Why Everyone’s Talking About PPVAs and PPLI

December 10, 2024
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I’m just back from Miami, where EFSI sponsored two events – Fundviews Capital’s Alternative Investments Cocktails and Bites networking event, and the second annual Spearhead Art Basel PPLI & PPVA Forum.

It feels like Private Placement Variable Annuities (PPVAs) and Private Placement Life Insurance (PPLI) have gone from niche products to hot topics in the financial world almost overnight. Well, not exactly overnight – this space has been quietly growing for years, but it’s only recently that more people are sitting up and taking notice – hence the ‘second’ annual event.

First things first: what are we even talking about? PPVAs and PPLI are customizable insurance solutions that wealthy individuals and institutional investors use to combine investment flexibility with significant tax advantages. Think of them as financial power tools for high-net-worth investors.

PPVAs let you defer taxes on investment gains while staying nimble with your portfolio, and PPLI ups the ante by offering both tax-deferred growth and a death benefit that’s free of estate taxes. Not to mention, they both allow for access to alternative investments such as hedge funds, private debt, private equity, and real estate – that are usually out of reach for traditional insurance products.

Three things are driving the growth.

First is the ever-present tax crunch. With rising scrutiny on offshore tax shelters and increased global transparency, high-net-worth individuals are looking for legitimate ways to reduce their tax burdens. Enter PPVAs and PPLI, which offer a compliant yet highly effective solution for tax efficiency. The allure of tax-deferred or even tax-free growth is hard to resist, especially when traditional strategies are under the microscope.

Next is the well-documented shift to alternative investments. Wealthy investors and family offices have been allocating more capital to alternative assets in recent years, seeking diversification and better returns in an increasingly volatile market. PPVAs and PPLI provide a framework to invest in these alternative assets while enjoying the tax benefits. It’s like having your cake and eating it too – except the cake is higher returns, and the frosting is tax deferral.

Third is a more intense focus on generational wealth planning. For families looking to pass down wealth efficiently, PPLI, in particular, is becoming a go-to strategy. It’s not just about minimizing taxes; it’s about making sure assets transfer smoothly and remain protected. These products offer built-in flexibility for estate planning, which is a massive selling point.

Of course, no story of growth comes without its challenges. PPVAs and PPLI products are squarely on the radar of tax authorities and regulators, who might see them as ripe for abuse if not properly structured. As the industry grows, expect more rules and closer oversight.

These products are complex, and accessibility is low – they aren’t products you pick up off the shelf. They require high customization, which means high costs and a steep learning curve for investors. That exclusivity can limit broader adoption, even among the wealthy.

And there is the potential for legal action: Every now and then, you hear about a high-profile case where someone misuses these products. While this is the exception rather than the rule, it could lead to reputational risks or tighter restrictions that impact even legitimate users.

Despite these challenges, the message from the conference was that the trajectory for PPVAs and PPLI seems clear: upward. Wealth management professionals are increasingly incorporating these products into their toolkits, and innovations in technology and regulation may help address some of the accessibility and compliance issues.

For those who qualify, these strategies remain an incredibly powerful way to grow and protect wealth. And for the industry as a whole, the future looks promising – assuming it can navigate the challenges ahead. I wouldn’t be surprised if 2025 were to be something of a breakout year for this part of the financial world.

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Anthony D. Mascia is Managing Partner at EFSI. Connect with him on LinkedIn here.

EFSI is an independently owned, SOC-1 compliant, full-service fund administration firm. We provide accounting, reporting, administrative, and capital introduction services to a wide range of alternative investment funds including hedge funds, funds of funds, private equity funds, real estate funds, venture capital funds, and family offices. The center of EFSI’s service incorporates resilient technology and accomplished staff, providing clients a tailor-made service with exhaustive transparency. Give us a call today or reach out to our support team online. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

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