Private Wealth Advisory With

Smarter Strategies for Sophisticated Wealth.

Discover

What We Do

The Ballast Rock Private Wealth Difference

We integrate comprehensive financial planning with advanced tax and estate planning techniques to deliver bespoke investment solutions for wealthy individuals and their families.

01

Advanced Financial Planning

Turn life’s complexity into clarity with a living financial blueprint that adapts to your goals for decades to come.

Learn More
02

Custom Investment Strategies

Achieve true diversification with portfolios designed around your advanced financial plan — blending public markets and private markets to pursue investment returns with reduced volatility.

Learn More
03

Tax Alpha Strategies

Maximize after-tax wealth by structuring investments and strategies for tax efficiency and after-tax compounding growth.

Learn More
04

Estate Planning

Protect loved ones and empower future generations through thoughtful wealth transfer and legacy strategies that endure.

Learn More
05

Business Owner Strategy

Optimize business value, preserve more of the wealth you’ve created at exit, and transition confidently from owner to investor with advanced strategies years before the sale.

Learn More
06

Private Placement Life Insurance

An institutional, tax-efficient structure that lets qualified investors hold alternative assets inside a life insurance policy. Available only to Accredited Investors and Qualified Purchasers.

Learn More

About Us

True wealth is more than money.

At Ballast Rock Private Wealth, we believe true wealth is more than money, it is purpose that drives you and the future legacy you create for your family. Our collaborative team integrates advanced financial planning, tax alpha strategies, estate planning expertise, and custom investment strategies, including exclusive access to private market investments, to deliver enduring value across generations.

XX+
Years Combined Experience
[placeholder — confirm figure]
$X.XB
Assets Advised
[placeholder — confirm figure]
XX
Professionals
[placeholder — confirm figure]
Ballast Rock Private Wealth film
Watch the film

In the Press

Financial Industry Press turn to our Team for Thought Leadership

[Article graphic placeholder]
May 29, 2026

Market Pulse – May 2026

Read Article →
[Article graphic placeholder]
May 28, 2026

Jake Fetchen Joins Ballast Rock Private Wealth as Wealth Advisor

Read Article →
[Article graphic placeholder]
May 15, 2026

Positioning Portfolios for Volatility Amid Rising Oil Prices and Geopolitical Uncertainty

Read Article →

Begin the Conversation

Your Wealth. Your Legacy. Your Peace of Mind.

Smarter strategies, trusted by families and business owners with their wealth.

Talk with an Advisor

The Team

Our People

Benefit from the collective expertise of our entire team, working together to support your goals.

Advisory & Leadership

“We are committed to helping high-net-worth clients maximize the impact and value of their wealth to strengthen their legacies and inspire a better future for their families.”
Andrew Mescon — CEO

Operations & Corporate

Mike Schmansky

Chief Financial Officer

Lauren Niziol

Accounting

Juan Pablo Novoa

Director of Digital Engagement

Jana Carroll

Foundation Director

Nate Lewis

General Counsel

Sarah Spence Wallace

Director of Human Resources

Steve Ponce

Corporate Controller

What’s on your mind today?

Contact us for a complimentary consultation with a Ballast Rock Private Wealth Advisor

Talk with an Advisor

Services · 06

Private Placement Life Insurance

An institutional approach to tax-efficient wealth preservation, growth, and transfer, built for qualified investors and structured with discipline.

For Qualified Investors

PPLI is a private-placement variable life insurance strategy available only to Accredited Investors and Qualified Purchasers. This page is educational and is not an offer to sell, a solicitation, or tax, legal, or investment advice. Suitability depends on your individual circumstances.

What It Is

A life insurance policy that works like an institutional investment account.

Conceptual illustration of tax drag versus tax-deferred compounding. Directional only; not to scale.

Private Placement Life Insurance is a variable life insurance product designed for sophisticated investors. Inside the policy, premiums can be allocated across a broad range of strategies, including hedge funds, private equity, private credit, and other alternatives, that may grow in a tax-advantaged environment, with death benefits generally paid income-tax-free when the policy is structured correctly.

Unlike retail life insurance, a properly structured PPLI policy is built around institutional pricing, transparent fees, and investment selection directed by the policyholder’s chosen manager. It is governed by Section 7702 of the Internal Revenue Code and is offered only through private placement to investors who meet specific income and net-worth thresholds.

For investors who qualify, PPLI may help reduce the annual tax drag that can erode long-term compounding on tax-inefficient assets, while integrating with broader estate and wealth-transfer planning. It is not a one-size-fits-all product; it is a customizable structure that should be evaluated against your full financial picture.

The Difference

How PPLI differs from traditional life insurance

The structure is fundamentally different from a retail policy, designed to reduce cost and give the policyholder greater investment control.

Traditional Retail Policy
PPLIPrivate Placement Life Insurance
High commissions, sales loads, and surrender charges
Commissions and surrender charges eliminated; transparent fees, typically about 0.50% to 1.00% annually
Standard investment menu managed by the insurer
Investment strategy directed by the policyholder’s chosen manager via SMAs or Insurance Dedicated Funds
Limited access to alternatives
Access to hedge funds, private equity, private credit, and other alternative strategies
General-account exposure
Assets segregated in a separate account at the carrier, adding a layer of protection

Suitability

Who PPLI is designed for

PPLI is best suited to high-net-worth individuals and families who qualify as Accredited Investors or Qualified Purchasers and whose circumstances call for a long-term, tax-efficient structure.

  • Ability to commit a meaningful long-term premium (commonly $3 to $5 million or more)
  • Comfort holding alternative and tax-inefficient investments
  • A goal of minimizing estate taxes and maximizing wealth transfer
  • A need for customized investment strategies aligned to family goals
  • A long time horizon and limited near-term liquidity needs from these assets
  • Willingness to maintain ongoing compliance and administration

The Investor

Holders of tax-inefficient assets such as hedge funds and private credit, seeking to defer taxes and reduce the annual drag on gains, interest, and dividends.

The Family

Families establishing multigenerational trusts to support tax-efficient wealth transfer and a durable legacy across generations.

The Business Owner

Owners requiring liquidity for succession planning or buy-sell agreements, particularly within family-owned enterprises.

The Structure

How a PPLI policy is structured

Premiums fund a separate account at the carrier; a chosen manager directs the investments; and benefits flow back to the policyholder and beneficiaries, generally on a tax-advantaged basis when properly structured.

Simplified structure for illustration. Actual policies involve underwriting, legal documentation, and ongoing compliance.

Why Investors Consider It

Three potential advantages

When suitable and properly structured, PPLI may offer benefits across tax, estate, and asset-protection planning. None of these outcomes is guaranteed; each depends on individual facts and correct implementation.

Tax Efficiency

Investments may grow tax-deferred inside the policy, and withdrawals, loans, and death benefits are generally income-tax-free when structured correctly, which can reduce much of the annual tax drag on alternatives.

Estate Planning

Held within an irrevocable trust, PPLI can support efficient wealth transfer and, if structured correctly, help mitigate estate taxes, integrating with your broader legacy plan.

Asset Protection & Privacy

Assets are held in a segregated separate account, and the private-placement structure may offer a degree of confidentiality, subject to applicable state law and proper structuring.

A Hypothetical Illustration

The potential impact of removing annual tax drag

The chart below is a hypothetical, simplified illustration of how tax-deferred compounding inside a policy could compare with a comparable taxable account. It is shown to explain a concept, not to project or predict any specific result.

Inside the Policy

A broad, customizable investment universe

PPLI policyholders can access a diverse range of strategies, including private credit, private equity, real estate, hedge funds, public equities, fixed income, and other alternatives, held through Insurance Dedicated Funds (IDFs) or Separately Managed Accounts (SMAs).

IDFs are private funds structured specifically for insurance products. SMAs allow policyholders to customize portfolios under their chosen advisor’s management. Either route must satisfy diversification rules and the investor-control doctrine, so the policy owner sets strategy through an investment policy statement rather than directing individual trades.

Important Considerations

What to weigh before considering PPLI

PPLI is sophisticated and is not appropriate for everyone. A balanced evaluation includes its constraints as well as its potential benefits.

Regulatory Compliance

Policies must satisfy diversification requirements (Treas. Reg. §1.817-5) and the investor-control doctrine. Violations can cause the policy to lose its tax-advantaged status and trigger retroactive taxation. Ongoing review is essential.

Cost & Liquidity

PPLI involves insurance and administrative costs and is a long-term commitment. Some structures (e.g., single-premium policies) limit access to cash value. It is generally unsuitable for assets you may need in the near term.

Administrative Complexity

Setup and maintenance require underwriting, legal documentation, and coordination among insurance, tax, and legal advisors. Experienced guidance is needed to implement and monitor the structure properly.

Common Questions

PPLI, answered plainly

Begin the Conversation

Is PPLI right for your situation?

Speak with a Ballast Rock Private Wealth advisor to explore whether a private placement structure fits your broader plan.

Talk with an Advisor

Important Disclosures

This material is provided for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any security or insurance product, nor does it constitute investment, tax, accounting, or legal advice. Private Placement Life Insurance (PPLI) is a variable life insurance product offered solely through private placement to investors who qualify as Accredited Investors and Qualified Purchasers under applicable federal securities laws. Eligibility, availability, and benefits depend on your individual circumstances and on proper structuring.

Any examples, figures, or charts shown are hypothetical and are presented only to illustrate concepts such as tax-deferred compounding. They are not projections, predictions, or guarantees of future results, do not reflect the performance of any actual policy or investment, and rely on simplifying assumptions including assumed rates of return, assumed tax rates, and assumed costs that will differ from actual experience. Actual results will vary, may be lower or higher, and could result in loss. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Tax-advantaged treatment of a PPLI policy depends on continued compliance with Section 7702 of the Internal Revenue Code, the diversification requirements of Treasury Regulation §1.817-5, and the investor-control doctrine; failure to comply may result in loss of tax benefits and retroactive taxation. Guarantees are subject to the claims-paying ability of the issuing insurance carrier. Insurance and securities products are offered through appropriately licensed entities and individuals. You should consult your own independent tax, legal, and insurance professionals before making any decision. Ballast Rock Private Wealth does not provide tax or legal advice.

Resources

Insights & Perspectives

Welcome to our complete collection of insights and articles. Here, you’ll find a broad range of perspectives from Ballast Rock’s team—from market commentary and investment insights to stories of entrepreneurial success and firm news. Whether you’re seeking clarity on today’s financial landscape or fresh thinking about what’s next, it’s all here.

Load More

Stay Informed

Clarity for your financial life—delivered.

Get our latest thinking on planning, markets, and long-term strategy.

Talk with an Advisor

Thought Leadership

Our Team In the Industry Press

Financial Industry Press turn to our Team for Thought Leadership

Load More

Find out how we can make a difference in your life

Contact us for a complimentary consultation with a Ballast Rock Private Wealth Advisor

Talk with an Advisor

Contact Us

Talk to a Trusted Financial Advisor

Begin the conversation.

[Placeholder intro line — recommend one warm sentence approved by compliance]

Email contact@ballastrockpw.com
Phone 800-204-2513
Social LinkedIn — Ballast Rock Private Wealth

[Placeholder — embed existing scheduling / contact form]

Talk with an Advisor