Under a collateral assignment, what does the policyowner usually do?

A collateral assignment involves the policyowner assigning their life insurance policy to a lender or creditor to secure a loan. In this arrangement, the lender receives the rights to the benefits from the policy to the extent of the debt. This means that if the policyowner fails to repay the loan, the lender has a claim to the policy proceeds up to the amount owed.

The key characteristic of a collateral assignment is that the policyowner maintains ownership of the policy while allowing the lender a claim on the policy's benefits. This is distinct from a complete transfer of policy ownership, where the new owner assumes full rights and responsibilities associated with the policy. By using a collateral assignment, the policyowner keeps control over the policy and can still make changes, such as adjusting beneficiaries or continuing to pay premiums, as long as the terms of the assignment are followed.

Understanding this concept is important, especially in financial planning and the management of personal investments, as it provides a way to leverage life insurance policies to secure financing without relinquishing full control of the asset.