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Abstract

A family business may have a hidden asset that can be tapped and sued to its advantage to fight off competitive threats, access capital in difficult times, act upon growth opportunities, or diversity assets. This untapped asset is a life insurance policy. Many family businesses own life insurance to protect their owners and are ideal candidates for life settlement if they do not own a qualifying policy. This article argues that the secondary market of life insurance provides viable estate planning strategies for family businesses and should be safeguarded and preserved from the efforts of the insurance industry and other organizations to limit their use.

Keywords

life settlements family business

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