About

Company history, exchange benefits, service background, and executive staff for 1031 Strategies & Services Group.

Full Service Exchange Firm

Serving Section 1031 clients since 1980.

Since 1980, the affiliates of 1031 Strategies & Services Group have been providing clients with the most extensive planning and strategies in the complex field of Section 1031 tax deferred exchanges. Independent Exchange Services, Inc. and Reverse Exchange Services, Inc. provide clients with guidance throughout every step in the exchange process.

Independent Exchange Services, Inc. and Reverse Exchange Services, Inc. provide IRS Section 1031 exchange services, essentially a deferral of capital gains taxes from the exchange of investment properties, for real estate investors throughout the United States and internationally.

The company acts as a third party qualified intermediary for various types of exchanges, including delayed, simultaneous, reverse, built-to-suit, and international exchanges. The company operates as part of the 1031 Strategies & Services Group. It is a boutique exchange firm, which means it does not handle thousands of transactions a year and is able to take a personalized approach to dealing with its clients.

Why experience matters in a 1031 exchange

Section 1031 transactions depend on timing, documentation, funds flow, and coordination among multiple professionals. The firm's role is to help investors and their advisors identify the correct exchange structure, keep exchange proceeds inside the exchange process, monitor key deadlines, and communicate clearly with escrow, title, lending, brokerage, tax, and legal teams.

Who the firm serves

The group works with real estate investors, business owners, trustees, family offices, agricultural property owners, commercial property owners, and professional advisors who need focused Section 1031 support. Engagements may involve a straightforward delayed exchange, a replacement-property-first reverse exchange, a construction or improvement exchange, or a transaction that requires careful review because ownership, financing, or closing sequence is complex.

Exchange Types

The firm supports several core Section 1031 transaction categories.

Simultaneous Tax Deferred Exchange In this transaction, the closing of both Phase I and Phase II occur simultaneously. Because timing, lenders, locations, and document pressure can complicate the transaction, simultaneous exchanges are rarely used. Even when a client expects a simultaneous closing, using a qualified intermediary can provide a useful safety net.
Delayed Tax Deferred Exchange The sale of the relinquished property happens first, and the closing of the replacement property is delayed to a later date. This transaction was sanctioned by the 1984 Tax Act, which imposed requirements for the Qualified Intermediary, the 45-day Identification Period, and the 180-day Exchange Period.
Reverse Exchange The chronological order is reversed. The replacement property is acquired first, then the relinquished property is sold. Reverse Exchange Services, Inc. provides the Exchange Accommodation Titleholder structure that can hold title during the parking period.

Our Services

Professional, pragmatic, deal-specific solutions.

Independent Exchange Services, Inc.

IES acts as an independent, third-party corporate Qualified Intermediary for investors selling relinquished property and reinvesting through delayed, simultaneous, improvement, or related exchange structures.

Read about IES

Reverse Exchange Services, Inc.

RES structures reverse and improvement exchanges when replacement property, construction timing, financing, or entity planning requires property to be parked before the ordinary sale-first sequence can be completed.

Read about RES

Specialized Exchange Team

Independent Exchange Services, Inc. focuses entirely on Section 1031 exchanges, giving clients a specialized team rather than a general transaction desk.

Meet the staff

Executive Staff

More than 100 years of combined exchange experience.

Ralph B. Bunje, Jr.

Ralph B. Bunje, Jr.

Chairman, CES, CPA inactive, MBA Tax, MS Accounting

Ralph has been advising clients on Section 1031 matters since 1978 and was a founder of Independent Exchange Services, Inc. in 1980. He has practical experience in financial management, accounting, income tax matters, investment banking, real estate finance, tax deferred exchanges, and organizational development.

Ralph is a past President and current Director of the Federation of Exchange Accommodators, as well as the President and Co-Founder of Reverse Exchange Services, Inc.

Billie Sue Records

Billie Sue Records

Principal, CES

Billie Sue has extensive operational, management, commercial real estate, investment, farming, and philanthropic experience. In 2007, she designed a Qualified Intermediary Department within Mission Bank in Bakersfield, California.

She has facilitated all types and variations of 1031 Exchanges, including reverse construction exchanges.

Ian Bunje

Ian Bunje

President, CES

Ian has coordinated and facilitated Section 1031 exchanges for more than two decades and is responsible for investment oversight of more than $300 million of assets under the Group's management.

He is a Certified Exchange Specialist and has served in leadership roles with the Federation of Exchange Accommodators and the Certified Exchange Specialist Council.

Kris Champion Morton

Kris Champion Morton

Principal

Kris has excelled in administrative roles for more than 20 years with the Group and leads administrative efforts to provide clients with strong process experience in completing 1031 exchanges.

Frank Nishimoto

Frank Nishimoto

Vice President and Comptroller, CPA

Frank has an extensive career in financial management, including more than 20 years as controller of a division of the Clorox corporation. He manages financial accountability of all 1031 client funds.

Jeff Lowenstein

Jeff Lowenstein

Principal

Jeff has been an entrepreneur for more than 20 years with experience starting, managing, and operating more than 10 businesses. He brings business operations, data security, and information compliance experience to the exchange process.