A South Dakota Granter Retained Annuity Trust (GREAT) is a wealth transfer and estate planning tool that allows an individual to transfer assets to a trust while retaining an annuity income for a specified period. It is a widely-used strategy to minimize estate taxes while still benefiting from income generated by the transferred assets. The South Dakota GREAT is established in compliance with the laws of South Dakota, which offers favorable trust and tax laws that attract individuals and families seeking asset protection, privacy, and efficient estate planning options. Some relevant keywords for understanding a South Dakota GREAT include: 1. Wealth transfer: South Dakota GREAT is an efficient method to shift assets to the next generation while minimizing estate taxes. 2. Estate planning: It is a crucial component of comprehensive estate planning strategies. 3. Trust: South Dakota GREAT involves the creation of a trust, which is a legal entity that holds and manages the transferred assets. 4. Granter: The person creating the trust and transferring assets is known as the granter. 5. Annuity income: The granter retains a fixed annuity income payout for a specified period, usually determined at the trust's creation. 6. Estate taxes: South Dakota GREAT can help individuals mitigate or eliminate potential estate taxes. 7. Asset protection: The trust structure offers legal protection to the assets from potential creditors or legal claims. 8. Tax advantages: South Dakota's favorable tax laws make it an attractive jurisdiction for establishing a GREAT. 9. South Dakota dynasty trust: South Dakota also offers a unique feature, known as the dynasty trust, which allows wealth to pass through multiple generations without incurring transfer taxes. 10. GREAT modification: In South Dakota, Grants can be modified or converted into different types of trusts during their duration, providing increased flexibility. In conclusion, a South Dakota Granter Retained Annuity Trust (GREAT) is a legal and tax-efficient estate planning tool that individuals can utilize to transfer assets while still enjoying an annuity income stream. South Dakota's trust and tax laws make it an attractive jurisdiction for establishing Grants, and additional options such as dynasty trusts and trust modification provide further flexibility.