Tier One Interview: Jamie Rowley

This month, Jay sits down with Jamie Rowley, President and CEO of Alaska Private Placement Solutions. Jamie shares her unconventional path to becoming a leader in sophisticated wealth planning, explains why Alaska has emerged as a premier planning jurisdiction, discusses her firm's expanding fiduciary consulting practice, and shares memorable client stories, from pet trusts with yachts and vacation homes to family treasure maps preserved for future generations. Read on to learn more!

JAY:  Jamie, in my professional estimation, you and your team have become the “go to” organization for LLC management and for fiduciary consulting services when it comes to not only private placement life insurance but also for some other planning around the use of life insurance.  A few months ago, I noticed that every one of my firm’s individual consultant clients who were acquiring PPLI intended to situs their policy in Alaska and were working with you on establishing an LLC for policy ownership. That is quite the distinction.  Tell me about your company, Alaska Private Placement Solutions, LLC, and your role there.

JAMIE: Thank you for taking the time to highlight Alaska Private Placement Solutions, as well as the work my team and I do. We are sincerely honored and deeply appreciative of the opportunity to participate in the Tier One Interview Series!

Alaska Private Placement Solutions is a boutique firm based in Alaska specializing in LLC Management and Fiduciary Consulting Services. We take pride in providing exceptional service, clear communication, and cost-effective solutions to a wide range of clients, including advisors, attorneys, agents, trust companies, insurance carriers, broker-dealers, and more.

Our firm is rooted in a solution-oriented philosophy. Every client is unique, and the structures or strategies we implement are designed to reflect that individuality — whether for LLC management or fiduciary consulting purposes.

We understand that the Private Placement Life Insurance (PPLI) process can be complex and time-consuming, so our goal is to simplify the experience and allow clients to focus on their ultimate objectives rather than the incremental steps along the way.

As President and CEO, I lead our business development and expansion initiatives, while also remaining closely involved in client services. We’re a small, dynamic team, which means I wear many hats — something that has been consistent throughout my 15 years in the Fiduciary and Wealth Management industry.

It has always been a personal goal of mine to provide exceptional service to everyone I work with — regardless of the project, duration, or complexity. I genuinely love what I do, and I believe that passion is reflected in the strong, long-term relationships I’ve built over the years.

Our work extends beyond PPLI, providing customized fiduciary solutions to individuals, advisory teams, carriers, and trust companies across a variety of needs and goals.

JAY: Most of us are familiar with how people who grow up in cold climates migrate south as they get older.  You have done the opposite.  I am curious to hear more about your upbringing and your career path that led you to where you are today.

JAMIE: I recognize some people think it’s a little crazy, but I genuinely love cold weather and snow. There’s something incredibly calming about watching snow fall. I grew up on the east side of Phoenix, where the heat, desert landscape, and abundance of spiders and reptiles never quite won me over. I stayed busy with sports—swimming, diving, softball, and anything that kept me active—but the climate just wasn’t for me.

My love for cold weather really started during family trips to Colorado. A family member once took me to the very top of Loveland, handed me a snowboard, and said, “Alright, figure it out. I’ll meet you at the bottom.” As a kid from hot, snowless Arizona, that first ride was humbling. I fell, slid, and zig-zagged my way down, but by the time I reached the bottom, I was hooked. From that moment on, I knew I wanted to live somewhere cold and full of snow.

I made it to Denver in 2006 and enjoyed several years of winters and snowboarding trips before life took an even bigger turn. In December 2011, my husband came home and said, “Soo… I may have accepted a job in Alaska. We move in about four weeks.” Luckily, my adventurous side kicked in immediately. Moving from Arizona to Alaska is about as extreme as it gets, but Alaska won me over from the start—cold, stunningly beautiful, and truly wild.

Professionally, my journey in Colorado and early Alaska years led me through one to two financial institutions before I came across an opportunity at a small corporate trustee firm in Anchorage. It turned out to be the perfect fit. I threw myself into the work, learning every department, diving into complex fiduciary and operational matters, and absorbing everything I could about the industry. I had the privilege of collaborating with talented attorneys nationwide and working closely with a mentor who had a profound impact on my career; A huge thank you to Brandon Cintula!

I eventually became the Director of Fiduciary Services, where I worked hard to exceed expectations, support clients and advisors, contribute to building the PPLI and PPVA platform, and where I administered nearly 1,800 LLC and trust accounts. The relationships I cultivated and the expertise I worked hard to develop during those years remain some of the most valuable elements of my professional journey.

After many years of growth and reflection - along with thoughtful conversations with colleagues and my husband - I decided to take a leap and launch Alaska Private Placement Solutions. It was equally exciting and intimidating, but looking back now, I’m incredibly proud of what our team has built in over a year. We’ve surpassed our goals, strengthened partnerships, and positioned ourselves for continued growth.

I’m excited for what’s ahead as we continue expanding internally and exploring new opportunities in Alaska and beyond.

JAY: We probably need to address the elephant in the room. Why Alaska as a planning jurisdiction?

JAMIE: Alaska stands out as a planning jurisdiction because it strikes a rare balance between innovation, stability, and integrity. What initially drew me in - and continues to impress me - is how intentionally the state has built a framework that supports sophisticated planning while maintaining a strong commitment to fiduciary responsibility and client protection.

Alaska has consistently been at the forefront of developing modern trust and entity legislation. Its statutes are not only flexible but thoughtfully designed to support multi-generational planning, asset protection, privacy, and tax efficiency. The state’s willingness to collaborate with professionals, listen to industry needs, and evolve its laws accordingly has created an environment where clients and advisors feel confident and well-supported. It’s a place where creative solutions can be designed without compromising structure, transparency, or long-term sustainability.

From my own professional experience, Alaska’s planning landscape doesn’t just offer tools - it offers partnership. The industry here is collaborative, forward-thinking, and genuinely invested in helping clients achieve meaningful outcomes. That combination of expertise, innovation, and trust is what makes Alaska not only a competitive jurisdiction, but a place I am proud to work in and contribute to.

I won’t go too far into the technical details, but from an LLC perspective specifically, Alaska offers several compelling advantages worth noting. The state offers a low premium tax, which can translate into meaningful savings for clients on each premium. This allows for premium funds to be invested sooner, putting capital to work more efficiently and supporting long-term planning objectives. In addition, Alaska offers unique backdating options not available in any other U.S. jurisdiction, giving clients and advisors greater flexibility in aligning transactions with their strategic timelines.

From a competitive perspective, only a handful of institutions offer services comparable to those of Alaska Private Placement Solutions. What truly sets our team apart is the depth of our expertise, our commitment to excellence, and the lasting partnerships we cultivate - qualities that make us a leader in both Alaska and the wider industry.

JAY:  When we chatted a few weeks ago, you talked about your company’s increasingly popular fiduciary consulting services. I am going to guess your obvious skills as a proficient networker are contributing to this growth. What are these services and to whom are you providing them?

JAMIE: I was once told that I have a talent for taking very complex matters and explaining them in a clear, easy-to-understand way, which is something I truly value and strive for in my work. At Alaska Private Placement Solutions, we partner with clients, advisors, and trust companies across the U.S., supporting a wide range of consulting needs. Our work includes policy and procedure guidance, administrative training, operational support from system setup to basic transaction coding, and much more.

Jamie at the Spearhead SoCal Forum

What I enjoy most is helping others learn and identifying ways to streamline their processes, making their work more efficient and effective. While we provide a detailed list of services upon request, many of our most meaningful contributions come from stepping beyond that list and finding creative solutions tailored to each client’s unique situation. Depending on the project and client needs, we structure our work on an hourly basis, a project basis, or within an agreed-upon timeframe.

We welcome any opportunity to collaborate in ways that add real value, and we’re always open to conversations that may benefit a client, advisor, or organization through a thoughtful partnership with Alaska Private Placement Solutions.

JAY:   This next question is probably me being nosy and having an opportunity to create some “click bait.” I am sure you have seen both some interesting assets placed into trust as well as some unique restrictions. Can I convince you to talk about a few that may have surprised you?

JAMIE: Over the years, I’ve reviewed many trust agreements that include a wide range of interesting restrictions. Some specify requirements around marriage, education, or lifestyle, such as marrying within a certain religion or ethnicity, attending a particular university, or being married and having children by a certain age. There have also been agreements that are highly detailed in their requirements, though I’m, of course, limited in what I can share publicly.

One category I find particularly fascinating is one that is not uncommon - Pet Trusts. These trusts ensure that a beloved pet lives a very comfortable, sometimes even extravagant life after the passing of the owner. I’ve seen agreements that provide for yachts, planes, vacation properties, and other luxuries to ensure the pet’s happiness and well-being.

The types of assets held in trusts can also be quite varied. Beyond the typical real estate and investments, I’ve seen trusts include multi-million in value for yachts, high-end vehicles, vacation homes, jewelry, artwork, family business, and meaningful family heirlooms.

Generally, most tangible assets are owned through an LLC structure. There was even one agreement that involved a family “treasure map” - certainly the kind of detail that feels straight out of a movie! While some of these items may not hold significant financial value, they carry tremendous sentimental importance, and trusts are an excellent tool for preserving that legacy.

JAY:   How do you spend your time outside of work? I hope you mention Charlie, your incredibly adorable long-haired Frenchie – in fact, I insist that you do!

JAMIE: Living in Alaska offers endless opportunities to be active and enjoy the outdoors year-round. With long, sunny summer days and dark, snowy winters, we stay active in every season. During the colder months, we enjoy winter sports like snowboarding at Alyeska or in the backcountry, hiking, and gathering around bonfires. In the summer, it’s nearly impossible to stay indoors, so we take advantage of the sunlight with midnight golfing, early-morning hikes, BBQs, mountain biking, camping, and fishing. Alaska is truly wild - we share the landscape with bears, moose, coyotes, lynx, and many other animals, so a little caution is always necessary.

Travel is another true passion of mine. I’ve always wanted to see as much of the world as possible. Every trip I take is an opportunity to experience something that makes me grateful and humble for the life I’ve built. In our family, we prioritize experiences over material gifts, focusing on creating memories and shared adventures.

And then there’s Charlie - our Fluffy Frenchie with a personality as big as his hair! He’s one of the greatest joys in my life. Wherever reasonable, I bring him along because he  loves meeting everyone and has the patience of an angel, even with taxidermy moose or mannequins! Charlie is about two years old. I found him on Alaska List while sitting alone in an airport lounge, still mourning the loss of our two long-time dogs. The listing caught my eye—titled “Fluffy French”—and I knew immediately he and I were meant to be. That same Saturday, without my husband’s knowledge, I went to meet him, and bringing Charlie home turned out to be one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.

JAY:   You did a great job here today, Jamie.  I am looking forward to working with you for years to come. You have reached our restaurant question. Without naming a steakhouse or a steak dish, please share some recommendations on where I should eat and what I should order when I arrive. We have yet to have a restaurant in Alaska on the list.

JAMIE: I am truly thankful for this opportunity and feel incredibly humbled that you considered me for this interview. I deeply appreciate your time, patience, and effort - it’s an honor to be here.

I’d like to share a small tidbit of Anchorage history that I think captures a bit of the city’s charm. In downtown Anchorage, there’s a restaurant that has stood the test of time, even surviving the 9.2 magnitude earthquake in 1964. Club Paris first opened in 1957 and continues to serve amazing food while maintaining its original charm: likely the same carpet from 1957, inviting oversized booths, a fisherman-style grungy bar, and walls full of memorabilia.

They even serve cocktails in small, perfectly crafted glasses that typically consist of 95% alcohol, 4% ice, and 1% of your choice of mixer. The menu is fantastic: I’d highly recommend the King Crab Legs, Halibut, or Filet Mignon with a baked potato and side salad. If you’re just stopping by for a drink, the steak bites with homemade special sauce are a must. Club Paris is truly a classic Anchorage experience and well worth a visit if you’re ever in the area.

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 Since its inception, Life Insurance Strategies Group has solely focused on the individual high net worth life insurance market. We do not sell products. This allows us to offer unbiased, pragmatic advice. Visit us at www.lifeinsurancestrategiesgroup.com.