Washington Life Producer Practice Exam

How do survivorship life insurance policies assist in estate planning?

1. Provide funds to help pay taxes

2. Increase cash value over time

3. Cover medical expenses during life

4. Pay off existing debts

The correct answer is: Provide funds to help pay taxes

Survivorship life insurance policies, commonly known as second-to-die policies, are particularly effective in estate planning because they provide a death benefit that can help cover estate taxes due when the second insured passes away. This is essential for ensuring that heirs do not have to liquidate assets or alter the estate’s overall financial strategy just to meet tax obligations. The funds from the policy can be used to cover estate taxes, allowing the heirs to inherit the estate’s full value without being burdened by substantial tax payments. As for the other choices, while survivorship policies can affect financial aspects indirectly, they do not inherently provide cash values that can be accessed during life or specifically cover medical expenses during life, nor are they primarily designed to pay off existing debts. Their main role in estate planning is, therefore, to ensure liquidity for tax payments when the second insured dies, safeguarding the value of the estate for heirs.