Maximizing Optionality,
Stability, and Tax Efficiency
Life insurance and annuity tools are often misunderstood, overlooked, or misused. But with the right strategy, they can become powerful components of a well-designed financial plan — not just for protection, but for stability, longevity, and tax efficiency.
At CB Investment Management, we don’t chase high-fee, sales-driven products. We assess how insurance tools can serve your specific financial goals, and leverage commission-free and modernized solutions that align with today’s best practices in financial planning.
Reframing Life Insurance: What It Can Do for You
While life insurance may not be the most optimal investment vehicle on its own — as it tends to be
benchmark-based — it provides a range of attributes worth considering under the right circumstances:
- Investment guarantees
- Longevity insurance
- Liquidity solutions
- Tax-advantaged components
- Estate planning leverage
And now, with commission-free life insurance products increasingly available, clients can often review and improve their existing contracts. In many cases, a life insurance portfolio that once made sense may now be outdated or suboptimal.
This is not about pushing insurance — it’s about evaluating where it may fit as part of a comprehensive, optimized strategy.
QLACs: A Tool for Tax and Longevity Risk
Qualified Longevity Annuity Contracts (QLACs) can play a valuable role in retirement planning, especially for clients facing large tax-deferred account balances.
Without a proper plan, retirees often face a double hit:
This impact can significantly reduce after-tax income and spending power — and by the time it hits in your late 70s, there may be little that can be done to reverse it.
Why This Matters
-
Longevity risk is real — and most retirement plans fail to address what happens if you live far longer than average.
- Tax risk increases sharply with age if not managed proactively.
- IRMAA costs can blindside retirees with significant, permanent increases in healthcare premiums.
A QLAC offers a way to:
- Defer RMDs and associated tax hits
- Secure income in your 80s and beyond
- Stabilize your long-term retirement income strategy
- Optimize your Medicare and tax outcomes in parallel
Planning Is Everything — Timing Is Critical
Once you reach your 60s, your financial flexibility begins to decline. Decisions made — or avoided — during this decade will likely shape your entire retirement.
That’s why we recommend:
- Having a comprehensive retirement plan in place by age 60
- Using proven software like Maxifi to model longevity and tax risks accurately
-
Consulting with a certified IRMAA
planner if your plan involves substantial tax-deferred assets
Integrated Longevity Solutions — Customized to You
At CB Investment Management, we don’t sell products. We provide clarity. Our role is to help you:
- Weigh the value of life insurance and QLACs within the bigger picture
- Maximize after-tax income and long-term security
- Maintain flexibility and peace of mind through all life stages
Ready to Explore These Options?
Let’s talk about how life insurance, QLACs, and longevity planning can
support your broader goals — and protect your future, not complicate it.
