Earl uses an existing life insurance policy to secure a loan for his daughter's college. What is this process called?

The process described in the question is known as collateral assignment. When Earl uses his existing life insurance policy to secure a loan, he is essentially providing assurance to the lender by temporarily assigning the rights to the policy as collateral. This means that in the event Earl does not repay the loan, the lender has a claim on the life insurance benefits up to the amount owed.

In this scenario, collateral assignment does not permanently transfer ownership of the policy; instead, it grants the lender specific rights related to the policy while Earl retains ownership. This makes it an effective way for individuals to leverage their life insurance as a financial resource when needed, such as for funding educational expenses.

Other options do not fit the context of using an existing policy to secure a loan. Assignment of ownership would involve transferring full ownership rights to another party, which is not the case here. Temporary assignment, while it might imply a temporary transfer of rights, is not a standard term used in life insurance contexts for securing loans. Change of beneficiary pertains to altering who will receive death benefits, which is unrelated to securing a loan. Thus, collateral assignment is the most accurate term for the situation presented.