When capital-gains tax stalls a deal, we keep it moving.
Souza Wealth Management operates a dedicated Deferred Sales Trust (DST) desk for business brokers and M&A advisors. We coordinate tax counsel, structure, and the seller experience so the right transactions actually close — and your sellers keep more of what they built.
Schedule a partner callDeals die in the tax conversation.
You've worked a deal for months. Valuation aligns, terms are fair, the buyer is real — then the seller's CPA runs the capital-gains number and the room goes cold.
A 1031 exchange isn't a fit. An installment sale doesn't match the buyer's structure. The seller stalls, the deal drifts, and the transaction never closes — or closes for far less than it should have.
That's the gap we're built to close.
What a Deferred Sales Trust does.
A DST is an installment-sale structure under IRC §453 that lets a qualifying seller defer capital-gains tax on the sale of a business, real estate, or other highly appreciated asset — while keeping the proceeds invested for income and growth.
Defer federal capital-gains and depreciation-recapture exposure at close.
Trust proceeds can be invested in diversified portfolios — not locked into a single replacement asset.
Seller receives structured payments tailored to their cash-flow and tax bracket goals.
Properly designed, the structure supports estate, gifting, and charitable planning down the road.
A clean process you can hand off without losing the relationship.
Intro call
We meet your seller alongside you. No surprise pitches — we explain whether a DST is even a fit.
Coordinated structure
We bring in vetted tax counsel and trustees, then run the structure past the seller's CPA and attorney.
Close & manage
DST is funded at close. Our team manages the trust portfolio and reports to the seller — you remain the broker of record.
When to bring us in.
- Business sale of ~$1M+ in expected capital gain
- Seller is tax-sensitive and open to deferral
- 1031 or installment alternatives aren't a clean fit
- Deal timeline allows 30–60 days for setup
Deferred Sales Trust is an estate, tax, and financial planning strategy that involves complex legal and tax considerations. Souza Wealth Management does not provide legal or tax advice. Clients should consult independent legal and tax counsel before entering into any DST structure. Advisory services offered through Compass Financial Management, an SEC-Registered Investment Advisory.