In a Key Employee life insurance policy, who cannot be the third-party owner?

In a Key Employee life insurance policy, the insured cannot be the third-party owner. The purpose of this type of policy is to protect the business from the financial impact that would result from the death of a key employee. Therefore, the business (often represented by the employer) typically holds the policy and pays the premiums.

When the insured person is also the owner of the policy, it complicates the intended use of the insurance, as the insured would have control over the policy and its benefits. This could allow them to make decisions that might not align with the interests of the business, such as changing beneficiaries or cashing in the policy. Furthermore, if the insured were to own the policy, the benefits might not be directly accessible to the employer to cover the potential financial loss. Since the key employee's value is tied to their role in the business, having a third-party owner (usually the employer) ensures that the company can effectively utilize the policy in the event of the employee’s death.