As your assets grow, it’s important to make a plan for all the what-ifs. This is your estate plan. The general goals of an estate plan are to give you control of your assets while you’re alive, ensure that you can afford care if you become disabled, and allow for the transfer of your wealth at the lowest cost. Our approach to estate planning is coordinated between your estate plan, business plan, investments, insurance, and more.

Common issues in this process include wealth transfers, taxation, asset protection, and charitable giving. We can guide you through all of these.

Wealth Transfer

Wealth transfer planning can involve managing your assets if you become disabled or incapacitated, but most often, it’s used to distribute your wealth the way you want at death. You can specify who receives your assets, along with how and when. You’ll have to consider providing financial security for others (like your family), planning for children from a previous marriage, equalizing inheritances fairly, and retiring from your business.

Taxes

Giving away your wealth can be subject to federal and state taxes, both while you’re living and after you’re gone. Good estate planning should support your other financial goals while seeking to reduce the depletion of your assets by taxation.

Creditor Protection

Those with substantial assets need to consider creditor protection with an asset protection plan. We’ll help you identify potential exposures to this risk, then strategize to prevent or reduce exposure. Asset protection planning deals with ownership issues, liability insurance, statutory protections, special needs trusts, offshore and domestic trusts, prenuptial agreements, divorce, and business dissolutions.

Charitable Giving

This form of giving your wealth actually comes with tax incentives, though many people are motivated to give by personal reasons. Planning for charitable giving involves identifying which assets to give and which structure will target your needs. We can help you identify how your giving can help both you and your beneficiaries.

This material has been provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute either tax or legal advice. Investors should consult with a tax or legal professional regarding their individual situations.