By the time most people talk to me about insurance, they’ve already made a decision: they’ve bought a policy, they’ve named someone as a beneficiary, and they feel relieved. Done and dusted. But here’s what I always ask:
“If something happened to you tomorrow, are you confident the money will be used the way you intend?”
And that’s when the silence starts.
Most people haven’t thought about that. They assume that as long as someone is named, the process will work itself out. But I’ve seen what really happens—money without structure causes problems. Not always—but often enough.
Let me tell you why I believe insurance trust is one of the most overlooked, but most powerful tools we have in estate planning.
A Real Story That Stuck with Me
A divorced client once shared this with me: He had bought a RM1 million life insurance policy for his two young children. Because they were still minors, he named his younger brother as the nominee. “He’ll take care of them,” he said. “He’s family.”
But after he passed away, things began to change. At first, the brother stepped in to help, just as promised. But soon, he started saying, “I have my own family to take care of.” Little by little, the money was used—for his own needs, his own life.
What was meant to support two children for ten years was gone in just two.
It’s not always about greed. Sometimes it’s a lack of planning. No clear instructions. No accountability. No structure.
Control Is Not About Mistrust. It’s About Care.
I often tell clients: Naming a beneficiary is not a plan. It’s a placeholder.
A real plan means you’re thinking two steps ahead:
- What if your child is only 18 when you die? Will they be able to manage such huge amount of inheritance?
- What if your spouse remarries?
- What if your parents outlive you but can’t manage a lump sum?
- What if there are arguments over “who gets how much, and when”
That’s what an insurance trust fixes. It lets you set the terms. You decide:
- Who receives the payout
- How much and when
- Who manages the funds
- Who checks on that person
- And even, who steps in if someone fails
This isn’t about control in a negative sense — it’s about protecting your intentions. When you’re no longer around to speak, this trust speaks for you.
If You’ve Bought Insurance, Don’t Stop There
You’ve already taken a huge step by buying a life policy. That means you care. You want to protect someone. That’s beautiful. But if you stop there, you’re leaving the outcome to chance. Because here’s the hard truth: Money doesn’t come with instructions—unless you give them. And an insurance trust is your instruction manual.
Especially if you’re:
- A parent of young kids
- Supporting elderly or special-needs family
- The main income earner
- In a second marriage or complex family structure
You need more than a payout. You need a plan with teeth.
You Don’t Need to Be Rich to Assign a Trustee
Some people still think setting up a trust is something only the ultra-wealthy do. It’s not. Assigning your life insurance to a trustee company is a step anyone can take—especially if you want your money to be protected and properly distributed.
What I’d Tell You as a Friend
If we were having coffee and you asked me what I’d do to make sure my family’s taken care of, this is what I’d say:
“Don’t just leave money. Leave a system. Leave a structure. Leave peace.”
If that resonates with you, then maybe it’s time to revisit your plan. Not because what you have is wrong—but because what you have might not be enough.
For further details, you may make an appointment with our legal advisor here:
https://calendly.com/finex-and-co-legacy-advisory/tea-talk-with-legal-expert
“我希望我的家人把我留给他们的遗产，都用在对的地方”
很多人跟我说，他们已经做好了准备。
“我有买保险。”
“我写好遗嘱了。”
“我也指定了受益人。”
听起来很完整，对吧？但每当他们说完，我都会多问一句：
“如果你明天不在了，你确定这笔钱会被用在你想要的地方吗？
他们大多沉默。不是因为没想过，而是——他们从来没真正考虑过“钱怎么被使用”。而这，正是我这么重视「保险信托」的原因。它不是保险的附属，而是让你的心意落地、被执行、被尊重的一方式。
一个让我难忘的真实案例
有位离婚的客户告诉我，他给两个孩子买了一份 RM1,000,000 的人寿保险。他担心孩子年纪还小，于是就把弟弟设为受益人，“他会帮我照顾他们的”。结果他离世后，事情开始变质。弟弟一开始还愿意帮忙，但后来开始说自己也有家庭要顾。钱慢慢被动用，花在他自己的生活上，孩子那边只剩下一小部分。这笔原本该撑十年的保险金，两年就花完了。
不是所有的悲剧都源自贪婪，有时只是——没有结构、没有说明没有准备。
“控制”不是不信任，而是出于关爱
我常说，“指定受益人”不是规划，它只是一个名字。
真正的规划，是你愿意去思考：
- 孩子还小，要不要每月分期给他？
- 配偶将来再婚，该不该设立备用受益人？
- 父母年迈，能不能自己管理大笔赔偿金？
- 家族成员之间，会不会因为钱而争吵？
保险信托的好处就在这里——它让你定规则、设机制、写条件、挑人监督。
你可以决定：
- 谁拿钱、拿多少、什么时候拿
- 谁来照顾你（如果你昏迷或TPD）
- 谁监督整个过程（监督人）
- 如果某人失职，谁可以替代他
说白了：即使你不在了，信托可以继续“代替你讲话”。
如果你已经买了保险，那只是第一步
买保险是你表达责任感的一种方式。你已经展现出：你在乎你爱的人。但你知道吗？如果你没有指定「怎么用这笔钱」，那这份保障还是不完整的。因为现实就是：钱本身没有说明书。除非你写下你的说明。保险信托，就是你的说明书。
谁更需要保险信托？
- 有小孩的父母
- 有年迈或行动不便家人的照顾者
- 家庭唯一经济支柱
- 离婚再婚、家庭结构复杂者
这些人，不能只留下“钱”。他们需要的是——计划、有备选的机制。
不是有钱人才能设信托，而是有责任感的人会主动设立
很多人以为，信托只是有钱人玩的东西。其实不然。
将你的人寿保险指定给信托机构是一种任何有责任感的人都可以做的安排。你不需要有上百万资产，才值得设立信托。
如果今天是你和我面对面，我会这样告诉你：
“别只留下钱，要留下规则、节奏和安心。”
如果你愿意，现在就可以重新检查你的保险计划。
不是说你之前的做法错了，而是——它还可以更完整、更有温度。
