Legacy Planning
At Strategic Solutions and Counsel, your wishes during life and after death are our top priority. Focusing on you, the client, we formed our legacy planning division. Legal processes such as the probate of a loved one's estate, or the need to obtain a conservatorship after incapacity can be time-consuming and costly, both emotionally and financially. When a loved one dies, usually the entire family is negatively affected and unless careful planning during the decedent's lifetime took place, the desired outcome of closing the estate according to the deceased person's wishes is rarely achieved. Similarly, in case of incapacitation a former thriving and dashing person may be unable to articulate how his or her property shall to be distributed, regardless of long-held intentions.
This is where our resources and knowledge excel: We strive to preserve your personal dignity and your estate though a very intricate process. Our attorneys and consultants do not just simply know the law. Rather, they possess knowledge and prior work experience in the financial and insurance industry as well. Therefore, we are able to navigate the interweaving web of law, taxation, business expertise, and knowledge of the financial markets that are essential to the creation of a successful legacy plan.
Why legacy planning versus estate planning? Because what you leave to the world is your legacy and can define you after death. Consequently, legacy planning is more encompassing in goals and longer in duration then just estate planning which tends to terminate shortly after the death of the decedent.
How do we create the desired legacy?
First, in our initial consultation we determine your goals and desires for your assets, care, and end of life planning. Second, we analyze your current situation and take advantage of the tax code and current laws to maximize the transfer of your wealth to select individuals by minimizing applicable taxes, administration, cost, legal fees, and potential medical expenses. Third, we plan for unforeseen negative health changes to avoid situations such as the court appointing a non-family or undesired member to act on your behalf, both financially and for your physical health. Fourth, we create a plan that keeps your desires and bequests as private as possible so that the community, disgruntled heirs, or individuals who believed that they were entitled to more will not be afforded an easy opportunity to inspect your assets or question your decisions. Finally, our office will keep you apprised of changes in the law and political climate that could impact your goal, so we can modify the plan to take advantage of these changes for your benefit.
If you desire to pass more of the wealth you earned to the ones you love while keeping the greatest possible control and privacy over your assets in the case of incapacity or death then contact our office for a free appointment and we will be happy to put you in control of your options.