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480.240.4020 Becker & House Cryonics Trust FAQ
Helping Alcor members plan for funding, preservation, and future revival.
Introduction
Becker & House represents clients who have chosen cryopreservation through Alcor Life Extension Foundation. As part of that planning, we offer three specialized trusts designed to meet Alcor’s funding and compliance requirements while addressing our clients’ long-term goals.
These trusts fall into two broad categories:
– Funding Trust – designed to fund your cryopreservation through Alcor
– Revival Trusts – designed to preserve assets for your use after revival
Our firm works directly with Alcor to ensure that all trusts we prepare meet their requirements and are properly coordinated. Each type of trust serves a distinct purpose, and understanding the differences will help you choose the best fit for your goals.
Comparison Chart
| Alcor Funding Trust | Multi-Investor Future Income Trust (MIFIT) | Custom Revival Trust | |
| Primary Purpose | Funds your cryopreservation | Preserves up to $500,000 for your use after revival | Preserves more than $500,000 and allows greater customization for future use |
| When Funded | During your lifetime | At your death (through estate plan or beneficiary designation) | Typically at death, but may also be funded during life |
| Trustee | You (while living and competent) | During Life: You
After Cryopreservation: TrustBank (a corporate trustee) |
During Life: You
After Cryopreservation: Corporate trustee (Becker & House helps coordinate options) |
| Revocability | Revocable while you are alive and have capacity, but you must provide Alcor notice of certain changes | Revocable while you are alive and have capacity | Revocable while you are alive and have capacity |
| Investment Vehicle | Held as liquid assets (must equal 2× Alcor’s required funding amount) | Invested in MIFIT Investments, Inc. | Broader investment options directed by trustee under custom provisions |
| Customization | Minimal—Alcor requires standard form | Limited—options for remainder beneficiary, Alcor donations, emergency preservation spending | Highly customizable—may include multi-beneficiary structures or continuing trusts after revival |
| Alcor Coordination | Requires Alcor approval before acceptance | Provided to Alcor for recordkeeping (no approval required) | Coordinated with Alcor and trustee for review and approval; complex terms may require discussion |
| Common Use Case | Direct, compliant funding method for cryopreservation | Simple revival fund for under $500k | Complex or high-value revival planning with multiple goals |
| Risk of Non-Approval | Low (if standard form used) | None (no formal approval required) | Moderate if provisions are overly complex or impractical |
Section 1: Alcor Funding Trust
**Q:** What is the purpose of the Alcor Funding Trust?
This trust provides one approved method for funding your cryopreservation with Alcor. It ensures that liquid assets are available and verifiable in advance of your legal death.
**Q:** Who serves as trustee?
You serve as the trustee while you are alive and have legal capacity. If you become incapacitated or when you die, a successor trustee will be appointed to act as needed to fulfill the trust’s purpose. The trustee’s post-death obligations are minimal, and involve gathering the trust funds, distributing them to Alcor as needed for cryopreservation, and distributing any remaining funds in accordance with your wishes.
**Q:** How much must I fund the trust with?
The trust must hold at least twice the amount required by Alcor for your selected cryopreservation option. Proof of sufficient liquid assets must be provided to Alcor before approval. Ongoing reporting can be required by Alcor to ensure adequate funding.
**Q:** Is the trust revocable?
Yes. You may revoke the trust at any time while living and competent. However, if you revoke it, Alcor is not obligated to provide cryopreservation unless alternate funding is provided.
**Q:** Can the trust be customized?
No. Alcor requires the Funding Trust to follow a standard form. Minor edits may be made for administrative reasons, but substantive changes will not be approved.
**Q:** What happens if I change my mind or my finances change?
If you revoke or withdraw the assets, those funds are returned to you. However, this will terminate Alcor’s funding assurance until a new funding source is approved.
**Q:** How does Becker & House assist?
Our firm prepares the trust, ensures compliance with Alcor’s requirements, and submits proof of funding for approval. This coordination helps minimize processing delays.
Section 2: Multi-Investor Future Income Trust (MIFIT)
**Q:** What is the MIFIT?
The MIFIT—short for Multi-Investor Future Income Trust—is a type of ‘revival’ trust. Its purpose is to preserve assets for your use after you are revived from cryopreservation.
**Q:** When and how is the MIFIT funded?
The trust is funded after your death, typically through your estate plan or a Payable on Death/beneficiary designation on an account or life insurance policy.
**Q:** Who manages the trust?
During your life, as long as you are competent, you act as Trustee. Following your cryopreservation, or in the event you become incapacitated during your life, a corporate trustee—Trust Bank—serves as trustee. Once the trust is funded at your legal death, the trustee purchases shares in MIFIT Investments, Inc., which are held until your revival.
**Q:** What happens when I am revived?
When you are revived, the trustee will sell your shares in MIFIT Investments, Inc., and distribute the proceeds to you, providing financial resources for your new life.
**Q:** Is the MIFIT revocable?
Yes. The MIFIT is revocable while you are alive and have capacity. After your death or incapacity, it becomes irrevocable.
**Q:** How much can I contribute?
The MIFIT is designed for clients funding $500,000 or less. Clients with larger intended contributions should consider a Custom Revival Trust.
**Q:** What customization is available?
You may choose where funds go if you cannot be revived, whether to make optional annual charitable contributions to Alcor, and whether some funds may be used to help maintain your cryopreservation in an emergency.
**Q:** Can I change the investment approach?
No. The MIFIT operates as a pooled investment structure through MIFIT Investments, Inc., and individual investment direction is not available.
**Q:** Does Alcor need to approve my MIFIT?
No. The completed trust is sent to Alcor for their records, but formal approval is not required.
**Q:** What are common issues clients should be aware of?
Occasionally, clients wish to add custom terms or control how the funds are invested—these changes are not permitted in the MIFIT format. For more flexibility, a Custom Revival Trust is a better option.
**Q:** Do I need to have an estate plan in place, other than the MIFIT?
Yes, you should have documents in place to effectuate your wishes regarding your estate plan, in addition to the MIFIT Trust. For clients who live in Arizona, we are happy to assist with that estate plan. For clients in other jurisdictions, we can provide referrals and coordinate with your local estate planning counsel.
Section 3: Custom Revival Trust
**Q:** What is the Custom Revival Trust?
This is a fully individualized revival trust for clients who wish to preserve more than $500,000 or include detailed provisions for how their funds will be used during cryopreservation and after revival.
**Q:** How is it funded?
The trust is usually funded at your legal death through your estate or a beneficiary designation, but it can also be funded during your lifetime if desired.
**Q:** Who serves as trustee?
During your life, as long as you are competent, you act as Trustee. Following your cryopreservation, or in the event you become incapacitated during your life, a corporate trustee serves as trustee. Becker & House assists in coordinating and recommending suitable trustee options.
**Q:** Is the Custom Revival Trust revocable?
Yes. It remains revocable during your lifetime while you have capacity, allowing you to adjust terms or revoke the trust entirely. It becomes irrevocable upon your legal death or incapacity.
**Q:** What makes it ‘custom’?
This trust allows broad discretion to design how funds are held, managed, and distributed during your cryopreservation and after revival. A Custom Revival Trust allows for a good deal of flexibility. Alcor and the trustee must review the final trust terms, but generally are willing to accept custom provisions as long as they do not unduly expand their respective obligations under the trust. We do our best to incorporate the client’s wishes into the trust. However, in some cases, highly specific or conditional provisions may be rejected as unworkable.
**Q:** Can I specify what happens to the funds after revival?
Yes. You may choose for the funds to remain in trust or be distributed to you directly. Some clients include provisions for ongoing family or philanthropic support.
**Q:** Can I include charitable gifts to Alcor?
Yes, if you wish to make charitable gifts to Alcor, the Custom Revival Trust can provide for that.
**Q:** What happens if my requested provisions are too complex?
In those cases, Becker & House can include a non-binding ‘statement of wishes’ to express your preferences, but we encourage simplicity to avoid issues with trustee or Alcor approval.
**Q:** How are the funds invested?
The Custom Revival Trust allows broader investment flexibility than the MIFIT. Clients may offer guidance as to how they would like trust funds invested. However, once the client is cryopreserved, investment decisions ultimately are made by the corporate trustee, and must align with the trust’s purpose and fiduciary standards.
**Q:** Can I change terms later?
Yes. While you are alive and have capacity, the Custom Revival Trust may be amended or revoked. Once funded at legal death or upon incapacity, it becomes irrevocable.
**Q:** Do I need to have an estate plan in place, other than the Custom Revival Trust?
Yes, you should have documents in place to effectuate your wishes regarding your estate plan, in addition to your Revival Trust. For clients who live in Arizona, we are happy to assist with that estate plan. For clients in other jurisdictions, we can provide referrals and coordinate with your local estate planning counsel.
Closing Notes
Becker & House is honored to assist clients planning for cryopreservation with Alcor. Each trust we prepare is designed to balance your personal goals, Alcor’s operational requirements, and long-term administrative feasibility.
We encourage you to contact us early in your planning process so we can help you determine which trust—or combination of trusts—best aligns with your objectives.
Disclaimer
This FAQ is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Establishing a trust involves individualized legal and financial considerations. You should consult with Becker & House or another qualified attorney for advice specific to your situation.
