Uncertainty and turmoil are obviously two things that players in the financial services industry certainly want to avoid, indeed at all costs.
But, for the life insurance industry, the current uncertainty and turmoil regarding federal tax policy provides great opportunity.
The debate over tax policy in both the House and Senate ended August 3 when members of Congress finally left for an undeserved month-long recess.
And, it was totally contrived.
Members knew the debate over the so-called "Bush-era" tax cuts would lead nowhere, and that no decision would be made until after the November election.
But the huge spotlight on the debate was beneficial to the insurance industry because it illustrated to consumers that it is unclear what future tax policy would be.
To the astute consumer, it showed that while existing tax policy might be extended, for what period is unclear, under no circumstances will it get better than it is now.
That spells opportunity for insurance companies and agents because sealing in the gains created by the Bush tax cuts as amended in late 2010 for 2011 and 2012 opens a short but exciting selling environment for tax-advantaged insurance products.
Doug Siegler, a partner at Sutherland Asbill & Brennan in Washington and a member of Sutherland's Tax Practice Group, said the decision by Democrats to remove the estate tax provisions from tax legislation they were proposing appeared to be part of a new Democratic Party strategy to play hardball on tax issues.
"Although no one can predict how the looming expiration of the so-called 'Bush-era tax cuts' will ultimately play out, the withdrawal by Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev, Senate majority leader, of the estate and gift provisions from his middle class tax bill would seem to indicate that there will be a separate fight on the estate and gift tax," Siegler said.
He said a number of Democrats felt "stung" by the concession in 2010 that allowed an increase in the estate and gift exemptions to $5 million and a drop in the top tax rate of 35%, "and they may not be willing to make the same concession on these issues this time around."
Siegler says the thinking of most tax practitioners is that once the election is over the most likely options are that Congress will decide to retain either the current system, or to return to the 2009 levels.
