Estate Planning

If you wish to leave behind a lasting legacy, whether it’s for family and loved ones or a charitable institution, then you need to put a well-thought-out Estate Plan in place. Without such a Plan, strangers (the State, Lawyers or individuals who don’t have your interests in mind) could determine what happens to your Estate.

What We Do For You

Our Estate Planning services include:

• Helping you understand the importance of a will: Your will should be the corner stone of your Estate Plan. We help you understand the process and how you should structure this document so your legal team can create a will that reflects how you want your Estate disposed. From a simple will to a Testamentary Will, or Joint Wills and Living Wills – our advisors will help educate and support you through the complexities so you won’t stress over what’s what!
• Creating Powers of Attorney (POA): Whether it’s to manage specific assets or help others make health-care decisions in your best interest in the event you are ill or incapacitated, you need to have a POA in place. A well-crafted POA will smooth how decisions about your final arrangements, and those related to your estate, are handled once you pass. Our Advisors can educate and support you and your legal experts to ensure all legal and financial paperwork is in place for you or loved one’s plans.
• Choosing Executors: The Executors of your Estate wield strong powers that determine how your Estate is finally handled upon your passing. We help you understand the importance of an executor(s) for your Estate and what criteria you should consider when appointing someone to this all-important role, especially if minor children/guardians are involved.
• Designating beneficiaries: If you don’t choose beneficiaries for your assets carefully (or not at all), your estate’s assets might end up in the hands of individuals who weren’t intended to receive them.
• Considering dependents’ needs: A well-thought-out Estate Plan will ensure that all of the needs of your dependents (be they minors, adult children, siblings, persons with special needs or aging parents) are taken care of per your desires.
• Tax planning (minimizing estate taxes and reducing probate fees): Without a well-thought-out Estate Plan, a considerable part of your estate could erode through taxes, fees and other levies even before your designated beneficiaries see a cent! Our Advisors can work with you and your tax specialist(s) and legal team to ensure your assets pass to the next generation as intended and as efficiently as possible.
• Considering health and welfare: A comprehensive Estate Plan contains several components, including directives to your Executors and POA-holders about what to do in case your health (mental or physical) deteriorates. Without those components in your Estate Plan, decisions impacting your health and welfare might be made by others (likely medical professionals or state-appointed representatives).