LIFE, SORTED

Sail through estate planning with the expertise of a world-class team at life insurance brokerage R.E. Lee International.

Portrait of Tammy Strobel

Sail through estate planning with the expertise of a world-class team at life insurance brokerage R.E. Lee International.

<b>PHOTO</b> KIT BENCHARONGKUL
<b>PHOTO</b> KIT BENCHARONGKUL

Few insurance company representatives would discuss proposals over fine wine and dinner. Even fewer would fly to your hometown to see first-hand where your family’s wealth is built. The consultants of R.E. Lee International (REL) are a few of these good men who take genuine interest in the lives of their clients.

“The opportunity to be invited to somebody’s home, factory or plantation is what I treasure most,” shares Calvin Lo, CEO of the 63-year-old life insurance brokerage. “I remember travelling to a plantation in the Philippines that had been held by a family over multiple generations. It is a unique experience to visit a community that respects the contributions of a family business, and witness how that business has shaped villages and the lives of others.”

Lo isn’t the only one who invests so much time in understanding his clients, their businesses, their family – their lives. “Many of our specialists spend over 200 days of the year on the road. The places visited span from the vineyards of France, to East African villages and budding Asian industrial regions. To us, it is a privilege to meet our clients.” 

Such is the dedication of the team at REL, a market leader and pioneer in jumbo life insurance. Starting out as a small independent American brokerage, it has grown into an international company, delivering life insurance solutions for high net-worth individuals, families and business owners in over 65 countries around the world. “Our clients include those on Forbes lists, celebrities and charitable foundations,” discloses Lo. “These individuals are diverse and request our services for various reasons, but the discussion always moves to family values, therefore it quickly becomes an easy conversation because no matter what nationality or status, family values are something we can all relate to on an equal level.” 

Ultimately, estate planning is about family. While most family issues are best kept within, well, the family, the transfer of wealth across generations is an issue that grows in complexity with the size of the estate. For example, families whose patriarch had acquired wealth through onshore and offshore real estate and businesses might find themselves facing a loss if forced to sell the assets in order to settle an estate. Other families with members dispersed across the globe might find themselves grappling with the unique tax and regulatory issues of different countries. 

A well-made estate plan is therefore not just about numbers – it is also about having the right people to execute plans smoothly. To this end, REL has a global team comprising lawyers, certified public accountants, chartered accountants, chartered life underwriters and certified financial planners who work together to deliver a seamless, customised insurance solution for each of its clients. 

It also collaborates with experts in international taxation, insurance, law and finance to provide clients with such services and expertise. So, apart from offering the most cost-effective vehicle to provide cash when it’s most needed – thus enabling families to retain valuable assets rather than a forced liquidation, REL gives you something more: peace of mind, knowing that your family will be taken care of.