Private placement life insurance (PPLI) was once the exclusive domain of wealthy investors willing to tackle the logistical challenges of the offshore insurance market. The investment portfolio, tax, and estate-planning applications, and ongoing investment potential of these policies made the effort worthwhile. In recent years, though, a number of U.S.-based insurance companies have developed similar policies that meet all U.S. insurance, investment, and tax regulations.

PPLI is becoming a fundamental component of effective tax, trust, and estate planning, but few sources have been...