Your business’ financial health comes as a result of sound planning. Premature death can threaten business continuity and, hence, the survival of your company. Life insurance and a shareholder agreement can help you face the financial repercussions of death on your company, family and loved ones.
See : Shareholder agreements : A wise chioce!
Keeping business operations running
Death of a sole proprietor
Upon a sole proprietor’s death, the company is usually transferred to the deceased’s succession, usually his or her family. If one of the children wants to take over the company, what happens to the other children’s inheritance? Life insurance is the ideal solution to ensure fairness within the family, to allow the children who will not be taking over the business to be compensated by a life insurance benefit.
If there is no one in the family to take over the business, taking out life insurance on the owner’s life can enable a key employee to obtain the funds required to buy out company assets left to the family.
Death of a key person
The death of a key person can severely compromise company operations. Taking out life insurance on this person’s life can allow you to maintain company operations by giving you the opportunity to:
- hire a replacement until a successor is ready to take over the position
- compensate for any backlash due to loss of expertise
- cover operating costs
Meet your financial obligations
Whether you are self-employed, a partner or a business owner, credit insurance allows you to protect your business projects and look to the future with confidence in the event of death. Credit insurance (Loan Insurance and Line of Credit Insurance) covers you in the event of death, since it:
- ensures repayment of insured loan balance, removing this financial burden from the estate or business and easing the transfer of asset to your loved ones or a third party
- allows the succession to dispose of the entire inheritance, since it no longer has worry about paying off the loan
Protect the financial security of your family
In the event of death, your succession could decide to keep the company, sell their shares or liquidate company assets. To be prepared for the unexpected, a guaranteed life insurance amount can:
- help pay any taxes due following liquidation of taxable assets
- help your family maintain its lifestyle by providing replacement income
- ensure fairness among all family members in the event of business ownership transfer
- finance the difference between the sale price of shares and their market value in the event of unfavorable economic conditions or fast sale