Category Archives: Bank Owned Life Insurance

BOLI for banks, COLI for corporations ![[HERO] Bank and corporate executives collaborating on BOLI and COLI planning for employee benefits and executive retention.](https://images.pexels.com/photos/3183150/pexels-photo-3183150.jpeg)

In business, clarity beats complexity. The right tool in the right hands can solve the right problem. The wrong tool, even if it looks similar on paper, creates confusion fast.

If you are a bank leader, you do not need to wonder whether COLI belongs on your balance sheet. It does not. If you are running a corporation, LLC, or partnership, you do not need to sort through BOLI literature. It is not your vehicle.

At Schiff Executive Benefits, we spend our days answering these "What If's." What if top talent leaves? What if retirement costs are rising faster than expected? What if a buy-sell obligation shows up before you are financially ready? We do not start with a product. We reverse engineer solutions based on your goals, your entity type, and your regulatory environment.

That is why this conversation is not about competition between BOLI and COLI. It is about fit. Both use employer-owned life insurance mechanics. Both can support long-term executive benefit planning. But they belong in different worlds.

The Right Tool for the Right Job

The easiest way to frame this is simple.

If you are a bank, credit union, or thrift, you are in the BOLI world.
Bank-Owned Life Insurance is a specialized asset class for financial institutions. It is used to help informally fund employee benefits and generate tax-advantaged income on the institution's balance sheet. It is also heavily regulated by the OCC, FDIC, and state banking departments, which means design, due diligence, and administration matter. You can learn more about our specific BOLI consulting services here.

If you are a corporation, LLC, or partnership, you are in the COLI world.
Corporate-Owned Life Insurance is the broader planning tool for non-bank businesses. It is often used to support executive retention strategies, key-person coverage, buy-sell planning, and nonqualified deferred compensation (NQDC) plans. For companies evaluating deferred compensation design, it also pairs naturally with broader executive benefit planning.

The mechanics may be similar. The use cases may overlap at a high level. But the entity determines the vehicle.

 

Where COLI Fits in the Corporate World

For corporations, LLCs, and partnerships, COLI is often part of a much broader retention and succession strategy. Many business owners are asset rich and cash poor. Their value is tied up in the business. That works well until a buyout, retirement, death, or executive transition forces a liquidity event.

If you have a buy-sell agreement in place, how will it be funded? If a key executive retires, how will you replace that talent cost-efficiently? If your best people are being recruited, what are you doing today to make staying more valuable than leaving?

This is where COLI can shine. A properly structured plan can help fund obligations tied to executive retention, deferred compensation, key-person risk, and ownership transition. It can create what we call an Ownership Feel to Non-Owners while helping the business maintain control, liquidity, and long-term alignment.

For banks, those same broad concerns may exist. But the funding vehicle is BOLI, not COLI. That distinction matters.

The "In the Room" Expertise: IRC 101(j) and 409A

Rules matter. Entity type matters. Documentation matters. This is where a lot of well-meaning advisors get lost.

When we talk about BOLI and COLI, we are not reading from a brochure. Matt Schiff brings a deep technical legacy to this work. Back in 2003 and 2005, he was in the room where it happened. As a ranking member of the AALU's NQDC Committee, he worked alongside Michael Goldstein to help draft the very laws that govern these plans today: IRC 409A and IRC 101(j).

That matters because these rules do not disappear just because you picked the right entity-specific vehicle. IRC 101(j) and 409A apply to both BOLI and COLI where relevant. Whether you are a bank implementing BOLI or a corporation structuring COLI around deferred compensation, technical compliance is still the backbone of a successful outcome.

If you want to hear more about that era and the technical nuances of these regulations, I highly recommend listening to my podcast interview with Dan Hogans, who was formerly with the IRS Treasury and was a key architect of these rules.

The 101(j) Trap

One area where many generalist advisors trip up is IRC 101(j). This regulation governs employer-owned life insurance. To keep the death benefits of a BOLI or COLI policy income-tax-free, you must comply with strict notice and consent requirements before the policy is issued.

If you fail to get the employee's written consent or fail to file the annual IRS Form 8925, the death proceeds that should help the business can suddenly become taxable income. We see this all too often in legacy plans that have never been audited. At Schiff Executive Benefits, we make sure your program is designed to comply from day one, Restoring Alignment and Retention to your organization.

The Perfect Plan^® Starts with the Right Vehicle

In today’s competitive landscape, good enough benefits do not cut it. Your best people are being recruited every single day. To keep them, you need a strategy that fits your organization and speaks directly to the outcomes your leadership team cares about.

This is why we developed The Perfect Plan^®. It is not just a product. It is a philosophy. The process starts by identifying the right vehicle for the right entity, then designing the plan around the outcome.

That means:

• Banks may use BOLI to help fund employee benefits and create tax-advantaged balance sheet support.


• Corporations, LLCs, and partnerships may use COLI to support Deferred Compensation (NQDC), executive retention, key-person coverage, and buy-sell planning.


• Both require thoughtful design, regulatory awareness, and coordination with your broader advisory team.

Imagine telling your top executive: If you stay with us for the next ten years, we have a plan that provides 100% income when you need it most in retirement, and 100% protection for your family if something happens to you tomorrow.

That is the power of a properly structured plan. It aligns the executive’s personal financial goals with the company’s long-term health.

Why the "Reverse Engineering" Approach?

Most brokers start with a product. We do not work that way.

We work as a broker with any carrier, which allows us to stay agnostic. We start with your "What If's."

• Are you a bank trying to offset benefit costs efficiently?


• Are you a corporation preparing for a business buyout?


• Are you concerned about the cost of replacing a senior executive?


• Are you looking for 100% cost recovery for the employer?


• Are you trying to keep your top talent from leaving?

Once we have the goal, we reverse engineer the solution. We work alongside your existing team of advisors: your Accountant, Attorney, and TPA: to ensure that the BOLI or COLI structure fits your legal, tax, and cultural framework.

Your Next Steps

Building a business is hard. Protecting it should not be. The first step is simple: identify your world.

If you are a bank, credit union, or thrift, your conversation starts with BOLI and the banking guidance that surrounds it. If you are a corporation, LLC, or partnership, your conversation starts with COLI and how it supports retention, buy-sell planning, and deferred compensation.

If you are ready to see how the right vehicle fits into your situation, I invite you to take a low-pressure first step. Use our Business Valuation tool to get a clearer picture of what you have built.

From there, we can sit down, grab a coffee, and talk through the practical next move. If you want to go deeper first, explore our Deferred Compensation and NQDC planning page, our COLI strategy overview, or our BOLI consulting page for banks.

To stay updated on the latest strategies for business owners and executives, visit our latest posts here or join the conversation over at The Perfect Plan^® on YouTube.

Learn more: our complete guide to Bank Owned Life Insurance (BOLI) and Corporate Owned Life Insurance (COLI).

In the world of institutional finance, there is a fundamental truth we all must face: markets fluctuate, but the need for stability is constant. Whether you are managing the balance sheet of a community bank or overseeing the executive benefits for a Fortune 500 company, you are constantly looking for that "sweet spot": the intersection where growth meets protection.

For years, the choice was binary. You either accepted the low-yield, safe-haven environment of General Account products or you braced yourself for the white-knuckle volatility of Variable Life. But what if there was a third way? What if you could capture the upside of the equity markets without ever having to worry about a market crash eroding your principal?

This is the promise of Institutional Indexed Universal Life (IIUL).

At Schiff Executive Benefits, we specialize in reverse-engineering solutions that align with your company’s culture and long-term intent. We don’t just sell products; we help you plan for all of life’s "What If’s": including what happens when your top talent considers leaving or how to fund a senior executive’s retirement cost-effectively.

What is Institutional Indexed Universal Life (IIUL)?

Institutional Indexed Universal Life (IIUL) is a specialized, institutional-grade version of Indexed Universal Life (IUL). While retail IUL is a popular tool for individual estate planning, the "Institutional" prefix denotes a product designed for the scale, pricing, and transparency required by banks for Bank-Owned Life Insurance (BOLI) and corporations for Corporate-Owned Life Insurance (COLI).

At its core, IIUL is a permanent life insurance vehicle where the cash value growth is linked to the performance of an external equity index, such as the S&P 500, Nasdaq-100, or the EURO STOXX 50. However, unlike a direct investment in the stock market, you aren't actually in the market. You are simply using the index as a measuring stick for interest crediting.

The Power of the 0% Floor

The most compelling feature of IIUL is the 0% floor. This is the ultimate "sleep well at night" hedge. If the S&P 500 drops 20% in a year, your policy’s cash value doesn't drop a dime due to market performance. Your floor is zero. You stay flat while the rest of the market retreats.

Of course, there is a trade-off for this protection. In exchange for the floor, the insurance carrier places a cap on your growth: typically ranging between 8% and 12%, depending on the carrier and the specific index.

This creates a "smoothed" growth curve. By cutting off the deep valleys of market crashes and slightly shaving the highest peaks, IIUL provides a steady, upward trajectory that is ideal for long-duration liabilities like Supplemental Executive Retirement Plans (SERPs) and Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation (NQDC) plans.

Why Institutions Choose IIUL for BOLI and COLI

Banks and corporations aren't just looking for a place to park cash; they are looking for a strategic asset that solves specific problems. When we look at the BOLI process or COLI strategies, IIUL often emerges as the preferred vehicle for several reasons:

1. Attracting and Retaining Talent: The "Top Talent Leaving" scenario is one of our core "What Ifs." IIUL provides the informal funding necessary to offer an "Ownership Feel to Non-Owners" through programs like Phantom Stock or Restricted Executive Bonuses.


2. Cost Recovery: One of the primary goals of any executive benefit plan is full cost recovery for the employer. The tax-free death benefit provided by IIUL allows a company to recoup the costs of the benefits paid out, plus the premiums and the time value of money.


3. Balance Sheet Efficiency: For banks, BOLI is a highly efficient asset. Because the cash value grows tax-deferred (and can be accessed tax-free if structured correctly), the "Tax Equivalent Yield" of an IIUL policy often significantly outperforms traditional fixed-income investments.

The Tax Advantages: Accumulation and Distribution

In the realm of executive benefits, taxes are often the largest "leak" in the bucket. IIUL is designed to plug those leaks.

• Tax-Deferred Accumulation: The cash value grows without being diminished by annual income taxes.


• Tax-Free Death Benefit: Under IRC 101(j), as long as proper notice and consent requirements are met, the death benefit is received by the corporation or bank income tax-free.


• Efficient Funding for NQDC: When used to informally fund a 401k Mirror or NQDC plan, the growth of the IIUL policy can be matched against the growing liability of the executive's account, creating a hedge that protects the company's P&L.

The "Insider" Advantage: Why Experience Matters

When you are implementing a program as technical as IIUL, you need more than a broker; you need a consultant who has been "in the room where it happened."

Our President, Matt Schiff, brings a level of expertise that is rare in this industry. In 2003 and 2005, Matt was a ranking member of the AALU's NQDC Committee. Alongside Michael Goldstein, he helped draft the very laws that govern these plans today: specifically IRC 409A and IRC 101(j).

We don't just read the regulations; we remember the intent behind them. This technical depth ensures that your plan isn't just "The Perfect Plan^®" on paper, but a robust, compliant solution that stands the test of time. For a deeper dive into this history, I encourage you to listen to Matt’s conversation with Dan Hogans (formerly of the IRS Treasury) on The Perfect Plan^® YouTube channel.

Leading Carriers in the IIUL Space

Because we operate as an independent consultant and broker, we have the ability to work with any carrier in the market. However, when it comes to the institutional-grade performance required for BOLI and COLI, a few names consistently rise to the top:

• Pacific Life: Known for high-capacity underwriting and a long history in the COLI market, Pacific Life offers some of the most flexible IIUL designs available today.


• Nationwide: A stalwart in the institutional space, Nationwide provides robust living benefit riders and streamlined underwriting that is perfect for broad-based corporate programs.


• Transamerica: Transamerica’s IIUL portfolio is built for accumulation, offering diverse index choices including global options like the EURO STOXX 50.

Is IIUL Right for Your Organization?

Building The Perfect Plan^® starts with asking the right questions.

• What happens to your business if a key executive leaves tomorrow?


• Are you currently losing 40% of your benefit's value to taxes?


• Does your current retention strategy provide 100% income protection to your employees' families?

If these questions are keeping you up at night, it’s time for a more sophisticated approach. Institutional Indexed Universal Life isn't just an insurance policy; it is a strategic financial tool designed to restore alignment between your company's goals and your key people’s needs.

Ready to see where you stand?

At Schiff Executive Benefits, we believe in data-driven decisions. Before you design a plan, you need to know what your business is actually worth and where the gaps lie.

We invite you to start your business valuation and data capture here. It’s the first step toward realizing your dream value and ensuring your legacy is protected.

Sit back, grab your coffee, and let’s talk about how we can help you attract, retain, and reward your best people: Restoring Alignment and Retention for the long haul.

In the high-stakes world of community and regional banking, the pursuit of yield is never just about the numbers on a spreadsheet; it is a delicate dance between regulatory capital constraints and the mandate for long-term stability. Every CFO knows the universal truth: you cannot manage what you cannot predict. When it comes to Bank Owned Life Insurance (BOLI), that predictability has historically been bifurcated. You either chose the safety and simplicity of a General Account (GA) structure or the transparency and potential of a Separate Account (SA) structure.

But the financial landscape is rarely that binary. For banks that demand the creditor insulation of a separate account without the stomach-turning volatility of mark-to-market accounting, there is a third way.

Hybrid Account Universal Life BOLI is the "best of both worlds" solution that has quietly become the preferred tool for sophisticated bank boards. It is a strategic middle ground: a product that reverse-engineers the best parts of insurance mechanics to serve the specific needs of a bank’s balance sheet.

The Structural "Sweet Spot": How Hybrid BOLI Works

To understand the value of a Hybrid Account, you first have to understand the tension it resolves.

Historically, General Account BOLI was the standard. The bank paid a premium, and those assets became part of the insurance carrier’s general investment pool. The carrier guaranteed a minimum crediting rate, and the bank enjoyed book-value accounting. The downside? The bank was essentially an unsecured creditor of the insurance company. If the carrier faltered, so did the bank’s asset.

On the other hand, Separate Account BOLI offered transparency and legal insulation. The assets were held in a separate account, away from the carrier’s general creditors. However, this often introduced "mark-to-market" volatility. Unless the bank paid for an expensive Stable Value Protection (SVP) wrap, the fluctuation in the underlying investment portfolio would flow directly through the bank’s P&L.

Hybrid Account BOLI changes the math.

In a Hybrid structure, part of the assets sit in a legally insulated separate account. This provides the bank with the transparency it desires and the creditor protection it needs. However: and this is the "magic" of the hybrid design: the carrier provides a contractually guaranteed minimum crediting rate, much like a General Account product.

Because the carrier is providing the "floor," there is no need for a Stable Value Protection wrap. The carrier contractually guarantees the book-value accounting, meaning the bank does not face direct market value exposure. You get the transparency and insulation of a separate account with the smoothed, predictable income of a general account.

Why It Matters: Yield Enhancement Without the Volatility

For a bank’s investment committee, the appeal of Hybrid BOLI usually centers on two portfolios: Yield and Yield Plus.

Unlike traditional General Account BOLI, where the bank has no say in how the assets are deployed, Hybrid Account products often allow the bank to benefit from multiple portfolio options. These portfolios are managed with an eye toward high-grade corporate bonds and other bank-eligible investments, but they are structured to allow for slightly higher yield targets than a standard GA product might offer.

Because these are Universal Life chassis, the crediting rate is declared by the carrier based on the performance of these underlying portfolios. However, since the carrier guarantees the floor, the bank doesn't have to worry about a "bad month" in the bond market hitting their quarterly earnings report.

At Schiff Executive Benefits, we specialize in this kind of goal-oriented reverse engineering. We don't just look at the carrier; we look at the intent. If your goal is to fund an Executive NQDC plan or offset the rising costs of employee benefits, the Hybrid structure offers a unique way to match those long-term liabilities with a stable, high-performing asset.

The Regulatory Reality: Accounting and Risk Weighting

From a technical perspective, Hybrid Account BOLI is a masterclass in balance sheet efficiency.

Book-Value Accounting

The primary concern for most bank CFOs is the impact on the P&L. Because Hybrid BOLI uses a crediting-rate approach backed by the carrier’s guarantee, it qualifies for book-value accounting. The bank records the Cash Surrender Value (CSV) as an "Other Asset." The growth in that CSV (the net of the crediting rate minus charges) is recognized as noninterest income. This provides a clean, predictable line item that bank analysts and regulators appreciate.

Risk Weighting

The risk weighting of BOLI is a critical component of Tier 1 Capital management. Under current regulatory frameworks (including Basel III), the risk weighting of Hybrid BOLI typically depends on its composition. While General Account BOLI is usually 100% risk-weighted (corporate-style), and Separate Account BOLI can sometimes be "looked through" to the underlying government-grade assets for a lower weight, Hybrid BOLI is often treated as a blend.

However, many institutions find that the "100% risk weight" trade-off is more than worth it when you consider the lower cost of capital compared to the volatility of a non-wrapped Separate Account.

Carrier Spotlight: The NYLIAC BOLI 50

One of the most prominent examples of this technology in action is the NYLIAC BOLI 50 from New York Life. As a Hybrid Account Universal Life product, it has become a staple for banks looking for a high-quality carrier with a "AAA" pedigree.

The BOLI 50 allows banks to access the Yield and Yield Plus portfolios while maintaining that crucial book-value treatment. It’s designed for the bank that wants a household name carrier but doesn't want to settle for the lower "current" rates of a standard general account.

The "What If" Factor: Planning for the Long Term

At Schiff Executive Benefits, we don't just sell products; we solve for the "What Ifs." When we sit down with a bank board, we aren't just talking about Hybrid BOLI; we are talking about:

1. Top talent leaving – How does this asset fund the retention package to keep your CEO?


2. Senior exec retirement – Can we offset the replacement cost effectively?


3. Running out of retirement money – How do we ensure the plan stays solvent for decades?

Our President, Matt Schiff, brings a unique level of authority to these conversations. He didn't just study the laws; he was in the room when they were written. As a ranking member of the AALU's NQDC Committee, Matt helped draft the very regulations (IRC 409A and IRC 101(j)) that govern how these plans must be structured today.

When you work with us, you are getting an architect who understands the "code" of the IRS, not just a contractor who knows how to swing a hammer. We ensure your program is fully compliant with the latest regulations, ensuring that your BOLI remains a tax-advantaged powerhouse rather than a compliance liability.

Restoring Alignment and Retention

Ultimately, Hybrid Account BOLI is a tool for alignment. It aligns the bank's need for stability with the executive's need for a robust benefit structure. It is a key component of The Perfect Plan^®, our proprietary approach to ensuring that every dollar on the balance sheet is working toward a specific cultural and financial goal.

If you are a bank decision-maker looking to optimize your BOLI portfolio or replace an underperforming General Account plan, the time to look at Hybrid options is now.

Ready to see how Hybrid BOLI fits your balance sheet?

Sit back, grab your coffee, and let’s look at the numbers. We invite you to join us for a consultative deep dive into your current benefits structure.

• Discover your bank's true value: Use our RISR Business Valuation Tool to see how your executive benefits align with your overall growth.


• Deepen your expertise: Watch our expert interviews and technical breakdowns on The Perfect Plan^® YouTube Channel.


• Explore our services: Learn more about our Integrated BOLI/COLI approach.

The "Perfect Plan^®" isn't a myth: it's a reverse-engineered reality. Let’s build it together.

Learn more: our complete guide to Bank Owned Life Insurance (BOLI).

In the world of institutional finance, transparency is the bedrock of trust. For many community and regional banks, Bank-Owned Life Insurance (BOLI) has long been a foundational asset, providing a tax-advantaged vehicle to offset employee benefit liabilities. However, as institutions grow in complexity and assets, the "General Account" model: where the bank’s capital is comingled with the insurer's general creditors: can sometimes feel like a black box.

For sophisticated bank decision-makers and ALM (Asset Liability Management) teams, the shift toward Separate Account Universal Life BOLI represents a move from passive participation to strategic control. It is a structure designed for those who demand clarity on where their dollars are invested, how they are protected, and how they can be optimized for long-term yield.

At Schiff Executive Benefits, we specialize in reverse-engineering these sophisticated benefit structures to ensure they align perfectly with your bank's culture and financial goals. Our mission is centered on Restoring Alignment and Retention.

The Architecture of Insulation: Legally Segregated Accounts

The defining characteristic of Separate Account BOLI is the legal "moat" it builds around your assets. Unlike General Account BOLI, where the bank is effectively a general creditor of the insurance company, Separate Account premiums are held in a legally segregated account.

Under OCC Bulletin 2004-56, the regulatory framework is clear: these assets are insulated from the claims of the insurer's general creditors in the event of insolvency. For a bank's risk committee, this provides a layer of counterparty risk mitigation that is simply unavailable in traditional products. You aren't just buying a policy; you are securing a dedicated asset pool.

Transparency and Investment Control through IRC 817(h)

One of the primary frustrations with traditional BOLI is the lack of visibility into the underlying portfolio. Separate Account BOLI flips this script. By utilizing third-party investment managers, banks can achieve a level of transparency that rivals their own investment portfolios.

However, this control comes with strict regulatory guardrails. To maintain the tax-advantaged status of the life insurance contract, the account must comply with IRC §817(h) diversification requirements. This ensures that the policy remains treated as insurance rather than a taxable investment.

Furthermore, "Investor Control" rules stipulate that while the bank can choose from a menu of sophisticated investment strategies managed by professional firms, they cannot direct individual security trades. This is where our expertise at Schiff Executive Benefits becomes invaluable. We help you navigate these nuances, ensuring your BOLI program remains compliant while pursuing the yield your institution requires.

Managing Volatility: The SVP "Wrap" and Book-Value Accounting

If Separate Account BOLI offers better transparency and yield potential, why doesn't every bank use it? The answer often lies in the accounting treatment.

By default, Separate Account assets are subject to mark-to-market accounting. For a bank’s P&L, the daily fluctuations of the underlying bond or equity markets can create unwanted volatility. This is where the Stable Value Protection (SVP) wrap comes into play.

An SVP wrap is a contract: often provided by a highly-rated financial institution or the insurer themselves: that allows the bank to report the asset at "book value" rather than fair market value. This "wraps" the volatility, amortizing gains and losses over time to provide a steady, predictable crediting rate. For banks with sophisticated ALM teams, the ability to harvest the "equity risk premium" or higher-duration yields without the immediate P&L sting is a game-changer.

Capital Efficiency: The Look-Through Advantage

From a regulatory capital perspective, Separate Account BOLI offers a distinct advantage over its General Account counterparts. Under the "look-through" approach, banks can risk-weight the BOLI asset based on the underlying securities within the separate account.

While General Account BOLI is typically risk-weighted at 100% (or 20% if the insurer is highly rated, though this is increasingly rare), Separate Account portfolios focused on high-quality government or agency bonds can often achieve a risk-weighting as low as 20%. This makes Separate Account BOLI an incredibly capital-efficient tool for larger regional or commercial banks looking to optimize their Tier 1 capital ratios.

Why Technical Expertise Matters: The Schiff Legacy

Navigating the intersection of life insurance, tax law, and bank regulation requires more than just a broker; it requires an architect. Matt Schiff, President of Schiff Executive Benefits, brings a unique level of authority to this space. Having served as a ranking member of the AALU's NQDC Committee, Matt helped draft the very laws: like IRC 409A and 101(j): that govern these plans today.

When you work with us, you are working with a team that was "in the room where it happened." We don't just follow the rules; we understand the intent behind them. This technical depth is why we emphasize an integrated approach, working alongside your existing accountants, attorneys, and TPAs to ensure The Perfect Plan^® is not just a concept, but a compliant reality.

Is Separate Account BOLI Right for Your Bank?

This structure is ideal for institutions that meet several criteria:

• Asset Size: Generally, banks with $1 billion or more in assets find the administrative and wrap costs of Separate Accounts more justifiable.


• ALM Sophistication: Banks with dedicated teams capable of monitoring third-party managers and understanding SVP dynamics.


• Yield Requirements: Institutions looking to outperform the "standard" General Account rates by taking a longer-term, more transparent investment view.


• Capital Constraints: Banks looking for higher risk-adjusted returns on capital.

Your Path to a More Sophisticated BOLI Strategy

The decision to transition to or implement a Separate Account structure shouldn't be made in a vacuum. It requires a deep dive into your bank’s specific "What If's": from top talent retention to the long-term cost recovery of executive benefits.

We invite you to explore our BOLI process to see how we reverse-engineer solutions based on your specific goals. If you are ready to evaluate your bank's current valuation and potential for a more sophisticated retention tool, we encourage you to use our Business Valuation and Prospect Data Capture tool.

For more insights into high-level financial planning and executive benefits, visit The Perfect Plan^® YouTube channel.

At Schiff Executive Benefits, we don't just sell insurance; we build the structures that protect your bank's most valuable asset: its people. Come join us, grab a coffee, and let's discuss how we can bring transparency and stability to your balance sheet.

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Learn more: our complete guide to Bank Owned Life Insurance (BOLI).

In the world of community banking, certainty is the ultimate currency. We often tell our clients that while the markets might be a rollercoaster, your balance sheet shouldn't be. When you are looking to offset the rising costs of executive benefits or simply looking for a stable way to deploy excess liquidity, the conversation inevitably turns to Bank Owned Life Insurance (BOLI).

Among the various structures available, General Account Universal Life BOLI remains the bedrock of the industry. It is the most common, the most straightforward, and for many institutions, the most appropriate tool for the job. But as with any sophisticated financial instrument, the "simple" option still requires a deep dive into the mechanics, the risks, and the regulatory expectations.

At Schiff Executive Benefits, we don’t just broker these plans; we reverse-engineer them. We look at your culture, your "What Ifs," and your long-term goals to ensure that the plan you implement today is the one that still makes sense twenty years from now.

What is General Account BOLI?

At its core, a General Account BOLI policy is a contract between the bank and an insurance carrier. The bank pays a premium, and those funds are pooled into the insurer’s general account. This general account is typically a massive, conservatively managed portfolio of high-quality bonds, mortgages, and real estate.

Unlike Separate Account BOLI, where the bank’s assets are segregated and the bank chooses the investment managers, General Account BOLI relies on the carrier’s overall investment performance.

The Mechanism of Stability

When you opt for a General Account structure, you are essentially trading control for a guarantee. The carrier provides a guaranteed minimum crediting rate. Even if the market takes a dive, your cash value won't drop below a certain floor.

For a community bank, the primary appeal is the lack of "mark-to-market" volatility. Because the carrier assumes the investment risk, the bank does not have to report fluctuations in the underlying bond portfolio on its P&L. Instead, you see predictable, tax-advantaged growth in the cash surrender value (CSV) of the policies.

The Trade-Off: Transparency vs. Security

No financial strategy is without its hurdles. While the stability of General Account BOLI is its greatest strength, it comes with two primary trade-offs:

1. Lack of Transparency: Since your premiums are pooled with the carrier's other assets, you don't have a window into exactly which bonds or properties are backing your policy. You are trusting the carrier’s investment committee and their historical track record.


2. Credit Risk: This is the big one. In a General Account structure, the bank is a general creditor of the insurance company. If the carrier runs into financial trouble, your BOLI assets are at risk. This is why we place such a heavy emphasis on carrier selection. We look at A.M. Best, Moody’s, and S&P ratings with a skeptical eye, ensuring the carriers we recommend have the "staying power" to fulfill their long-term promises.

Regulatory Landscape: OCC 2004-56 Compliance

If you’ve spent any time in a boardroom, you know that regulators don't just care about what you buy; they care about how you bought it. OCC 2004-56 (the Interagency Statement on the Purchase and Risk Management of Life Insurance) is the "bible" for BOLI compliance.

General Account BOLI is treated as a complex asset. Regulators expect you to perform a rigorous pre-purchase analysis that includes:

• Business Purpose: You must document exactly why you are buying BOLI. Usually, this is to fund specific executive benefit obligations like a Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation (NQDC) plan or a SERP.


• Risk Assessment: You need to quantify the liquidity, credit, and interest rate risks.


• Concentration Limits: You can't put all your eggs in one carrier's basket.


• Board Approval: Your board needs to understand the "What Ifs." What if the carrier is downgraded? What if the crediting rate drops to the minimum?

Under current regulatory capital rules, General Account BOLI is typically risk-weighted at 100%. While this is higher than the 20% weighting often found in Separate Account structures, many banks find the trade-off for P&L stability to be well worth the capital charge.

Why Community Banks Prefer the General Account

Why is this the "simplest and most common" structure? Because most community banks aren't in the business of managing insurance investment portfolios. They want a "set it and forget it" solution: though we prefer the term "set it and monitor it."

General Account BOLI provides:

• Predictable Non-Interest Income: The steady crediting rate helps smooth out earnings.


• Cost Offset: It is a highly efficient way to recover the costs of the benefits needed to attract and retain top talent.


• Simplicity: There is no need for complex daily accounting of underlying securities.

The Schiff Perspective: "In the Room Where it Happened"

When you work with Schiff Executive Benefits, you aren't just getting a broker; you’re getting a partner with deep technical roots. Our President, Matt Schiff, didn't just study these laws: he was a ranking member of the AALU's NQDC Committee and worked alongside Michael Goldstein to help draft the very regulations that govern these plans today (IRC 409A and IRC 101(j)).

We understand the nuances of IRC 101(j) notice and consent requirements. If you miss a signature or a filing date, your tax-free death benefit could become taxable. That’s a "What If" no bank wants to face. We ensure your program is bulletproof from day one.

You can hear more about these technical nuances and our approach to The Perfect Plan^® on our YouTube channel, where we break down the complexities of executive benefits into actionable insights.

Is Your BOLI Aligned?

General Account Universal Life BOLI is an incredible tool for restoring alignment and retention within your leadership team. It protects the bank's bottom line while providing the "Perfect Plan^®" for your executives' future.

However, the "set it and forget it" mentality can be dangerous. As interest rates shift and carrier credit profiles evolve, your BOLI portfolio needs regular check-ups. Are you still compliant with OCC 2004-56? Is your 101(j) paperwork in order? Are you maximizing your risk-adjusted return?

If you are ready to take a closer look at your current BOLI strategy or are considering a new purchase, let's have a conversation. We can help you navigate our BOLI Process and ensure your Bank Owned Life Insurance program is performing exactly as intended.

Sit back, grab your coffee, and let’s build something that lasts.

To get a clearer picture of your bank’s current valuation and how an executive benefit strategy can impact your bottom line, we invite you to use our RISR application. It’s a simple way to start the journey toward a more secure and aligned future.

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4. Internal Links: Links provided to /our-boli-process, /boli-bank-owned-life-insurance, and the Perfect Plan^® YouTube channel.

Learn more: our complete guide to Bank Owned Life Insurance (BOLI).

In a world that often prizes the "new and flashy," there is an undeniable truth that remains constant: stability is the bedrock of any successful long-term strategy. For a business, stability isn't just about this quarter's earnings; it’s about ensuring that the promises you make today: to your family, your partners, and your key executives: can be kept decades from now.

When we look at the various types of products available in the market for informal funding of executive benefits, Whole Life insurance stands as the "Old Guard." It is the architectural foundation upon which many of the most secure Corporate Owned Life Insurance (COLI) and Bank Owned Life Insurance (BOLI) programs are built.

If you are looking for a financial vehicle that eliminates the "what ifs" of market volatility, Whole Life is often the answer.

The Mechanics of Permanence

Whole Life is exactly what it sounds like: permanent life insurance designed to cover the insured for their entire life. Unlike term insurance, which expires, or universal life products, which may have flexible premiums that can fluctuate, Whole Life is defined by its rigidity: and in the corporate world, that rigidity is its greatest strength.

The core features of a Whole Life policy include:

• Guaranteed Cash Value Growth: The cash value in a Whole Life policy grows according to a set schedule. It doesn't matter what the S&P 500 does tomorrow; your cash value is contractually guaranteed to increase every year.


• Fixed Premiums: Your premiums are locked in from day one. They will never increase, regardless of the economy or the health of the insured. This allows for precise long-term budgeting for deferred compensation plans.


• Dividends (The Performance Kicker): While not guaranteed, "participating" Whole Life policies from mutual insurance companies often pay annual dividends. These dividends can be used to purchase additional insurance, reduce premiums, or boost the cash value even further.

The "Sleep Well at Night" Factor

For the risk-averse corporate buyer, Whole Life offers what we call the "sleep well at night" factor. When a company uses life insurance to fund a Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (SERP), they are essentially creating a liability on their balance sheet. They are promising an executive a future payment.

If you fund that promise with a volatile asset, you are taking on "asset-liability mismatch" risk. If the market crashes the year your executive retires, you may find yourself short on the funds needed to pay the benefit.

Whole Life eliminates that mismatch. Because the growth is guaranteed, you can "reverse engineer" your Perfect Plan^® with mathematical certainty. You know exactly what the asset will be worth at any given point in the future, ensuring you can meet your obligations to your top talent without straining the company’s cash flow.

The Role of Whole Life in COLI and BOLI

In the realm of Bank Owned Life Insurance (BOLI), Whole Life is a staple. Banks are highly regulated entities that value capital preservation above almost all else. The guaranteed nature of Whole Life cash values aligns perfectly with a bank’s Tier 1 capital requirements.

For corporations, Whole Life serves as a powerful engine for full cost recovery. When we design a plan at Schiff Executive Benefits, our goal is often to ensure the company recovers every dollar spent on the benefit, every dollar of premium paid, and even the "opportunity cost" of those funds. The predictable, tax-advantaged growth of Whole Life makes this math not just possible, but repeatable.

Regulatory Expertise: Being in the "Room Where It Happened"

When you are dealing with permanent products like Whole Life, compliance is not optional. You need an advisor who understands the "why" behind the regulations.

Matt Schiff, the President of Schiff Executive Benefits, doesn't just read the laws; he helped write them. In 2003 and 2005, Matt served as a ranking member of the AALU's NQDC Committee alongside Michael Goldstein. Together, they helped draft the very regulations that govern IRC 409A (which dictates how deferred compensation is taxed) and IRC 101(j) (which covers employer-owned life insurance).

This "insider" expertise is why we focus so heavily on ensuring your programs are designed to satisfy every government requirement. To hear more about the history of these regulations directly from the source, we invite you to watch Matt’s conversation with Dan Hogans (formerly of the IRS Treasury) on The Perfect Plan^® Podcast.

Solving the Five "What Ifs"

Every business owner we meet is haunted by the same five questions. Whole Life is a versatile tool that provides answers to almost all of them:

1. What if you end up in business with a widow? Whole Life can fund buy-sell agreements with a guaranteed death benefit.


2. What if there is a business buy-out? The accumulated cash value provides the liquidity needed for a smooth transition.


3. What if your top talent leaves? A Whole Life-funded NQDC plan creates "Golden Handcuffs" that reward the executive for staying.


4. What if you need to replace a senior executive? The tax-free death benefit provides the capital to recruit and train a successor.


5. What if you run out of retirement money? The policy's cash value can be accessed tax-efficiently to provide a "guaranteed paycheck and a playcheck."

Restoring Alignment and Retention

At Schiff Executive Benefits, we believe that the best plans are those that align the interests of the business owner with the interests of their key people. We call this Restoring Alignment and Retention.

Whole Life is not the only tool in our belt, but for companies that value certainty, guarantees, and a "set it and forget it" approach to financial security, it is often the most appropriate.

If you’re ready to see how the mathematical certainty of Whole Life can strengthen your business, we invite you to take the first step. Use our Business Valuation Tool to see what your company is worth today, then let’s sit down, grab a coffee, and build your Perfect Plan^®.

Come join us at The Perfect Plan^® and let’s start planning for all of life's "What Ifs."

Change is constant. Process matters. If you're evaluating bank owned life insurance, you need a framework that is clear, compliant, and easy for leadership to follow. Our BOLI process is designed to help banks move from early evaluation to confident implementation without unnecessary complexity. At Schiff Executive Benefits, we make BOLI implementation easier to understand, easier to present, and easier to manage.

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Why This Process Matters

A successful BOLI process helps your bank:

• Offset employee benefit costs


• Support executive benefit liabilities


• Stay aligned with risk and capital considerations


• Give the board a clean path to informed decision-making

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Foundation: OCC 2004-56

Every sound BOLI implementation starts with OCC 2004-56. This guidance sets the standard for how banks evaluate risk, document their analysis, and approach bank owned life insurance as a safe and sound asset. We treat OCC 2004-56 as the starting point, not the finish line. That keeps the entire BOLI process focused, defensible, and board-ready.

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The 10-Step BOLI Process

Our pre-purchase analysis is built to help bank leadership evaluate structure, risk, pricing, and fit before moving forward.

1. Calculate Employee Benefit Liabilities

Define the benefit costs the BOLI program is meant to offset.

2. Conduct OCC Testing

Measure capital impact, earnings alignment, and insurance-to-capital positioning.

3. Analyze Insurable Interest

Confirm legal eligibility and proper insurable interest for covered lives.

4. Review Risk

Evaluate credit risk, interest rate risk, liquidity risk, and legislative risk.

5. Prepare Financial Models

Run independent projections for yield, surrender outcomes, and cost recovery.

6. Review Carrier Investment Strategy

Assess how the carrier invests and whether that approach fits your bank.

7. Review Policy Characteristics

Compare General Account, Separate Account, and Hybrid Account options.

8. Reverse-Engineer the Product

Build the design around your bank’s goals instead of forcing a shelf product.

9. Negotiate Final Pricing

Work to improve net yield, pricing, and overall policy economics.

10. Support Board Review

Deliver a concise executive summary and due diligence package for approval.

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Implementation and Ongoing Support

Approval is not the end of the BOLI process. It is the beginning of proper execution. We support the full BOLI implementation phase, including documentation, employee consent, policy placement, and delivery. After purchase, we continue with annual reviews, carrier monitoring, and updated analysis so your bank owned life insurance strategy stays aligned with the original goal. We also work alongside your existing advisors, including accountants, attorneys, and TPAs, so the process stays coordinated and efficient.

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Ready to implement a smarter BOLI strategy?

Schedule a consultation For a broader look at related executive benefit strategies, visit our services.

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Meta Description: Our BOLI process helps banks streamline BOLI implementation with clear steps, OCC 2004-56 alignment, and practical bank owned life insurance guidance.

Learn more: our complete guide to Bank Owned Life Insurance (BOLI).

In the world of community and commercial banking, there is a fundamental truth that every Board of Directors eventually faces: your most valuable assets don't show up in your vault; they sit in your executive offices. The talent you've spent years cultivating is the engine of your growth, yet the cost of retaining that talent, specifically through competitive retirement packages and benefits, can create a significant drag on your earnings. BOLI is one of the most powerful tools a bank has to offset benefit costs while strengthening its balance sheet. If you are a bank executive or a board member, you likely find yourself asking some variation of the "Five What Ifs" that keep leadership up at night. What if our top talent leaves for a competitor? Or what if the cost of replacing a senior executive erodes our quarterly margins? What if our current benefit structures are no longer cost-effective in a shifting interest-rate environment? Ultimately, this is where Bank Owned Life Insurance (BOLI) moves from a technical financial product to a strategic cornerstone. At Schiff Executive Benefits, we believe in Restoring Alignment and Retention by using BOLI as more than just a policy, it's a way to reverse-engineer the financial security your institution needs.

What is BOLI and How Does It Work?

BOLI — Bank Owned Life Insurance — is a form of life insurance purchased by a bank on the lives of its key employees. The bank is the owner and the beneficiary of the policies. However, BOLI is not "insurance" in the traditional sense you might think of for your personal estate. It is an earning asset. When you purchase BOLI, you are effectively reallocating a portion of the bank's low-yielding liquid assets into a specialized insurance contract that offers significantly higher after-tax yields. The mechanics are elegant in their simplicity:

1. The bank pays a single premium (or a series of premiums) to an insurance carrier.


2. The cash surrender value (CSV) of the policy grows on a tax-deferred basis.


3. This growth is recorded as "Other Non-Interest Income" on the bank's income statement.


4. Upon the death of the insured executive, the death benefit is paid to the bank, generally income tax-free.

The Regulatory Landscape: Navigating OCC 2004-56

You cannot discuss BOLI without discussing the regulatory framework that governs it. For national banks, the primary guidance is OCC Bulletin 2004-56, which transmits the Interagency Statement on the Purchase and Risk Management of Life Insurance. The regulators, including the FDIC and the Federal Reserve, are not opposed to BOLI; in fact, they recognize it as a permissible "incidental" activity. However, they demand a high level of due diligence. Specifically, they want to see that you didn't just "buy a product," but that you engaged in a rigorous pre-purchase analysis. This analysis must document:

• The Business Purpose: Why are you buying this? (Usually to offset the cost of employee benefit obligations).


• The Size of the Obligation: You must quantitatively tie the BOLI amount to the present value of the benefits you are funding.


• Risk Management: You must assess credit risk, interest rate risk, and liquidity risk.

As someone who helped draft the regulations surrounding IRC 409A and 101(j) during my time on the AALU's NQDC Committee, I have seen firsthand how important it is to be "in the room where it happened." We design our BOLI programs to be "bulletproof" from a regulatory standpoint because we understand the intent behind the laws, not just the text on the page.

BOLI as a Strategic Balance Sheet Asset

BOLI isn't just insurance — it's a strategic earning asset. Why do banks choose BOLI over traditional investments like Treasuries or municipal bonds? It comes down to the after-tax yield and the impact on the balance sheet. In a typical taxable investment, your yield is eroded by corporate income taxes. With BOLI, because the internal buildup of cash value is tax-deferred (and often tax-free if held until death), the tax-equivalent yield is substantially higher. It is not uncommon for a BOLI portfolio to outperform traditional bank-allowable investments by 150 to 250 basis points on an after-tax basis. Furthermore, BOLI provides:

• Immediate Accretion to Earnings: Most BOLI policies are structured so that the first-year increase in cash value exceeds the premium's opportunity cost, providing an immediate boost to non-interest income.


• Stability: BOLI returns are generally less volatile than the equity markets, providing a "bond-like" stability to the long-term asset side of your ledger.


• Tier 1 Capital: BOLI is often treated as a Tier 1 asset, supporting the bank's capital adequacy ratios.

Funding SERPs and Retaining Top Talent

While the balance sheet benefits are compelling, the true power of BOLI is realized when it is used to fund Supplemental Executive Retirement Plans (SERPs). A SERP is a nonqualified plan that provides benefits to key executives above and beyond what a 401(k) allows. However, the problem for many banks is that a SERP creates a growing liability on the books. BOLI acts as the "informal funding" vehicle that grows alongside that liability. By using BOLI to fund a SERP, you can therefore:

• Attract the Best: Offer retirement packages that compete with much larger regional or national banks.


• Retain the Best: Use "golden handcuffs" to ensure your key leaders stay through their peak earning years.


• Reward Performance: Structure benefits that trigger only when the bank hits specific growth or stability milestones.

You can also pair these strategies with Nonqualified Deferred Compensation (NQDC) to create more flexible executive retention and retirement outcomes. When we talk about Perfect Plan^®, we are talking about this exact alignment, where the bank's financial health and the executive's personal security are perfectly synced.

Why the Consultant Matters: The SEB Difference

There are plenty of people who will sell you a BOLI policy. But BOLI is not a "set it and forget it" product. It requires ongoing monitoring, annual reviews, and technical expertise that most internal HR or finance departments simply don't have the bandwidth to maintain. At Schiff Executive Benefits, we pride ourselves on being independent. We are brokers, which means we work for you, not the insurance carrier. We have the ability to work with any carrier in the marketplace to find the specific product that fits your bank's culture and intent. Our approach is one of Goal-Oriented Reverse Engineering. We don't start with a product; we start with your "What Ifs." We look at your existing advisors, your accountant, your attorney, your TPA, and we work alongside them as a specialized technical resource. With almost 100 years of combined experience, we've seen every market cycle and every regulatory shift. We know how to ensure your program complies with IRC 101(j) and remains a safe-and-sound asset for decades to come.

Take the Next Step for Your Institution

Is your bank's current benefit strategy optimized? Are you using the most efficient assets to protect your bottom line? If you're ready to see how BOLI can transform your balance sheet while securing your leadership team, we invite you to sit back, grab a coffee, and let's talk. A great place to start is by understanding the true value of your business and the risks you face. Click here to use our Business Valuation tool and start capturing the data you need to plan for the future. You can also explore our latest insights on bank-owned life insurance or learn more about benchmarking your current strategy to ensure you aren't leaving money on the table.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the maximum amount of BOLI a bank can hold? Generally, regulators look for BOLI holdings to be no more than 25% of the bank's Tier 1 Capital plus the allowance for loan and lease losses (ALLL). However, this can vary based on the bank's overall risk profile and the quality of the insurance carriers. Is BOLI a liquid asset? BOLI is considered a long-term, relatively illiquid asset. While the cash value can be accessed through surrender, doing so often carries significant tax penalties. Therefore, it should only be funded with "permanent" capital that the bank does not expect to need for short-term liquidity. How does BOLI impact our taxes? The growth of the cash surrender value is tax-deferred. If the policy is held until the death of the insured, the proceeds are typically received income tax-free. This creates a very high tax-equivalent yield compared to taxable investments. Who owns the BOLI policy? The bank is the 100% owner and beneficiary. The employee has no claim to the cash value or the death benefit unless the bank chooses to share a portion of the death benefit with the employee's family as part of a split-dollar arrangement. Does BOLI require employee consent? Yes. Under IRC 101(j), banks must obtain written consent from employees before the policy is issued. This is a critical compliance step that we manage as part of our implementation process.

Learn more: our complete guide to Bank Owned Life Insurance (BOLI).

"What gets measured gets managed." This management aphorism, often attributed to Peter Drucker, has guided executive decision-making for decades. In the banking sector, management often translates to benchmarking. If 71% of all U.S. banks: and over 80% of the top 50 financial institutions: own Bank Owned Life Insurance (BOLI), the logic follows that your bank should too.

But here is the universal truth that benchmarking often obscures: Average results come from average strategies.

For many bank boards and executive teams, BOLI is viewed through the lens of a peer group report. They look at what the bank across the street is doing, match the Tier 1 capital concentration, and call it a day. However, BOLI is not a "set it and forget it" commodity. It is a sophisticated financing mechanism designed to offset specific, growing liabilities.

To truly leverage this asset, leadership must move beyond simple benchmarking and embrace strategic BOLI optimization.

The Benchmark Trap: Why Peer Groups Aren't Enough

Benchmarking provides a safety net, but it doesn't provide a roadmap. When you rely solely on what your peers are doing, you are essentially letting the "average" bank determine your institution's financial strategy.

Peer reports tell you the what, but they rarely explain the why. They don't account for your specific cost of funds, your unique loan-to-deposit ratio, or the precise trajectory of your employee benefit obligations.

Are you facing a sudden surge in medical insurance premiums? Do you have a significant "What If" regarding top talent leaving for a competitor? Are you prepared for the replacement costs of senior executives as they approach retirement?

Optimization begins when we stop asking "What is everyone else doing?" and start asking "What does our bank specifically need to achieve?" At Schiff Executive Benefits, we call this goal-oriented reverse engineering. We don't start with a product; we start with your intent and your culture.

Reverse Engineering Your Cost Recovery

BOLI is uniquely suited to offset the current and future costs of employee benefits, including pre- and post-retirement medical coverage, group life, and supplemental retirement programs. Because of its tax-advantaged accounting treatment, it often provides a higher net after-tax yield than traditional bank-permissible investments.

However, optimization requires a deeper dive into cost recovery. A "Perfect Plan®" (which you can learn more about on The Perfect Plan® YouTube channel) isn't built on generic assumptions. It is built by identifying the exact dollar amount of your unfunded liabilities and matching those against the projected cash flow of a BOLI portfolio.

This level of precision ensures that you aren't just "offsetting costs": you are strategically recovering them in full.

The Six Pillars of Risk Evaluation

Bank regulators, particularly the OCC, are clear that a bank’s responsibility doesn't end at purchase. According to OCC Bulletin 2004-56, carrier selection is one of the most critical decisions in a BOLI purchase, carrying long-term consequences.

Optimization means moving past the surface-level credit rating of a carrier and conducting a rigorous pre-purchase analysis of the six risks identified by regulators:

1. Transaction Risk: Ensuring the plan is designed and implemented correctly from day one.


2. Credit Risk: Evaluating the long-term stability and claims-paying ability of the insurance carrier.


3. Interest Rate Risk: Understanding how changes in the rate environment will impact the product's performance.


4. Liquidity Risk: BOLI is a long-term asset; optimization requires balancing this against the bank’s overall liquidity needs.


5. Compliance Risk: Navigating the complex web of IRC 101(j) and 409A regulations.


6. Price Risk: Ensuring the underlying costs of the insurance are competitive and sustainable.

By meticulously documenting these risks, you don't just satisfy examiners; you protect the bank’s shareholders and the executive's benefits.

The Compliance Foundation: IRC 101(j) and Beyond

One of the most overlooked aspects of BOLI optimization is the ongoing administrative and regulatory burden. Under IRC 101(j), specific notice and consent requirements must be met before a policy is issued. Failure to comply can turn a tax-advantaged death benefit into taxable income: a catastrophic failure of strategy.

Furthermore, as your bank grows and evolves, so do the rules. We emphasize an integrated approach, working alongside your existing team of accountants, attorneys, and TPAs. We don't just deliver a solution; we ensure that solution stays in alignment with government regulations and your bank’s internal policies.

Customizing the Portfolio: General, Hybrid, or Separate?

There is no "one size fits all" in BOLI. Optimization involves selecting the right account structure based on your bank’s risk appetite and investment objectives:

• General Account: Assets are part of the insurance company’s general investment portfolio. It offers stability and fixed-income-like characteristics.


• Separate Account: Assets are held in a segregated account, often managed by outside investment firms. This offers transparency and may provide higher returns but involves more "investor control" considerations.


• Hybrid Account: Combines elements of both, offering the protection of the general account with some of the transparency of a separate account.

An optimized strategy might involve a mix of these products across multiple highly-rated carriers to ensure you stay within the OCC’s 15% Tier 1 capital concentration guidelines for any single carrier.

Moving Beyond the Status Quo

If your BOLI program hasn't been reviewed in the last three years, it is likely no longer optimized. The economic environment has shifted, regulations have tightened, and your bank’s talent needs have undoubtedly changed.

The goal of BOLI consulting at Schiff Executive Benefits is not simply to facilitate a transaction. It is to help you build a program that acts as a powerful retention tool while strengthening your balance sheet. Whether you are a community bank with 10 employees or a larger institution with thousands, the principles of strategic optimization remain the same.

Are you ready to stop following the benchmark and start leading with a strategy? It’s time to look at the "What Ifs" of your bank’s future and build a plan that answers them with certainty.

Sit back, grab your coffee, and join us as we explore how to turn your executive benefits into a competitive advantage. The path to optimization begins with a single conversation.

To stay updated on the latest shifts in executive benefits and BOLI strategies, visit our posts feed at https://schiffbenefits.com/posts-2/.

Restoring Alignment and Retention

Learn more: our complete guide to Bank Owned Life Insurance (BOLI).

Decisions define institutions. In the world of banking, where every basis point is scrutinized and every regulatory guideline is a fence, the strongest institutions are those that do not drift. They decide. They operate with a level of strategic intentionality that turns balance sheet line items into competitive advantages.

If your bank is currently navigating the dual challenge of attracting, retaining, and rewarding key talent while simultaneously managing balance sheet performance in a shifting interest rate environment, Bank-Owned Life Insurance (BOLI) deserves more than just a passing glance. It shouldn't be viewed as a novelty or a “nice-to-have” asset. Instead, BOLI is a prudent, highly regulated asset class that the most well-run banks in the country use to support executive benefit liabilities.

The real question for your board is about optimization. As Matt Schiff often discusses on The Perfect Plan®, the goal is to align corporate assets with long-term promises and benchmark performance against clear financial and governance objectives.

So, here is the benchmark question: Does your bank have an optimized strategy, supported by current BOLI performance benchmarks, or has the conversation simply not been revisited lately?

The Benchmark Reality: 67% and Rising

Across the United States, BOLI adoption remains one of the most consistent trends in the financial sector. Based on the latest FDIC Call Report data, roughly 67% of all banks nationally hold BOLI. When you narrow the lens to specific high-performance markets like South Dakota, the numbers are even more telling. In South Dakota, adoption sits at 72.4%.

When more than two-thirds of the market: and nearly three-quarters of banks in leading financial hubs: utilize a specific tool, the conversation changes. It is no longer a question of "What is this?" or "Should we do this?" The question becomes: "Is our current strategy optimized with the same level of strategic intentionality, carrier discipline, and prudent performance benchmarking as our top-performing peers?"

Strategic drift happens when a board assumes that a decision made five years ago remains the optimal choice today. In a world where the cost of talent is rising and the regulatory landscape is constantly evolving, "status quo" is often the most expensive strategy a bank can have.

The Optimization Framework: Regulation and Discipline

Optimization begins with a deep respect for the guardrails. The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) has long recognized BOLI as a legitimate balance sheet and benefit financing tool. However, they don't view it as a blank check.

One of the most critical benchmarks for any bank board is the 25% of Tier 1 / Regulatory Capital guideline. This isn't a target to hit; it's a discipline to maintain. Optimization means finding the "sweet spot" where the asset provides maximum benefit cost recovery without creating undue concentration risk.

A truly optimized BOLI strategy within our BOLI consulting framework includes:

• Formal Board-Level Review: Regular evaluation of the portfolio's performance against initial projections.


• Carrier Diversification: Ensuring the bank isn't overly exposed to a single credit, regardless of how high their rating might be.


• Pre-Purchase Technical Analysis: Using a "reverse engineering" approach to ensure the product matches the specific liability it's intended to offset.


• Credit Quality Monitoring: Maintaining a rigorous, ongoing due diligence process that satisfies regulatory expectations.


• Clear Documentation: Connecting the dots between the BOLI asset and the specific executive benefit strategy, such as deferred compensation or NQDC plans.

In this context, compliance isn't a hurdle: it’s the foundation. Compliance is the framework for a strategy that is optimized for performance within regulatory guardrails.

Solving for the "What Ifs"

At Schiff Executive Benefits, we focus on the five core "What If" questions that keep bank presidents and board chairs up at night. BOLI, when optimized, provides a technical answer to several of them:

1. What if your top talent leaves? If you haven't built an "ownership feel" for your non-owner executives, they are susceptible to poaching.


2. What if the cost of replacing senior execs skyrockets? BOLI provides the cost recovery necessary to fund the transition and the replacement search.


3. What if your benefit costs outpace your asset yields? This is the "optimization gap" where BOLI often shines.

When a bank views its benefits as a pure expense line, it is reacting to the market. When a bank uses an optimized BOLI strategy to informally finance those promises, it is leading the market. It allows the institution to offer 100% protection to employee families while maintaining a focus on the bank's long-term profitability.

BOLI vs. Traditional Fixed Income: A Technical Comparison

Bank boards often compare BOLI to familiar alternatives: Agency bonds, Mortgage-Backed Securities (MBS), and Corporate bonds. This comparison is fair, but to be truly optimized, it must be complete.

On the surface, fixed income is comfortable. It fits easily into the investment committee’s existing vocabulary. But once you factor in after-tax performance, book-value stability, carrier credit quality, and the specific role of the asset in financing executive benefit liabilities, the math often shifts. The right benchmark is not headline yield alone. It is net economic performance relative to the liability being financed.

Why Optimized BOLI Often Outperforms

• Tax-Advantaged Growth: Earnings inside a properly structured BOLI portfolio grow income tax-deferred. When death proceeds are eventually received, they are generally income tax-free under IRC Section 101(j).


• Book-Value Stability: BOLI is generally recorded at its Cash Surrender Value (CSV). Unlike many fixed-income positions, it doesn't create the same mark-to-market "noise" or volatility on the balance sheet during periods of rising interest rates.


• The Yield Advantage: When analyzed on a tax-equivalent basis, BOLI frequently offers a net yield potential that compares very favorably to high-grade taxable alternatives.

If your bank is carrying significant executive benefit obligations without a corresponding recovery asset, you are essentially "self-insuring" a liability with taxable dollars. That is the opposite of optimization.

The Governance Questions: Conviction vs. Inertia

An optimized board does not ask if BOLI is "trendy." It asks technical, governance-focused questions that cut through the noise:

• Are we below the national adoption benchmark of 67% for a strategic reason, or just because we haven't looked at the data in three years?


• Have we benchmarked our BOLI vs. MBS and Corporate bonds on an after-tax basis recently?


• If our peers are using BOLI to attract the same talent we are chasing, what is the opportunity cost of our current inaction?


• Does our current carrier list represent the best available credit quality in today's market?

These aren't sales questions. They are the hallmark of a high-functioning board that is committed to Restoring Alignment and Retention.

Benchmarking is About Intentionality

No two banks should have identical BOLI positions. Your culture, your capital levels, and your specific benefit designs must lead the way. However, benchmarking data is an essential tool because it reveals whether your institution is operating from conviction or from inertia.

Lack of intentional review is, in itself, a decision: often an expensive one.

If your bank is materially below the national average: or lagging behind what comparable institutions are doing in your specific market: the right next step isn't to rush into a purchase. The right next step is to run a comprehensive benchmarking review.

This analysis should review your regulatory capital capacity, portfolio design, credited rate expectations, benefit cost recovery goals, and the current credit quality of potential carriers. It should be an integrated approach where we work alongside your existing team of advisors: your accountants, attorneys, and TPAs: to ensure the plan matches your company culture and intent.

The Perfect Plan® for Your Bank

At Schiff Executive Benefits, we don't believe in canned pitches. We believe in reverse engineering. We start with your goals: what you want to achieve for your executives and your shareholders: and we build the structure to match.

We call this The Perfect Plan®. It’s about more than just insurance; it’s about creating a structure where the bank wins, the executive wins, and the regulatory requirements are met with room to spare.

If your bank has not benchmarked its BOLI position recently, you are likely operating with an unoptimized strategy. With national adoption at 67% and rising, the question is no longer whether BOLI belongs on a bank balance sheet. The question is whether your bank is applying the strategic intentionality and technical discipline required to make it a high-performance asset.

Sit back, grab your coffee, and let’s take a look at the numbers together. We invite you to join us in a conversation about what an optimized strategy could look like for your institution.

Restoring Alignment and Retention.

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Learn more: our complete guide to Bank Owned Life Insurance (BOLI).