Which of the following plans will provide a death benefit to the policy's beneficiary income tax free?

Annuities are primarily designed to provide income during retirement rather than a death benefit. While some annuities may offer a death benefit, the payout is typically subject to taxation, making them less favorable for tax-free inheritance compared to Whole Life policies.

Qualified Retirement plans, such as 401(k)s and IRAs, are designed for retirement savings and may provide death benefits. However, any distributions from these accounts to beneficiaries are generally subject to income tax, which diminishes their effectiveness as a tax-free transfer of wealth.

Tax Sheltered Annuities, also known as 403(b) plans, are intended for retirement savings for employees of public schools and certain tax-exempt organizations. Similar to other annuities, while they offer tax-deferred growth, any death benefits paid out to beneficiaries are typically subject to income tax, negating the tax-free advantage.