A meaningful sale. A thoughtful next chapter.
You built something
meaningful.
What comes next?
A business. A property. A lifetime of work.
Explore how a Structured Installment Sale could turn part of your sale into future income—and what to consider with your advisors.
Decide with confidence.See how an SIS worksExplore the interactive story
Start with what matters to you
The numbers matter.
So does the life behind them.
You don’t need to know every tax rule to begin. Start with your priorities. We’ll help you find the questions worth exploring.
“What replaces the income I’m leaving behind?”
A sale changes where your income comes from. Explore a scheduled payment stream alongside taxes, other income, and the cash you want to keep available.
- When should payments begin?
- How much income will you need after tax?
- How could inflation affect your spending power?
“What if we need money sooner?”
Money committed to a structured payment schedule is not a ready cash reserve. Explore whether retaining cash at closing could help balance immediate needs with future income.
- What must be paid at closing?
- What cash reserve should stay accessible?
- Would a lump sum better serve your plans?
“What should this sale make possible for us?”
Your plans may extend beyond your own retirement. Bring family priorities into the discussion and understand how the chosen payment terms work with your estate plan.
- Who depends on this income?
- What happens under the selected terms at death?
- How should beneficiaries and taxes be coordinated?
Different lives. Important decisions.
See a little of
your own story.
Follow the goals, choices, and trade-offs behind a sale. These educational scenarios are illustrations, not actual client experiences.
The business was your life.
The next chapter is yours.
Explore how a business sale can become a different kind of income plan.
Follow the interactive story ↗
Two generations of work.
One important decision.
Retiring from a family farm without a successor.
Explore the farm case ↗
Ready to move on
from being the landlord?
Consider a property exit and what comes afterward.
Explore the rental case ↗Business, property, farm, or family home—each sale deserves its own analysis.
Browse all case studies →Understand the idea
One sale.
A stream of possibilities.
In a Structured Installment Sale, the buyer’s installment payment obligation is assumed by an assignment company and funded through a life insurer. The seller receives payments on an agreed schedule.
The details matter: what is being sold, how the agreements are arranged, when tax is due, and how much cash you need.
Step inside the transaction- 01
Your sale
You and your advisors explore eligibility, cash needs, and payment terms before closing.
- 02
The buyer’s obligation
The purchase agreement establishes the installment payment obligation.
- 03
Assignment and funding
An assignment company assumes the obligation and arranges insurer funding.
- 04
Your scheduled payments
Payments follow the agreed terms. Your tax advisor determines the reporting.
Simplified illustration. Payment security depends on the actual contracts and the financial strength of the parties obligated to pay.
Good decisions begin with honest questions
Let’s talk about
the “what ifs.”
Understanding what you give up is just as useful as understanding what you may gain.
Explore whether an SIS may fit →What if I need access to the money?
The structured portion is committed to the agreed payment terms. Plan for reserves, taxes, and major purchases before deciding how much to structure.
Explore liquidity and other trade-offs →What if another strategy is better?
An SIS is one option. Compare it with retaining a lump sum and other strategies appropriate to your asset, goals, and circumstances.
Compare the alternatives →What happens to payments when I die?
The answer depends on the payment terms and beneficiary arrangements selected. Coordinate the actual contracts with your estate plan and tax advice.
Read the frequently asked questions →How do I know the income is secure?
Review who owes the payments, the insurer’s financial strength, the applicable contracts, and any concentration of exposure. Understand the limits as well as the protections.
Understand structure and payment risk →Better conversations. Together.
Your advisor knows you.
Start the conversation there.
Bring what you learn here to the professionals already helping you. This Resource Center supports sellers and their CPAs, attorneys, brokers, and other advisors with education, tools, and additional SIS expertise when needed.
Go as deep as you need
Clarity for your questions.
Depth for your decisions.
Begin with a plain-English explanation. Open the calculations, research, and professional detail when you need them.
Model your choices
Payment schedules, assumptions, comparisons, and detailed calculations.
Open the planning tools → 02 / UNDERSTANDFind a clear answer
Plain-English explanations and practitioner analysis with supporting sources.
Browse the Knowledgebase → 03 / LOOK CLOSERConsider your state
Explore state tax rules and the questions raised by selling and relocating.
Open the State Tax Center → 04 / WEIGH THE OPTIONSUnderstand the alternatives
Compare different approaches, including their limits and trade-offs.
Compare strategies →Explore the next step with your advisory team.
The right answer depends on your asset, basis, income, liquidity needs, state, and timeline. Use what you learn here with your CPA, attorney, or transaction advisor. If you or your practitioner would like additional SIS support, share an outline below.
Prefer a guided request? Review your inquiry before sending →