Advanced Planning

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May 2026

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About the show

The Advanced Planning Team brings you advanced planning sales ideas in this podcast series. Designed to be easy to listen to and understand, the team slices and dices topics within estate planning, individual retirement and business insurance categories – then rolls it all up with tips for selling in these lucrative insurance spaces. FOR FINANCIAL PROFESSIONAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR USE WITH THE GENERAL PUBLIC. The material discussed provides general information and should not be taken as specific legal or tax advice. Clients should seek the advice of a qualified tax or legal professional for their specific situation. Results may not be representative of the experience of other agents and are not a guarantee of success. Individual results will vary. Product, product features and rider availability vary by state. Issuer not licensed to conduct business in NY. Products are issued by AuguStar Life Insurance Company and AuguStar Life Assurance Corporation, members of Constellation Insurance, Inc. family of companies. © 2025 AuguStar Life Insurance Company | One Financial Way Cincinnati, Ohio 45242

Listen to episodes

16 recent

May 15, 202612 min

Roth 401(k) Catch Up Alternative

New Tax Law Impacting 401(k) ContributionsDid 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).

May 5, 20266 min

Executive Bonus basics, designs and ways to use

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.

March 19, 20269 min

The 101(j) tax trap

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.

February 25, 20265 min

Life Insurance Tax Planning

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.

November 10, 20256 min

Out in 10: RMDs and the SECURE Act

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.

September 22, 20255 min

AG business case study

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.

September 22, 20255 min

Taxes Quick View guide

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.

September 22, 20256 min

The power of omission - OBBBA three things

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.

June 24, 20259 min

Trust-Owned Annuities: From Basics to Pass In-Kind Wealth Transfers

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

March 19, 20257 min

Custodial Executive Bonus

Learn about a popular business life insurance fringe benefit that uses cash value life insurance. Advanced Planning’s David Szeremet explains how Virtus IUL was positioned to help retain a valued employee with a simple concept. The concept is selective, tax-deductible to the business, and the business maintains control over access to policy cash value.