If you’re an investor with a high tolerance for risk, you likely have invested in one or more digital currencies, i.e., cryptocurrencies, in the past decade or so. Bitcoin, the granddaddy of them all, only appeared in 2008. Today, however, you have over 6,700 different publicly traded cryptocurrencies to choose from. Their total value, as of Feb 18, 2021, was more than $1.6 trillion. On that date, Bitcoin alone was worth over $969.6 billion.
Investments
The Deferred Sales Trust vs. a Conventional Installment Sale
You likely already know that Section 453 of the Internal Revenue Code authorizes you to sell your highly appreciated asset by means of an installment sale, thereby allowing you to defer your capital gains taxes. You may also know that a Deferred Sales Trust is a special proprietary type of installment sale. But have you ever compared the two head-to-head to determine which offers you more advantages? If not, read on. You’re in for a very pleasant surprise!
The Cost of Setting Up a Deferred Sales Trust is Too High … Or Is It?
From time to time a Seller of an appreciated business or property, who is interested in the Deferred Sales Trust (DST) will comment that the legal costs associated with setting up the DST are too high. But are they?
3 Scenarios That Would Benefit From a DST
DSTs, or Deferred Sales Trusts, are taking the investment world by storm. This flexible investment opportunity allows you to sell assets and avoid paying taxes on capital gains. This can potentially result in millions of dollars saved, depending on the size of the gains. Even smaller investments can see big returns: capital gains tax can take over 20% of your gains away, depending on the situation.
How a DST Funds Your Retirement and Benefits Your Estate Plan
Although modern trust law traces back to feudal England in the 1100s, citizens of the Roman Republic secretly used an oral agreement called “fideicommissum” (something committed to one’s trust) to work around civil succession laws. This way, they could leave wealth or property to those considered as lower-class, including foreigners, slaves, couples without children or unmarried individuals — an act that was punishable by death.