Concerns – DBS

Insurance Financing Options for Clients Who Have Used Their Gift Exemption Amount

2021 presents a unique opportunity for individuals to accomplish significant transfer tax planning. The reasons for this include the following: An individual can currently transfer $11.7 million of property without gift, estate, and generation-skipping taxes. The current top transfer tax rate is 40%. Several strategies utilize interest rates that are at historic lows. However, the […]

Count Down of President Biden’s Top 10 Tax Proposals

President Biden’s proposals, if enacted, will have a big impact on many planning strategies. Keep an eye on these proposals so that you’re prepared to work with your clients accordingly. Read full PDF

Standby Survivorship Trust an Alternative to an ILIT for Insureds Desiring Control

Situation: The uncertainty of the estate tax laws has created a dilemma for many taxpayers, estate planners, and insurance professionals. Should moderately high net worth couples take action today to shelter a significant amount from estate tax (under the $11.7 million exemption) by making a large gift; or should they hold off making a large […]

Opportunity Knocks in 2021

The industry is constantly evolving, and we continue to see change in many areas that affect the work you do with your clients. The good news? With all of this change comes opportunity. Terri Getman, DBS Business Development Director, has laid out three big opportunities to take advantage of NOW. She’s also identified which of […]

The 7 Steps to Gift Transfers

Given the amount that an individual can give away without incurring gift taxes is at a historic high and the prospect that in the near future this amount could decrease significantly many of your high net worth clients may be considering significant lifetime gifts this year. There may never be such an opportunity again, but […]

Finding Life Insurance Opportunities Using Form 1040

A careful review of a client’s tax returns can provide insight into their insurance and financial planning needs. A review of the lines on a tax return can lead to conversations about: • Basic needs analysis and college funding • Retirement and extended care planning • Legacy & charitable planning • Business planning Additionally, comparing […]

The Four Levels of Gifting

Level #1: Transfers Not Subject to Tax There are several transfers that fall outside federal gift taxation. You can make the following transfers without facing a gift tax: Anything given to a U.S. citizen spouse as long as the transfer qualifies under the marital deduction1 Donations to qualified charitable organizations made in a manner qualifying […]

Navigating through Challenging Times – Part 2

An interview with George “Chip” Van Dusen IV, DBS Principal – President & CEO – Part Two by Laura Thompson, Director of Marketing – DBS One of the biggest challenges for leaders in 2020, amidst the incredible uncertainty in the world, was having to make difficult decisions often based on everchanging information. Through it all, […]

Navigating through Challenging Times – Part 1

An interview with George “Chip” Van Dusen IV, DBS Principal – President & CEO – Part One by Laura Thompson, Director of Marketing – DBS When 2020 began, no one could have predicted that a pandemic would completely change life as we know it. Virtually every aspect of daily life was affected and we all […]

Less Now or More Later? Taxes, That is…

In 2021, you can give away more… The amount you can give away (gift exemption) without owing any federal gift tax is the highest it has ever been – $11,700,000. However, President Biden campaigned on raising taxes and has proposed to tax the transfer of property as low as $3,500,000 at a rate of 45%. […]