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Business Wire
18-07-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Hunt Companies Acquires Controlling Interest in Carter, Strengthening Real Estate Development Platform
EL PASO, Texas & ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Hunt Companies, Inc. ('Hunt'), an El Paso-based holding company with a focus on real estate, infrastructure and financial services, announced today that it has acquired a majority stake in Carter ('Carter'), a premier real estate investment and development firm headquartered in Atlanta, GA. The acquisition reinforces Carter's position as a leader in mixed-use and residential development while expanding its ability to pursue large-scale opportunities across the United States. Hunt's support will enable Carter to expand its platform in mixed-use, residential development, and relationship-driven growth initiatives. The partnership aims to grow banking relationships and secure additional investment opportunities in key markets. The companies have a proven partnership, with Hunt and Carter most recently delivering the Prospect Lake Wire project, a transformational mixed-use development in Lakeland, FL, and previously The DeSOTA, a highly successful luxury apartment community in Sarasota, FL. These projects underline the two companies' shared commitment to delivering innovative, high-quality developments that create value for communities and stakeholders alike. With this change, Bob Peterson, long-time CEO and Chairman of Carter, has announced his retirement, and following the transaction, Scott Taylor will continue in his role as President and Chief Executive Officer of Carter, leading the company's day-to-day operations, while also continuing as a partner. 'Partnering with Hunt represents an exciting new chapter for Carter,' said Taylor. 'Hunt's strategic expertise, financial strength, and commitment to long-term growth align perfectly with our mission to deliver extraordinary mixed-use and residential projects. Together, through successes like Prospect Lake Wire and The DeSOTA, we're proving that collaboration drives impact, transforming spaces into vibrant communities where people thrive.' Ryan McCrory, President of Hunt Companies, stated, 'Carter brings decades of experience and an impressive track record in real estate development. Our successful collaborations demonstrate the strong foundation we already share. With this partnership, we're leveraging our combined strengths to accelerate growth while maintaining focus on quality, innovation, and sustainability.' Hunt's support will enable Carter to expand its platform in mixed-use, residential development, and relationship-driven growth initiatives. The partnership aims to grow banking relationships and secure additional investment opportunities in key markets. 'For over 75 years, Hunt has been committed to advancing thoughtful real estate development strategies,' added McCrory. 'Our partnership with Carter aligns with our vision of creating impactful projects that build stronger communities.' Carter's strategic priorities moving forward include expanding its footprint throughout the Sunbelt in mixed-use developments and identifying high-value residential projects that foster long-term value for its investors and clients. About Hunt Companies Hunt Companies is a principal investment firm founded in 1947 based in El Paso, TX with interests in the real estate, infrastructure and financial services sectors. As an owner operator with a strong investment platform and financial structuring expertise, Hunt develops lasting relationships to create value for its investors, clients, employees and communities. The company and its affiliates are committed to promoting community growth and a sustainable future through our business practices, purpose-driven investment, and charitable giving. About Carter Carter is a privately held real estate investment and development company headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. Since 1958, Carter has delivered transformative mixed-use and residential projects across the United States, with a focus on thoughtful design, strategic partnerships, and community-centered development. Known for landmark developments such as The Grounds in Winston-Salem, NC; Summerhill in Atlanta, GA; The Banks in Cincinnati, OH; City Springs in Sandy Springs, GA; and The DeSOTA in Sarasota, FL, Carter combines decades of experience with a relationship-driven approach that delivers lasting value. Carter's purpose is to make a difference by transforming communities and spaces so people can thrive. For more information, visit
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Wealthy couples often face an estate tax: Here's their favorite legal maneuver to get around it
High-net-worth couples have no shortage of tools and strategies at their disposal to lower their tax obligations and pass on their wealth. But financial planners say one especially favorable arrangement has become a go-to in recent years—one that helps them pass on generational wealth while still benefiting from it during their lifetimes. It's called a spousal lifetime access trust, or SLAT. SLATs are irrevocable trusts that let the spouses maintain access to their assets while keeping them out of their taxable estate. A growing number of wealthy customers are using them to take advantage of high estate and gift tax exemptions, a strategy that can lead to significant tax savings over a lifetime. Here's how it works: One spouse, called the grantor, transfers her individually owned assets from her estate into the SLAT for the benefit of her spouse, called the beneficiary. Once removed from the grantor's estate, the future appreciation of the assets is also removed, meaning those gains won't be taxed. But the couple aren't cut off from the money: The beneficiary spouse can access the assets in the SLAT for health, education, maintenance, and support for both him and his spouse, says Bob Peterson, senior wealth advisor at Crescent Grove Advisors. 'Some would say you are having your cake and eating it too.' The primary purpose of a SLAT is to move future asset growth out of the estate, says Peterson. He gives the example of moving $5 million into the SLAT. If it eventually grows to $15 million, the $10 million appreciation is not subject to estate taxes upon the grantor's death. Establishing a SLAT can also be a good way to safeguard assets from creditors or claims against either spouse. 'It should be remembered that SLATs are an estate tax strategy, not necessarily an income tax strategy,' says Peterson. 'SLATs are typically structured as grantor trusts, so the grantor continues to pay income taxes on the trust earnings.' This is an especially beneficial arrangement to some couples because many irrevocable trusts don't allow beneficiaries to take distributions until after the death of the grantor. With a SLAT, however, beneficiaries are able to withdraw the income or principal to maintain the couple's standard of living. While those benefits may seem too good to be true, there are also drawbacks, says Peterson. The main one being that any gift is irrevocable—the grantor gives up all rights to the funds. That 'can become problematic in the event of divorce or the spouses passing,' says Peterson. Additionally, jointly owned assets cannot be transferred into the SLAT. Grantors should be sure, then, that they can continue to live their lifestyle if they lose access to those funds in the future, for whatever reason. If the beneficiary spouse dies before the grantor, the remaining assets will pass to that spouse's beneficiaries, typically children, without estate taxes. SLATs have been especially popular lately, thanks to the impending sunset of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, or TCJA. That law doubled the estate tax exemption, or the maximum that individuals and couples can give their beneficiaries during their lifetime and as part of their estate without paying federal gift or estate taxes. The transfer of assets from one spouse's estate to the SLAT is reported on a gift tax return, meaning it is applied against the donor's lifetime gift and estate tax exemption. That currently stands at $13.99 million for individuals—and double for married couples—but could be halved come January, depending on what Congress is able to pass as part of its ongoing tax bill negotiations. That has created something of a race-against-the-clock mentality for some high-net-worth families, financial advisors say, should Congress fail to re-up the doubled exemption. 'By making a gift now, you can use the full $13.99 million, versus waiting until 2026 and only having the ability to gift around $7 million without gift tax consequences,' says Peterson. But again, couples will want to be careful. The expanded exemption could easily be extended, and then they may have put limits on how they can access their funds for no reason. This story was originally featured on
