Estate Planning
Estate planning is the process of structuring your assets so that your wealth transfers to your heirs with the least possible tax burden. Without a plan, your family may face estate taxes, probate delays, and unintended distribution of assets.
Where Estate Plans Fall Short
Each situation below is one a coordinated plan, built alongside your estate-planning attorney, is designed to address.
Probate can stall for months
When an estate enters probate, the court process can run for many months before your family receives anything. Coordinated planning, alongside your estate-planning attorney, may help your assets transfer more smoothly.
A judge may name your children's guardian
Without named guardians, a judge could decide who raises your minor children, sometimes without ever knowing your family. Clear documents, drafted with your attorney, can help keep that choice yours.
Wealth can quietly route to the IRS
Without coordinated planning, more of your estate may pass to taxes than to your family. We model the tax impact alongside your estate-planning attorney, with planning designed to help more reach your heirs.
An unplanned exit, a forced sale
Without a documented succession plan, a sudden exit can force a rushed sale of the business at a discount. We can model the financial impact alongside your estate-planning attorney.
Incapacity can put a court in charge
Without powers of attorney and a healthcare directive, a court may appoint someone to decide on your care and finances. We coordinate with your attorney so the right people can step in.
Old beneficiary forms can override your will
Retirement accounts and life insurance pass by beneficiary form, not by your will, so an outdated designation could send money to an ex-spouse. We review yours alongside your estate-planning attorney.
Why Estate Planning Matters
Estate planning is not just for the ultra-wealthy. Anyone who owns a home, has children, or holds retirement accounts should have a plan in place. Without one, state intestacy laws determine who inherits your assets, and that outcome rarely matches what you would have chosen.
For high-net-worth families, the stakes are even higher. The federal estate-tax exemption, while historically generous, is scheduled to decrease significantly. Families who fail to plan in advance may see millions of dollars redirected to the IRS instead of their heirs.
Beyond taxes, estate planning covers powers of attorney, healthcare directives, and guardianship designations. These documents ensure that your wishes are followed even if you become incapacitated, sparing your family from painful legal battles during an already difficult time.
Do You Have a Complete Estate Plan?
A complete estate plan typically includes a revocable living trust, a pour-over will, durable powers of attorney for finances and healthcare, beneficiary designations aligned with the trust, and a plan for minimizing estate and gift taxes. Many families have some of these pieces but not all of them.
One of the most common gaps we see is outdated beneficiary designations. Retirement accounts, life insurance, and transfer-on-death accounts pass directly to named beneficiaries, regardless of what your will or trust says. If those designations have not been reviewed since a major life event, your assets may not end up where you expect.
We conduct a thorough estate-plan audit for every Planning Club member, identifying gaps and coordinating with your estate-planning attorney to close them.
How We Help
Our role is not to replace your estate-planning attorney but to work alongside them. We bring the financial analysis: projecting estate values, modeling gift strategies, and quantifying the tax impact of different trust structures. Your attorney provides the legal drafting.
For families with complex situations, such as blended families, business interests, or charitable goals, this collaboration is critical. We make sure the financial plan and the legal documents tell the same story.
We also help with the practical side of estate planning: organizing account information, titling assets correctly, and making sure your family knows where to find important documents when the time comes.
Schedule a conversation to review your estate plan and ensure your family is fully protected.
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