases, the price of a key man life insurance policy is a small fraction of the cost of self-insuring. Simple cost comparisons will lead you in the right direction.

How Life Insurance Underwriting Works: 5 Steps To Securing Keyman Coverage

After choosing a key man life insurance policy, it must go through underwriting. Underwriting is the process whereby an insurance company gathers all of the required information to formally review and approve an individual for key man life insurance.

The following five steps are the general criteria every insurance company will require to assess, approve, and issue a key man life insurance policy. You can also check out our key man life insurance underwriting guide for an in-depth understanding of how it works.

Step #1: Key Man Life Insurance Application 

Every insurance company will require a completed application for life insurance. Each company has its specific application questions and forms, and some are more comprehensive than others. Gathering answers to these questions will take some time. A professional advisor can be extremely helpful in simplifying this process.

If a company requires an exam, the application can be in paper form or completed electronically. Many insurance companies offering a no-exam option will allow you to skip some application questions requiring only a brief online application. However, this process will require a 15-20 minute telephone interview.

Below is a guide to help you prepare for a key man life insurance application.

Included on the form are general questions about the key person such as:

• name
• date of birth
• social security number
• address
• income
• employer

Insurance companies will also want to know about other things such as:

• hazardous sports
• hobbies
• driving record
• criminal record
• bankruptcy
• foreign travel plans

Depending on the insurance company, some may ask about the specific health details of the key person. Others will get this information from the insurance exam.

Since the business will own the policy and be the beneficiary, every insurance company will want specific details about the business, too, including:

• legal business name
• business address
• telephone number
• tax id number
• the legal structure of the business (sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, LLC, etc.)
• nature of the business
• business inception date
• complete financial information including gross sales, assets, liabilities, net worth for the past two years, and tax returns
• fair market value estimate
• shareholders and equity percentages

Depending on the state, other supplemental forms will be required such as a policy replacement form, HIV consent, HIPPA Authorization, and Accelerated Benefits. Most every company will require an Employee Consent Form.

Before submission, the application will need to be signed by both the key person (the insured) and a representative of the business as the policy owner (applicant).

IMPORTANT: To get the best results and to have a smooth and efficient underwriting process, it is critical to provide as much detail as possible on the application. Any questions or “gray areas” need to be explicitly addressed to give the underwriter a clear picture of the circumstances. A properly completed form can make a massive difference in the time it takes to get a policy approved as well as the actual rates of the plan.

Step #2: Medical Exam for Key Man Life Insurance

Unless you are applying for a no-medical policy, an insurance exam will be required. The insurance exam is a “mini-physical exam” which includes:

• a height and weight measurement
• blood pressure check
• resting heart rate
• a blood and urine specimen
• 12-15 medical questions
• An EKG may also be necessary for older applicants or larger case sizes, or where a previous heart condition is known.

The exam is usually completed in the convenience of the insured’s home or office and administered by a Registered Nurse or trained Phlebotomist. If the policy is substantial, the exam may need to be completed by a Physician.

The exam is paid for by the insurance company. The insured person will receive their lab results for free. The most important part of the exam will be blood and urine results.

Step #3: Final Review 

Once the application is submitted and the exam completed, the insurance company can begin the evaluation process to approve the policy. This process involves reviewing all of the application and exam material, including lab results.

Routinely, the insurance company will order medical reports from physicians to get specific details of medical conditions and treatment history. This process may take a couple of weeks, depending upon how quickly doctors and medical facilities respond to the request for records. Working with an experienced agent will make a huge difference in getting the most efficient results.

Step #4: Acceptance Signatures and Payment

Once the policy is approved, it is mailed or sent electronically for review and signature. At this point, the only other requirement is a payment to make the policy active.

Step #5: Collateral Assignment

If the insurance was purchased to secure a loan, a Collateral Assignment can be submitted to the insurance company once the policy is in force. The Collateral Assignment specifies that the benefit payout will first be used to pay the lender and satisfy the conditions of the loan. The Collateral Assignment needs to be signed by the lender (the “assignee”) and the policy owner (the “assignor”).

What If You Are Unable to Qualify Medically for a Key Man Life Insurance Policy?

In some instances, adverse health or other circumstances may prevent an employee from qualifying for a traditional key man life insurance policy. If you are uninsurable or even declined for a conventional key man insurance policy, there may be a key man insurance alternative. A “Key Man Failure to Survive” policy can effectively work as an ordinary life policy to provide death protection under most circumstances.

Key Man Failure to Survive (FTS) plans provide limited coverage when an individual can not otherwise qualify for a traditional key man life insurance policy. Some examples of cases where Key Man FTS coverage fits include substance abuse history, obesity falling outside traditional underwriting guidelines, or short term coverage needs when a new medical condition may have resulted in a decline. In these instances, death protection is available with a specific disease or condition being “excluded.” These policies allow a business to protect a key person from any death that occurs from a non-excluded condition such as an accident or unrelated illness.

A Key Man Failure to Survive policy can be a useful tool for solving key man life insurance risk. It can also be used as a “bridge” to buy time until the key employee can locate coverage under standard traditional underwriting. Most agents have no experience with “Failure to Survive” policies, so it is vital to work with a professional. 

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The Best for Key Man Life Insurance Quotes

Our name says it all. Since 2002, we have been the dominant online provider in the marketplace for the best key man life insurance rates available from top national providers. Early on, we made a commitment to be specialists in this corner of the industry; you owe it to yourself to do business with an expert who has the knowledge and experience to get you covered!

Our free advice has saved our website visitors and clients millions of dollars collectively. Our efforts have also helped many avoid headaches and pitfalls and save valuable time. That’s because we believe in making sure our customers are well-educated when it comes to their key man life insurance options, and have a full understanding of the insurance policy they purchase.

You deserve a company that will make sure you get the best insurance coverage for the best price. With our proven track record and long-standing industry relationships, you want us by your side. Let us help you uncover your best key man life insurance coverage options.

Don’t just take our word for it. Let us prove it. Call us today or submit a key man insurance quote request online.

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