New Tax Law Impacting 401(k) Contributions
Did you now that a tax law effective Jan. 1, 2026 impacts your client's potential 401(k) catch up contributions? Listen to this podcast for a summary of the law and for two possible sales ideas. In this podcast, Jim Barbee with Advanced Planning discusses why certain employees are no longer permitted to make pre-tax catch up contributions to an employer's 401(k) and an alternate use for those funds (spoiler alert: life insurance is involved).

An executive bonus is powerful fringe benefit helping employers recruit, retain and reward key employees. If you have business-owner clients looking for tax deductions, tune into this podcast to learn about different varieties of an executive bonus plan and how it can be used to address your client's objectives. In this short podcast, Advanced Planning's Jim Barbee reviews four types of executive bonus designs and the related tax advantages for both employers and employees. Cash value life insurance offers a variety of tax planning advantages – many of them unique to life insurance. How many can you name? If it’s not at least eight, this podcast is for you.

Do you work with business owners on life insurance strategies such as key person, buy-sells, split-dollar, or SERP/deferred compensation? If yes, are you up to speed with the ins and outs of internal revenue code (IRC) section 101(j)?
In place since 2006, IRC is a nasty tap trap hiding in plain sight ready to ensnare unsuspecting business owners. If triggered, 101(j) results in a taxable death benefit — yikes! In this podcast,

Advanced Planning’s David Szeremet covers the basics of 101(j) so you can quickly identify when the trap applies and how you can generally educate business owners so they can avoid it. All in under ten minutes.

Cash value life insurance offers a variety of tax planning advantages – many of them unique to life insurance. How many can you name? If it’s not at least eight, this podcast is for you. In this podcast, Advanced Planning’s David Szertemet reviews the eight most common tax planning aspects of permanent life insurance. Use this podcast to build knowledge, or as a refresher. It only requires five minutes of your time.

The SECURE Act clock is ticking! Join Carlos Zarate, ChFC, from the Advanced Planning Team at AuguStar as he breaks down the critical deadlines for inherited IRAs. The 10-year rule is top of mind for many IRA beneficiaries, especially now that waived penalties for missed RMDs are a thing of the past. Carlos shares a 3-step strategy for financial professionals to proactively model distributions, build client trust, and help clients avoid the year-10 tax spike.

Advanced Planning's Jim Barbee discusses a recent agribusiness case. The agent used Advanced Planning's business valuation service to value a farm and placed a policy on the farm owner to facilitate the transfer of the business to the farmer's daughter (with premiums paid by the farm). The agent placed a second policy on the farmer to create additional estate wealth that could be passed on to the farmer's son. Because the death benefit on the second policy was equal to the value of the farm, the farmer was able to equalize the inheritances he was leaving to his two children.

Carlos Zarate, member of the Advanced Planning team, discusses the popular "Taxes Quick View" guide. This updated guide incorporates changes from the Big Beautiful Bill, including new standard deductions, bonus senior deductions, and revised SALT deduction rules.

Advanced Planning’s David Szeremet highlights three planning principles that are sure to gain importance under the OBBBA. In this short podcast, Szeremet discusses three planning principles left untouched under the OBBBA and why they are sure to thrive in the current tax environment. Use these ideas to help clients and prospects understand and seize historic opportunities.

Carlos Zarate, ChFC, from the AuguStar Advanced Planning Team reviews Trust-Owned Annuities: From Basics to Pass In-Kind Wealth Transfers.

Carlos Zarate, ChFC, from the AuguStar Advanced Planning Team reviews Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) basics, such as the deadline to take your first RMD, as well as strategies around RMD planning. Carlos explains how annuities and Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs) can be used as tools to better prepare for RMD income.