Legacy & Estate Planning
A retirement plan that ignores what you want to leave behind isn't a complete plan. Estate planning sits at the intersection of legal documents, beneficiary designations, account titling, and ongoing strategy — and most retirees have gaps somewhere. We don't replace your estate attorney, but we coordinate the financial side of your legacy goals and make sure the pieces work together.
What we do in legacy and estate planning
Our role in your estate planning includes:
- →Beneficiary planning — reviewing and coordinating all beneficiary designations across retirement accounts, life insurance, and annuities. (This is one of the most commonly overlooked pieces of estate planning, and it overrides what your will says.)
- →Funding coordination — if you have trusts established, making sure the right assets are titled or beneficiaried correctly to align with your estate plan
- →Strategy discussions — talking through legacy goals, charitable intentions, and how to coordinate financial decisions with what you want to leave behind
- →Coordination with your estate attorney — working alongside the attorney you have (or referring to attorneys we trust if you need one) so the legal documents and the financial plan are aligned
What we don't do
We're transparent about our role:
- →We don't draft legal documents — wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and healthcare directives all come from your estate attorney
- →We don't give legal advice — that's your attorney's job
- →We don't replace your tax professional for estate tax filings
Our job is the financial and strategic side. We coordinate with your legal and tax professionals so the whole picture works together.
About legacy & estate planning.
Do I need a trust?
It depends on your situation. Trusts can be useful for avoiding probate, controlling distributions to heirs, protecting assets, or managing tax efficiency for larger estates. But not everyone needs one. We can discuss whether a trust makes sense and refer you to attorneys we trust if you need to set one up.
What's the most common estate planning mistake?
Outdated or inconsistent beneficiary designations. Beneficiary designations on retirement accounts, life insurance, and annuities override what's in your will. We've seen ex-spouses inherit retirement accounts, deceased relatives listed as primary beneficiaries, and contingent beneficiaries missing entirely. We review these as part of your plan.
Do you work with my estate attorney?
Yes. If you already have an attorney, we coordinate with them so the financial side and the legal side align. If you need an attorney, we can refer you to ones we've worked with successfully.
Ready to see how legacy & estate planning fits your plan?
The first 30 minutes are complimentary. We'll talk through your situation and whether we're the right fit.