Will partnering with a Trusted Advisor help you find Peace of Mind?

Will partnering with a Trusted Advisor help you find Peace of Mind?

Several years ago, a client couple referred their neighbors.  Let’s call them Jim and Kate.  They had been married almost 20 years and had established careers and two younger children. After recently purchasing their dream home, they came to us to help consolidate multiple investments and build a financial plan for their retirement.  We started by solidifying their college savings, reviewed existing life policies, and started managing their accumulated retirement accounts.

Jim was an early employee of his firm and was working with leadership to design his exit strategy.  He wanted to spend more time with family, and was starting his own business.  A few years later Jim got sick, and we sat with them at the attorney’s office to draft wills and healthcare directives.  Fortunately, his life insurance was already in place, as insurance companies won’t issue a policy once a serious healthcare issue arises.

Jim recently lost his battle with a debilitating illness.  Through the waves of emotions that followed, we were able to provide Kate with peace of mind around her financial future, so that she could focus on her family and their grieving.  When she was ready, we helped her reregister accounts, file insurance claims, update her will, and refine college planning.  Thankfully, the life insurance benefits more than covered expenses while she took a leave of absence from work and prepared their oldest child for college.  

Kate has told us many times how grateful she is to be able to lean on us.  A year after losing her husband, we helped her dismantle her inherited business and work through the pros and cons of strategies to help restart her life, including selling their family home and securing financial freedom.

Partnering with a trusted Financial Advisor now could be one of the most important moves you make. Life is unpredictable.  When you find yourself faced with stressful life changes, having built strong advisor relationship will prove to be invaluable. 

Are Taxes Keeping You From Selling Investment Real Estate?

Are Taxes Keeping You From Selling Investment Real Estate?

Typically, selling an investment property like a rental home or an office building will trigger taxes on the amount of gain. This may stop people unaware there is a way to defer these taxes.

The IRS allows a property seller who reinvests all the proceeds into one or more new properties (known as replacement properties) to defer taxes on the gain. This process is called a 1031 exchange, named for the section of tax code that allows it. This process is currently repeatable and you can also quit being a landlord! 

The IRS allows reinvestment into passive investment vehicles known as Delaware Statutory Trusts (DSTs) which can also reduce risk versus owning individual buildings and provide monthly income. 

There are several reasons investors consider a DST for their 1031 exchanges. 

Because DSTs are professionally managed, you can quit dealing with tenants, maintenance, etc. These passive vehicles may also provide diversification across property types and regions of the country.  The investor may also consider their heirs, who may inherit these investments tax-free. It is also easier for heirs to receive interests in a DST than negotiating to liquidate a physical property.

The 1031 exchange rules are complex. We recommend speaking with a knowledgeable financial advisor and tax professional well before an investment property is sold.

Enjoy today and tomorrow, and let us do the worrying!

Contact us to discuss your situation if you’re interested in our time-horizon strategies.