Inside the RPT: Ken Crabb’s Lifelong Mission to Offer Tax-Efficient Life Insurance and Planning for High-Net-Worth Individuals

Ken Crabb’s Restricted Property Trust helps high-net-worth individuals with tax-efficient life insurance and planning.

Taxes shape the financial future of every successful business owner. For high-net-worth individuals, the stakes are even higher. 

Founder of Restricted Property Trust, Ken Crabb, has decades of experience in financial services. Recognizing the need for a plan that was fair, conservative, and tax-efficient, he created the Restricted Property Trust, better known as the RPT.

Crabb created the RPT in 2000 in partnership with a Cleveland-based tax law firm. His goal was to build a life insurance and planning tool that could withstand scrutiny while providing meaningful benefits. 

“The Restricted Property Trust is an employer-sponsored plan that provides business continuity through a death benefit, and potentially long-term cash accumulation and income distribution,” explains Crabb. Over the years, it has grown into a trusted choice for high-income earners who want more than traditional plans can offer.

Ken Crabb’s Mission

Ken Crabb’s journey was shaped by both opportunity and challenge. Early in his career, he served as Vice President of a securities corporation. There, he honed his skills in designing creative insurance-based strategies for complex transactions. But he was never content with the standard options available in the market. He wanted to create something stronger, something that could serve clients for decades.

In 2007, the IRS challenged many tax strategies, and several were eliminated. The RPT stood the test. It survived audits, proved its compliance, and emerged as a credible plan. That moment cemented Crabb’s reputation. Today, he is widely seen as one of the foremost authorities on corporate tax-deductible life insurance strategies.

He provides business owners with a reliable plan that combines tax efficiency, wealth appreciation, and retirement security. And unlike complex, high-risk vehicles, the RPT is designed to be conservative, ethical, and practical.

How the Restricted Property Trust Works

The RPT is reputable because of:

• Pre-Tax Contributions: Contributions are fully deductible for the business. This provides immediate tax relief without reducing qualified plan contributions.

• Tax-Deferred Growth: Growth occurs inside the cash value of a life insurance policy. This allows assets to appreciate without yearly taxation.
• Tax-Advantaged Distributions: At the end of the plan, the policy is distributed to the participant. A portion of the value is taxable, but future distributions can often be structured in a tax-favored way.
• Risk of Forfeiture: One defining feature is the requirement that employers must make annual contributions for the restricted period. If they fail, the policy lapses, and proceeds go to charity. This provision strengthens the plan’s standing with tax authorities.
• Flexibility of Participation: Any individual with earned income can participate, such as S-Corp owners, partners, or executives. There are no strict participant limits or testing requirements. Each participant can choose their own level of contribution.
• Retirement and Legacy Benefits: At distribution, participants can maintain the policy for its death benefit, access non-taxable cash flow, or exchange it for a larger income stream.

Why High-Net-Worth Individuals Choose RPT

For many business owners, traditional retirement plans and insurance products feel restrictive. The RPT offers flexibility combined with tax efficiency. It appeals most to those with higher incomes who are seeking strategies beyond the usual qualified plans.

Key reasons high-net-worth individuals find value in the RPT:

• Reduces taxable income through deductible contributions.
• Creates long-term wealth in a conservative and structured format.
• Provides death benefit protection to secure business continuity.
• Offers flexibility in how distributions are eventually used.
• Stands apart from aggressive plans that risk IRS rejection.

By meeting these needs, the RPT has become a planning strategy that aligns with both financial goals and regulatory standards.

The Broader Impact of Ken Crabb’s Work

Ken Crabb also acts as the “in-house” Third-Party Administrator for select financial services organizations. This means he works closely with advisors and institutions to ensure proper implementation. His platform continues to educate business owners about the benefits and mechanics of the plan.

Hence, the RPT is about disciplined, long-term planning. For Crabb, this reflects his philosophy. He believes financial strategies should be durable, ethical, and easy to understand. 

Conclusion

Ken Crabb believes that financial planning should work for the client and withstand the test of time. The Restricted Property Trust is the result of that vision. For business owners seeking enhanced tax efficiency, reliable cash growth, and retirement flexibility, the RPT provides the best solution.

Crabb aims to introduce fairness, clarity, and strength into corporate tax planning. His RPT is proof that complex problems can be solved with disciplined design and persistence.