<PAGE>

                                                                    Exhibit 10.8

                        SPLIT-DOLLAR INSURANCE AGREEMENT

            THIS AGREEMENT (the "Plan") established and effective on this __ day
of_______, 2001 between (1) CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON, having an office at 11
Madison Avenue, New York, New York (the "Company") and (2), [Trust Company]
having an office at xxxxxxxxxx made by [Executive] as Grantor, a key employee
and executive of the Company (which Trust is hereinafter referred to as the
"Owner"), and (3) [Executive].

                                   WITNESSETH:

            WHEREAS, [Executive] is employed by the Company in the capacity of
[title], and has contributed substantially to the success of the Company; and

            WHEREAS, the Company wishes to continue this employment relationship
and, as an inducement thereto, is willing to assist the Owner in the payment of
premiums on insurance policy # xxxxxxxx (the "Policy") insuring the joint lives
of [Executive] (hereinafter referred to as the "Employee"), and his spouse,
[spouse], (referred to collectively as the "Insureds") issued by [Life Insurance
Company] (the "Insurer"); and

            WHEREAS, in exchange for such premium assistance by the Company, the
Owner has agreed to assign an interest in the Policy to the Company and to
participate in this Plan to the extent provided herein; and

            WHEREAS, the Owner is willing to freely undertake such reasonable
steps necessary to institute this Plan, including the assigning to the Company
of an interest in the Policy as provided herein.

            NOW, THEREFORE, the Company and the Owner mutually agree that:


                                       1
<PAGE>

                                   ARTICLE I

                                   DEFINITIONS

            1.1 The CASH SURRENDER VALUE shall mean the accumulated cash
surrender value of the Policy as defined in the Insurer's policy form.

            1.2 The PLANNED PERIODIC PREMIUMS shall mean the premiums payable
upon the Policy, as specified in Article IV hereof and subject to the Insurer's
minimum premium requirements.

            1.3 The CURRENT RATES shall refer collectively to the Insurer's then
cost of insurance, and mortality and expense charges, as defined in the Policy,
determined as of the date of valuation utilized by the third party designee
under Article IX hereof.

            1.4 The ACCOUNT VALUE shall mean the total value of all separate
accounts of the Policy.

                                   ARTICLE II

                           COMPANY'S POLICY INTERESTS

            2.1 The Owner is the applicant and owner of the Policy, and hereby
assigns and conveys to the Company an interest as determined in Paragraph 2.2
(the "Company's Policy Interest").

            2.2 For purposes of termination of this Plan for any reason
including the death of the survivor of the Insureds (in accordance with the
provisions of Paragraph 9.2 hereof), the Company's Policy Interest at any time
shall be equal to the total amount of the Planned Periodic Premiums paid by the
Company, as set forth in Article IV hereof, reduced by any amount repaid to the
Company upon a termination pursuant to Paragraph 9.1 from any source.


                                       2
<PAGE>

            2.3 As security for the Company's Policy Interest the Owner shall
execute, on a form acceptable to the Insurer as set forth on Exhibit "A"
attached hereto, a collateral assignment to the Company of the Owner's right to
the Cash Surrender Value of the Policy to the extent equal to the Company's
Policy Interest (the "Collateral Assignment"). The Owner shall include in the
Collateral Assignment a grant to the Company of a priority of payment for any
amounts due under this Agreement. This Collateral Assignment shall not be
altered or changed in any way without the written consent of the Company and the
Owner.

            2.4 The Owner shall be entitled to the remainder of the interests
under the Policy after satisfaction of the Company's Policy Interest as provided
herein.

            2.5 The existence of the Company's Policy Interest shall be
evidenced by the filing of the Collateral Assignment with the Insurer.

                                  ARTICLE III

                             INCIDENTS OF OWNERSHIP

            3.1 Except as provided in Paragraph 3.2 hereof, the Owner shall have
full incidents of ownership over the Policy. Full incidents of ownership include
all the rights of "owner" under the terms of the Policy, including but not
limited to, the right to designate beneficiaries, select settlement and dividend
options, borrow on the security of the Policy and to surrender the Policy.

            3.2 The Company shall have the following specific rights over the
Company's Policy Interest: (a) The right to realize against the Cash Surrender
Value of the Policy, to the extent of the Company's Policy Interest, in the
event of termination of this Agreement as provided in Paragraph 9.1; and (b) the
right to realize against the proceeds of the Policy, to the extent of the


                                       3
<PAGE>

Company's Policy Interest, in the event of the death of the survivor of the
Insureds as provided in Paragraph 9.3.

            3.3 Neither the Company nor the Owner shall take any action that
would jeopardize the interests of the other party under the Plan.

                                   ARTICLE IV

                               PAYMENT OF PREMIUMS

            4.1 The Company shall pay the sum of $ [xxxxxx] to the Insurer for
the payment of Planned Periodic Premiums due on the Policy, in five annual
installments of $ [xxxxxx] each, provided, however, that the Company's
obligation to make any installment payments hereunder shall cease upon the
giving of notice by the Employee to the Company, stating that the Company is
thereafter relieved of any further obligation to make premium payments under
this Agreement.

            4.2 The Owner shall be under no obligation to continue making any
future premium payments on the Policy once the obligations of the Company as set
forth hereunder have ceased.

            4.3 The Policy includes a rider providing for payment to the Owner
of certain proceeds upon the death of the first to die of the Insureds. Any such
proceeds as may be collected by the Owner upon the death of the first to die of
the Insureds pursuant to such rider shall be applied by the Owner annually to
pay to the Insurer the difference between (a) the lower of (i) the "P.S. 38
rates" set forth by the Internal Revenue Service, or any other table of rates
promulgated by the Internal Revenue Service as a substitute therefor, or (ii) if
allowed by the Internal Revenue Service, the Insurer's two-lives cost of
insurance rate, as provided under the Insurer's published premium rate tables
for one-year term insurance available to all standard risks prescribed for those


                                       4
<PAGE>

purposes ("the P.S. 38 alternate rate"), and (b) the lower of (i) the "Table
2001 rates" set forth by the Internal Revenue Service, or any other table of
rates promulgated by the Internal Revenue Service as a substitute therefor, or
(ii) if allowed by the Internal Revenue Service, the Insurer's one-life cost of
insurance rate, as provided under the Insurer's published premium rate tables
for one-year term insurance available to all standard risks prescribed for those
purposes ("the Table 2001 alternate rate"). If the amount of proceeds collected
by the Owner under such rider shall be insufficient to pay the entire amount of
the difference as determined above, the survivor of the Insureds, at his or her
option, may pay the balance of such difference directly to the Insurer, or the
Company.

                                   ARTICLE V

                                    REPORTING

            5.1 The Company shall be responsible for reporting to the Insureds
the amount of any income reportable by them, or either of them, each year for
tax purposes with respect to the Policy. The Company shall provide the Insureds
and the Owner with a written report of such information, no later than April 1st
of each year. The Owner shall not have any liability with respect to the
reporting of such income by the Insureds or either of them.

            5.2 The Owner shall have no responsibility to confirm the accuracy
of such income information supplied by the Company, and the Owner shall be
entitled to rely upon such information in making any notifications to its
beneficiaries.


                                       5
<PAGE>

                                   ARTICLE VI

                      ADDITIONAL POLICY BENEFITS AND RIDERS

            6.1 The Owner may add any other rider to the Policy for its own
benefit. Upon written request by the Company, and payment by the Company of
premiums or other costs related thereto, the Owner shall add any rider to the
Policy for the benefit of the Company.

                                  ARTICLE VII

                                   ASSIGNMENT

            7.1 Either the Owner or the Employee may assign their rights, and/or
interest under this Agreement, in whole or in part, provided, however, that any
assignment shall be made subject to all terms and provisions of this Agreement.
To the extent of such assignment, the assignor would have no further interest in
the Policy or this Agreement.

            7.2 The Company may not assign its rights, and/or interest under
this Agreement, in whole or in part, except with the written approval of the
Owner, provided, however, that any assignment shall be made subject to all terms
and provisions of this Agreement. To the extent of such assignment, the assignor
would have no further interest in the Policy or this Agreement.

                                  Article VIII

                                    AMENDMENT

            8.1 This Agreement may be amended by mutual agreement of the Owner,
the Employee and the Company and such amendment shall be in writing and signed
by the Owner, the Employee and the Company.


                                       6
<PAGE>

                                   ARTICLE IX

                                   TERMINATION

            9.1.1 Prior to the death of the survivor of the Insureds, this
Agreement may be terminated at will, by the Owner, in whole or in part, or,
after full payment by the Company of the amounts required under Paragraph
4.1, by the Company, in whole or in part; provided, however, that this
Agreement may not be terminated by the Company on a date which is earlier
than seven (7) years after the latter of (i) the date of this Agreement, or
(ii) the payment by the Company of the first $[] installment of the Planned
Periodic Premium due on the Policy, paid pursuant to Paragraph 4.1; provided
further, however, that the Company may terminate this Agreement, in whole or
in part, at an earlier date if the Policy is not owned by the Owner. If
either the Owner or the Company elects a partial termination of this
Agreement, either the Owner or the Company shall have the power, from time to
time, to elect further partial terminations until the Company's Policy
Interest has been repaid in full. Any such termination may only occur upon
written notice by the Owner or the Company delivered to the other party.

            9.1.2 If this Agreement is terminated, in whole or in part, prior to
the death of the survivor of the Insureds pursuant to the provisions of
Paragraph 9.1 hereof, then the Owner shall promptly notify the Insurer of such
termination, and the extent of such termination, and the Owner shall be entitled
to liquidate the Policy to the extent of such termination, and shall be
obligated to pay the Company within 90 days of the date of receipt of the notice
of termination an amount equal to the lesser of (i) the Company's Policy
Interest to the extent of such termination, or (ii) the then Cash Surrender
Value. Upon repayment in full of the Company's Policy Interest, the Company
shall take all steps necessary to release the Collateral Assignment such that
the Policy comes under


                                       7
<PAGE>

the full control of the Owner. To the extent that the Company's Policy Interest
has not been repaid in full, the Company shall continue to possess interests in
the Policy.

            9.1.3 If at any time the Owner fails to make payment to the Company
of any payment then due under Paragraph 9.1.2, the Company shall have the right
to seek payment of such amount from the Insurer, subject to the provisions of
the Collateral Assignment. Any payments made under this Paragraph 9.1.3 to the
Company in connection with the rights or ownership interests assigned to the
Company in the Collateral Assignment shall be made only from the Cash Surrender
Value of the Policy. Such payment shall be made directly by the Insurer to the
Company.

            9.2 If not earlier terminated in whole pursuant to the provisions of
Paragraph 9.1 hereof, this Agreement shall terminate upon the death of the
survivor of the Insureds, and the Insurer shall pay directly to the Company such
portion of the death benefit as is equal to the Company's Policy Interest, and
shall pay the balance thereof to the Owner.

                                   ARTICLE X

                           NOT AN EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT

            10.1 This Agreement is strictly a voluntary undertaking on the part
of the Company and shall not be deemed to constitute an employment contract
between the Company and the Employee. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall
be deemed to give the Employee the right to be retained in the employ of the
Company or to interfere with the right of the Company to discharge the Employee
at any time.


                                       8
<PAGE>

                                   ARTICLE XI

                               INSURER PROTECTION

            11.1 The Insurer shall be bound only by the terms and provisions of
its Policy and by the terms and provisions of the Collateral Assignment, but
only if the Collateral Assignment is accepted in writing by the Insurer. Any
payments made or actions taken by the Insurer in accordance with the Policy and
the Collateral Assignment shall fully discharge it from any and all liabilities,
claims, suits and demands of all persons whatsoever, in respect of such payments
or actions. The Insurer is not a party to this Agreement and shall not be bound
by or deemed to have notice of the terms and provisions, or any other rights,
duties, obligations or conditions of this Agreement, except to the extent set
forth in the Collateral Assignment accepted by the Insurer.

                                  ARTICLE XII

                        PAROL EVIDENCE AND GOVERNING LAW

            12.1 This Agreement sets forth the entire split-dollar insurance
agreement of the Company, the Employee and the Owner. Any and all prior and
contemporaneous agreements, to the extent inconsistent herewith, are superseded.
Where not superseded by federal law, the law of the State of Delaware shall
govern this Agreement.

                                  ARTICLE XIII

            13.1 Words and phrases herein shall be construed as in the singular
or plural as masculine, feminine or neuter gender as appropriate. The Article
titles used herein are for organizational purposes only and shall have no
determinative effect upon the rights, interests, and/or duties created in this
Plan.


                                       9
<PAGE>

            IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto acknowledge that each has
carefully read this Plan and executed the original thereof as of the day first
above written, and that, upon execution, each has received a confirming copy.

                                         [      ] as Trustee ("Owner")

                                         By
------------------------------             -------------------------------------
(Witness)                                  Name:
                                           Title:



                                         CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON ("Company")

                                         By
------------------------------             -------------------------------------
(Witness)                                  Name:
                                           Title:


                                         By
------------------------------             -------------------------------------
(Witness)                                  [Executive]  ("Employee")


                                       10
<PAGE>

STATE OF NEW YORK            )
                              :  ss.:
COUNTY OF NEW YORK           )

            On this ____ day of_________, 2001, before me personally came
________________ to me known, who duly swore to the foregoing instrument and who
did say that he is _______________ of [  ], described in and which executed such
instrument; that he knows the seal of said Bank that the seal affixed thereto is
such seal and was so affixed by order and authority of the duly elected officers
of such Bank and that he signed his name thereto by like authority.

                                         --------------------------------
                                         Notary Public
                                         Commission Expires:


                                       11
<PAGE>

STATE OF NEW YORK            )
                              :  ss.:
COUNTY OF NEW YORK           )

            On this ____ day of _________, 2001, before me personally came
JOSEPH HUBER, to me known, who duly swore to the foregoing instrument and who
did say that he is ____________ of CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON, described in and
which executed such instrument; that he knows the seal of said Bank that the
seal affixed thereto is such seal and was so affixed by order and authority of
the duly elected officers of such Bank and that he signed his name thereto by
like authority.

                                         --------------------------------
                                         Notary Public
                                         Commission Expires:


                                       12
<PAGE>

STATE OF NEW YORK            )
                              :  ss.:
COUNTY OF NEW YORK           )

            On the ____________ day of __________, 2001, before me, the
undersigned, personally appeared [executive], personally known to me or proved
to me on the basis of satisfactory evidence to be the individual whose name is
subscribed to the within instrument and acknowledged to me that he executed the
same in his capacity, that by his signature on the instrument, the individual,
or the person upon behalf of which the individual acted, executed the
instrument, and that such individual made such appearance before the undersigned
in the above county and state.

                                         --------------------------------
                                         (Signature and office of
                                         individual taking
                                         acknowledgement)


                                       13
<PAGE>

                                   EXHIBIT "A"

                COLLATERAL ASSIGNMENT FOR SPLIT DOLLAR AGREEMENT

<PAGE>

                         COLLATERAL ASSIGNMENT AGREEMENT

            THIS AGREEMENT is entered into on this 27th day of February, 2001
between (1) [Trust Company], having an office at xxxxxxxxxx, as Trustee of
[Trust], created under an Agreement dated _____, 2001, made by [Executive] , as
Grantor, which Trust (hereinafter referred to as the "Owner") owns a certain
life insurance policy no. xxxxxxxx (the "Policy") insuring the joint lives of
[Executive] , a key employee of CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON, a corporation having
an office at 11 Madison Avenue, New York, New York (the "Company"), and his
spouse, [spouse], (hereinafter referred to collectively as the "Insureds"),
issued by [Life Insurance Company], a Delaware corporation (the "Insurer"), and
(2) the Company.

            The Owner, in consideration of stipulated premium payments by the
Company under a Split Dollar Insurance Agreement by and between Owner and the
Company, and upon each subsequent premium due date, hereby assigns, conveys and
sets over to the Company, or its successors, a specific and limited policy
ownership right under the following conditions and terms:

A.    Limited Policy Ownership Rights.

      The Company will, to the extent of the Company's Policy Interest as
      hereinafter defined, receive from the Owner an amount equal to such
      interest upon the death of the survivor of the Insureds, or upon the
      termination of the Split Dollar Insurance Agreement as provided therein,
      or upon surrender or cancellation of the Policy by the Owner.

B.    Company's "Policy Interest" Defined.

      The Company's Policy Interest at any time shall be the total amount of the
      Planned Periodic Premiums paid by the Company, as set forth in Article IV
      of the Split Dollar Insurance Agreement, reduced by any amount repaid to
      the Company upon a termination pursuant to Paragraph 9.1 of the Split
      Dollar Insurance Agreement from any source.

<PAGE>

C.    Payment of the Company's Policy Interest.

      1.    Upon Death of the Insureds. On the death of the survivor of the
            Insureds, the Company's Policy Interest shall be payable out of the
            proceeds of the Policy.

      2.    Upon Termination of the Split Dollar Insurance Agreement. Upon a
            termination, in whole or in part, of the Split Dollar Insurance
            Agreement as provided in Paragraph 9.1 thereof, the Company's Policy
            Interest shall be eligible to be paid out of the Cash Surrender
            Value of the Policy as defined in Article I of the Split Dollar
            Insurance Agreement, as provided in said Paragraph 9.1.

      3.    Upon Surrender or Cancellation of the Policy by the Owner. Upon a
            surrender or cancellation of the Policy by the Owner, the Company's
            Policy Interest shall be payable out of the Cash Surrender Value of
            the Policy, as defined in Article I of the Split Dollar Insurance
            Agreement.

D.    Owner's Policy Interest.

      The Owner's Policy Interest shall be the remainder of the interests under
      the Policy after satisfaction of the Company's Policy Interest as provided
      herein.

E.    Incidents of Ownership.

      The Owner shall have full incidents of ownership over the Policy, except
      as provided in Paragraph 3.2 of the Split Dollar Insurance Agreement. The
      Company shall have the following specific rights over the Company's Policy
      Interest: (a) The right to realize against the Cash Surrender Value of the
      Policy, to the extent of the Company's Policy Interest, in the event of
      termination of the Split Dollar Insurance Agreement as provided in
      Paragraph 9.1 thereof, and (b) the right to realize against the proceeds
      of the Policy, to the extent of the Company's Policy Interest, in the
      event of the death of the survivor of the Insureds as provided in
      Paragraph 9.2 thereof.


                                       2
<PAGE>

F.    Termination.

      As provided in Paragraph 9.1 of the Split Dollar Insurance Agreement,
      prior to the death of the survivor of the Insureds, that Agreement may be
      terminated at will, by the Owner, in whole or in part, or, after full
      payment by the Company of the amounts required under Paragraph 4.1 of the
      Split Dollar Insurance Agreement, by the Company, in whole or in part;
      provided, however, that the Split Dollar Insurance Agreement may not be
      terminated by the Company on a date which is earlier than seven (7) years
      after the latter of (i) the date of the Split Dollar Insurance Agreement,
      or (ii) the payment by the Company of the first $[ ] installment of the
      Planned Periodic Premium due on the Policy, paid pursuant to Paragraph 4.1
      of the Split Dollar Insurance Agreement; provided further, however, that
      the Company may terminate the Split Dollar Insurance Agreement, in whole
      or in part, at an earlier date if the Policy is not owned by the Owner. If
      either the Owner or the Company elects a partial termination of the Split
      Dollar Insurance Agreement, either the Owner or the Company shall have the
      power, from time to time, to elect further partial terminations until the
      Company's Policy Interest has been repaid in full. This Collateral
      Assignment shall terminate upon repayment in full of the Company's Policy
      Interest. Any such termination may only occur upon written notice by the
      Owner or the Company delivered to the other party. If not terminated in
      whole earlier, this Collateral Assignment shall terminate upon the death
      of the survivor of the Insureds as provided in Paragraph 9.2 of the Split
      Dollar Insurance Agreement.

G.    Intermediate Death Benefits.

      The Policy includes a rider providing for payment to the Owner of certain
      proceeds upon the death of the first to die of the Insureds. Any such
      proceeds as may be collected by the Owner upon the death of the first to
      die of the Insureds pursuant to such rider shall be


                                       3
<PAGE>

      applied by the Owner annually to pay to the Insurer the difference between
      (a) the lower of (i) the "P.S. 38 rates" set forth by the Internal Revenue
      Service, or any other table of rates promulgated by the Internal Revenue
      Service as a substitute therefor, or (ii) if allowed by the Internal
      Revenue Service, the Insurer's two-lives cost of insurance rate, as
      provided under the Insurer's published premium rate tables for one-year
      term insurance available to all standard risks prescribed for those
      purposes ("the P.S. 38 alternate rate"), and (b) the lower of (i) the
      "Table 2001 rates" set forth by the Internal Revenue Service, or any other
      table of rates promulgated by the Internal Revenue Service as a substitute
      therefor, or (ii) if allowed by the Internal Revenue Service, the
      Insurer's one-life cost of insurance rate, as provided under the Insurer's
      published premium rate tables for one-year term insurance available to all
      standard risks prescribed for those purposes ("the Table 2001 alternate
      rate"). If the amount of proceeds collected by the Owner under such rider
      shall be insufficient to pay the entire amount of the difference as
      determined above, the survivor of the Insureds, at his or her option, may
      pay the balance of such difference directly to the Insurer, or the
      Company.

H.    Insurer Action.

      1.    The Insurer is hereby authorized to recognize the Company's or the
            Owner's claims to rights as defined herein only upon receipt of, and
            to the extent specified in, a written notice signed by both the
            Company and the Owner. Insurer shall not be responsible to account
            for the actual premium contributions of the parties but shall rely
            solely upon the written declaration of the parties in any
            distribution or settlement of the Policy's lifetime or death values.

      2.    The Insurer shall provide the Owner with an "in-force illustration"
            for the Policy each year that the Policy is in effect, reflecting
            the current Cash Surrender Value of


                                       4
<PAGE>

            the Policy and the relevant P.S. 38 alternate rate or Table 2001
            alternate rate applicable to that policy year.

I.    Release of Company's Policy Interest.

      Upon full repayment to the Company of the Company's Policy Interest as set
      forth herein and in the Split Dollar Insurance Agreement, the Company
      shall release and re-assign its ownership rights in the Policy to the
      Owner.

J.    Alteration.

      This Collateral Assignment shall not be altered or changed in any way
      without the written consent of the Company and the Owner.

                                         [      ], as Trustee ("Owner")

                                         By
------------------------------             -------------------------------------
(Witness)                                  Name:
                                           Title:


                                         CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON ("Company")

                                         By
------------------------------             -------------------------------------
(Witness)                                  Name:
                                           Title:

RECEIVED, FILED AND ACCEPTED:
[LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY] ("Insurer")

By
  ----------------------------
  Title:


                                       5