Estate Planning
Estate Planning

Like it or not, we will all pass away. And when we do, we all leave something behind; it’s either something we own or something we owe. For this reason, estate planning is a very important part of the financial planning process. Without proper planning, our loved ones are left trying to sort out our affairs, the transitioning of our assets can be delayed, costs to settle the estate can rise, and family disputes can occur.
We have a systematic approach to helping our clients address their estate planning needs. First, we help them understand the probate process and how different assets pass upon death. It’s also important that they understand the financial impact their passing can have on their family and loved ones. We outline the documents that play important roles in estate planning such as wills and trusts and then develop a plan to minimize the costs, taxes and delays of transitioning their assets and settling their estate when their time comes. This phase of planning is often done by working closely with an estate planning attorney and tax advisor.
If you have questions about your estate planning needs, we would be happy to discuss them with you. Below are a few ways that we can help you with your estate planning needs.
- Help you understand the probate process and how estate planning strategies can help.
- Outline and plan for the financial impact your passing may have on your loved ones.
- Clearly outline how different assets will pass when you die and develop strategies to maximize your control of what happens to them while minimizing unnecessary taxes or delays when distributing your assets to your loved ones.
- Coordinate your retirement income planning to align with their estate plan by drawing from assets that would pass less favorably allowing you to leave other assets which may pass to your heirs in a more tax-effective manner.
- Work closely with estate planning attorneys to discuss your estate plans, coordinate beneficiaries, funding of trusts, gifting strategies and account ownership.
- If you have a special needs child, discuss and plan for the transfer of assets in a way that doesn’t impact the child’s SSI.
- Work with your spouse, family and heirs after death to provide for a smooth transition of assets.