A 1035 Exchange is a way to move money from one insurance-based investment, like a life insurance policy or annuity, to another similar product without having to pay taxes right away on any gains. It’s named after a section of the tax code that allows this kind of transfer, as long as certain rules are followed. People often use a 1035 Exchange when they want to switch to a policy with better features, lower fees, or different investment options, but don’t want to trigger a tax bill by cashing out first.