Which provides for the continuation of a business if the owner dies prematurely?

Deferred compensation is a financial arrangement where a portion of an employee's income is paid out at a later date, often post-retirement. While it can be a tool for retaining key employees, it does not directly address business continuity following an owner's death, as it pertains more to employee compensation than ownership transition.

Executive bonuses are financial incentives provided to executives, usually as a reward for performance. While they can motivate and retain talent, they do not serve the purpose of ensuring business continuity or ownership transfer in the event of an owner's untimely demise, making them irrelevant to the question at hand.

Key employee life insurance provides financial protection for a business in the event of the death of a vital employee. Although it can help mitigate the financial impact of losing a key employee, it does not facilitate ownership transfer or continuity of the business structure, which is distinctly addressed by buy-sell agreements.