PPLIA
Bob Chesner, CPA, Executive Director of PPLIA: Bob is the Chief Operating Officer and Senior Director of Finance and Insurance of Ripp Grossman & Fitte LLP, a Texas-based trust, tax, and estate planning law firm. He is a recognized thought leader in life insurance matters, a frequent speaker and author, and is quoted in leading financial publications. He co-founded and ran the first conference on Private Placement Life Insurance - which continues to this day (now run by Informa). Bob co-authored the Bloomberg BNA Tax Management Portfolio 870, 1st, “Private Placement Life Insurance and Annuities.” He has 30 years of experience assisting high-net-worth individuals and family offices with the design and implementation of domestic and international life insurance and annuity structures, specifically also consulting on comprehensive risk management. Bob says of the PPLIA:"This work represents what I see as my true professional purpose. The fiduciary’s role is paramount, and I am committed to being a tireless advocate for the PPLI buyer. My mission is to ensure buyers have a clear understanding of every moving part and participant, so their tax and estate planning objectives are achieved with precision and integrity."
Spencer E. Adler, Esq., Founder of PPLIA, is a Washington, DC lawyer with a long history in the trusts and tax planning community, where he is known for coining the term “Limited Liability Trust” as a modern synonym for the centuries old term “Irrevocable Trust” (see LLTrusts.org). Over the course of his career as an attorney, investor, and entrepreneur, he has co-founded and exited multiple technology companies, SPVs, and investment funds. After witnessing the need for the legal and fiduciary communities to better protect PPLI policy owners and buyers, he founded the PPLI Fiduciaries Association.
Joshua Becker, Esq., is a partner in the tax department at the global law firm Pillsbury. He is a trusted advisor to family offices, advising on PPLI and PPVA structuring, as well as on all other relevant varieties of tax matters, including mergers and acquisitions, fund formations, hedge funds, emerging company investments, real estate matters, and family office operational structures. He has structured over 70 qualified opportunity zone fund investments, and advised market-leading blockchain companies. Among his many honors, Josh was recognized in 2025 by Chambers USA in Tax, and in 2025 by Lawdragon as "one of 500 Leading Global Tax Lawyers.” He is based in New York City.
Adam S. Glatzer, MBA and MPA, is overseeing the writing of a report for the PPLI Owners Association: “PPLI in the RIA Industry.” He holds dual graduate degrees - a Masters in Public Administration in International Economics and Banking, and a Masters in Business Administration in Finance and Banking. Both degrees are from Columbia University. His academic interest has been in sovereign wealth and central banks. In the public markets, he worked with a Manhattan team of equity analysts identifying underpriced investment opportunities. In the private markets, he co-founded an investment fund deployed into futures, physical commodities, and overseas commodities infrastructure. In government, he served as legislative aide to the US House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee. He makes his home in the Westchester area.