Do you have highly compensated employees looking to reduce their taxable income or set aside additional money for retirement? With a nonqualified deferred compensation (NQDC) plan, you can help these clients accomplish both goals. Keep in mind, however, that there is some measure of risk to consider—unlike with other types of retirement plans, the money they’ve saved is dependent on the financial solvency of the employer. 

Under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, the federal estate tax exemption increased from $5.49 million to $11.4 million per individual (in 2019). This boost means a married couple can exclude a staggering $22.8 million from estate tax!

But this dramatic change has also prompted many clients to question whether they still need an irrevocable life insurance trust (ILIT) if their estate is valued below this exemption. The answer is . . . it depends.